Wrestling: Henry Clay wins 7th Region team title
After finishing second to Lafayette the past two years by narrow margins, Henry Clay won the 7th Region Tournament by more than 30 points Saturday night at Boyle County.
Henry Clay defeated Madison Central for the overall team title by a score of 232.5 to 201, the widest margin since Woodford County beat Franklin County by 16 points in 2013. Henry Clay, team champs for the first time since 2011, lost to Lafayette by three points in 2014 and 4.5 points last season.
Andy Critchfield was named 7th Region Coach of the Year.
“Any time your fellow coaches in the region can give you a nod of accomplishment it feels good,” said Critchfield, who gave a tip of the cap to his assistants. “ ... And the kids, who did all the hard work. We just point and give them the path and they took advantage of it.”
The Blue Devils placed 11 wrestlers in the semifinals, giving it that many qualifiers for the state competition next weekend in Alltech Arena at the Kentucky Horse Park. They advanced four to Saturday’s finals.
Brandon Miller and Evan Cannon won the 113- and 160-pound divisions, respectively. Jacob Todd of Wayne County took the 120-pound division over Tyler Storck. Ray Karl Irving seemed in position to give Henry Clay its third finals win of the day but lost the 220-pound bout after an illegal slam put his opponent, Madison Central’s Jack Lindsey, out of the match and gave Irving a loss by default.
Critchfield was happy that Irving “took it like a man” and expects him to bounce back well next weekend. It was the first time Irving, who earlier in the match pulled off a strong but legal slam, had been disqualified in his career. He was shocked when it happened.
“I didn’t know it was an illegal slam at first until my coach told me,” Irving said. “ ... It sucks. It’s not a good feeling at all. I’m definitely going to bring my A game (at state).”
While Lafayette’s team title hopes were squashed before the finals got underway — it finished fourth behind Wayne County — the Generals could take solace in advancing five wrestlers to the finals, all of whom came away with wins.
Coach William Green called Lafayette’s finals sweep a stepping stone to, hopefully, similar results at state.
“They’ve got a lot of pressure on them and know what they need to do,” Green said.
Among those feeling the pressure to perform next week is University of Kentucky football signee Landon Young, who pinned Justus Williams of Madison Southern in about a minute in the 285-pound finals. It was the fourth straight regional win for Young, the No. 1 rated wrestler in his division.
Young is seeking his first state wrestling title. He finished second to Trinity’s Bobby Bryant as a freshman, was fourth after a medical forfeit as a sophomore and then had to withdraw from last season’s tournament before it started due to injury.
Is this the year it finally happens?
“You already know it,” Young said with a laugh. “I’ve been after it for four years, it’s my turn now. … This time I’m healthy going into state so we’ll see if we can turn this around.”
Bryan Station’s Derrick Soper defeated Ryan McManus of Madison Central to become the Defenders’ first region champion since 2009 and could become the school’s first two-time state medalist.
Tates Creek advanced three wrestlers to the finals but couldn’t come away with a victory. The Commodores finished fifth as a team.
Hometown favorites Josh Robbins (Boyle County) and Hamilton Young (Danville) won their respective finals.
Results
(Top four advance to state tournament; fifth-place finisher is state alternate)
Tournament MVP—Angel Vasquez, Lafayette
106—1. Cagen Wallace, Wayne Co.; 2. Adam Bender, Lexington Catholic; 3. Bradley Miller, Henry Clay; 4. Kelby Gay, Danville; 5. Ross Hackenberry, Tates Creek
113—1. Brandon Miller, Henry Clay; 2. Cauy Wallace, Wayne Co.; 3. Morgan Sallee, Danville; 4. Kevin Ensor, Tates Creek; 5. Andres Calleja, Paul Laurence Dunbar
120—1. Jacob Dodd, Wayne Co.; 2. Tyler Storck, Henry Clay; 3. Jack Raymond, Lafayette; 4. Tyrell Holman, Bryan Station; 5. Jordan Bates, Boyle Co.
126—1. Derrick Soper, Bryan Station; 2. Ryan McManus, Madison Central; 3. Derrick Witmer, Boyle Co.; 4. Jonathan Shepherd, Wayne Co.; 5. Kevin Richards, Henry Clay
132—1. Justin Torgerson, Lafayette; 2. Cameron Nevels, Wayne Co.; 3. Will Keeney, Madison Central; 4. Levi Burke, Henry Clay; 5. Zachary Morgan, Tates Creek
138—1. Angel Vasquez, Lafayettte; 2. Brady Gibson, Tates Creek; 3. Aaron Flenner, Madison Central; 4. JD Criswell, Wayne Co.; 5. Garron Moody, Danville
145—1. Kevin Vasquez, Lafayette; 2. Odeh Eqal, Tates Creek; 3. Jim Morrison, Madison Central; 4. Joshua Cagle, Henry Clay; 5. Logan Bertrand, Madison Southern
152—1. Jacob Dawson, Lafayette; 2. Elias Eqal, Tates Creek; 3. Christian Shelby, Henry Clay; 4. Ryan Strunk, McCreary Central; 5. Drake Hager, Madison Central
160—1. Evan Cannon, Henry Clay; 2. Joey Scribano, Madison Southern; 3. Cruz Murphy, Boyle Co.; 4. Cubaka Mutayongwa, Tates Creek; 5. Daniel Baker, Madison Central
170—1. Christopher Morrow, Madison Central; 2. Nathan Prosser, McCreary Central; 3. Lucas Soard, Henry Clay; 4. Sam Kauer, Madison Southern; 5. Matthew Holman, Bryan Station
182—1. Josh Robbins, Boyle County; 2. Dylan Mays, Madison Central; 3. Blake Denny, Henry Clay; 4. Anthony Daffron, Wayne Co.; 5. Conner Ball, McCreary Central
195—1. Jack Lindsey, Madison Central; 2. Ray Karl Irving, Henry Clay; 3. Fatu Sevelo, Madison Southern; 4. Micah Price, Danville; 5. Mukendi Kalala, Lafayette
220—1. Hamilton Young, Danville; 2. Jonathan Gregory, Wayne Co.; 3. Will Preson, Henry Clay; 4. Jose Martinez, Tates Creek; 5. Seth Anderson, McCreary Central
285—1. Landon Young, Lafayette; 2. Justus Williams, Madison Southern; 3. Jonah Welch, Danville; 4. Christian Denney, Wayne Co.; 5. Corbin Couch, Madison Central
This story was originally published February 13, 2016 at 10:04 PM with the headline "Wrestling: Henry Clay wins 7th Region team title."