Henderson County’s girls wrestling team delivered another strong regional performance on Saturday, Feb. 14, finishing third overall at the Region 1 Championships at Union County High School and qualifying four wrestlers for the KHSAA Girls State Championships, with one more earning alternate status.
Competing against 27 teams, the Lady Colonels totaled 128.5 team points and showed depth and composure throughout the day. Head coach Jermaine Poynter said what impressed him most was the poise his wrestlers displayed in pressure moments.
“One thing that stood out the most was that they never got flustered,” Poynter said. “They came out and scrapped. Even if they got in a bad position, they kept their composure and figured out a way to come out on top.”
Leading the way was Kailyn Franks, who captured the Region 1 championship at 132 pounds. Franks won her bracket, recording three pins on her way to the title and continuing her season as one of the area’s top wrestlers. However, the win did not come without perseverance in the title match.
“She got taken down in the first period. She could have gotten flustered, but she didn’t,” Poynter said. “She kept her composure, kept fighting, and ended up putting the girl on her back at the end of the first period. Then she came out in the second period and dominated, putting the girl on her back and pinning her.”
Franks said the regional performance was a proud moment for both herself and her teammates.
“I am very happy with the girls’ performance at regionals,” Franks said. “We are glad to be taking five girls to state. Even the ones who didn’t make it fought hard and showed heart. I’m proud of myself for getting first and doing what I knew I could.”
Franks added that she’s focused on competing freely at the state level.
“My outlook for state is to do my best and just wrestle,” she said. “I’m excited to compete and hopefully place at the tournament.”
Evie Estes continued her consistent season by finishing second at 235 pounds to earn a regional runner-up finish and a state berth.
Addilynn Leslie secured a third-place finish at 185 pounds, while Kennedy Sohne battled her way to fourth place at 114 pounds, rounding out Henderson County’s four state qualifiers. Jade Robertson finished fifth at 120 pounds and will serve as an alternate.
Poynter said the team’s preparation played a key role, including a strategic break from competition leading into regionals.
“We didn’t have any tournaments or matches for the last two weeks, and that was on purpose,” he said. “We took that time to get healthy and practice on the things we needed to work on.”
That preparation helped Henderson County navigate what Poynter described as one of the toughest wrestling regions in the state.
“I think our girls are in a good position headed into state,” he said. “We come from Region 1, and historically Region 1 is the toughest region in boys or girls wrestling. We had great competition across the river in Evansville. With those things combined, that puts our girls in a great position to be successful at state.”
Poynter also credited his coaching staff for helping build the program’s culture and mental toughness.
“We couldn’t have done any of this without our coaching staff,” he said. “Scotty Hogan is my head assistant girls coach. Him and Robert Dunn get them mentally prepared and ready. They have established that relationship and bond with the girls where they would run through a brick wall for them.”
Henderson County’s continued success reflects the rapid growth of the girls wrestling program, which has quickly established itself as one of the region’s and state’s most competitive teams.
With four wrestlers qualified and an alternate ready, the Lady Colonels now turn their focus toward the state championships Saturday, February 28, at Alltech Arena in Lexington.
Meanwhile, the Henderson County boys wrestling team will host the Region Championships this Saturday, Feb. 21. Last season, the Colonels qualified five wrestlers for state and finished fourth as a team.
