Walton-Verona junior wrestler Ryan Moore, top, defeated Austin Cooke of Louisville St. Xavier, 7-0, in the 126-pound state championship match. (Photo by Angie Lewis)
By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Simon Kenton wrestler Casey Cornett celebrates after his victory in the 170 pound championship final. (Photo by Marc Figgins)
Northern Kentucky wrestlers made it to the state finals in six weight classes on Saturday at Alltech Arena near Lexington and four of them walked off the mat as champions.
Simon Kenton senior Casey Cornett won his second consecutive state title in the 170 weight class by pinning Joe Jackson of Johnson Central in the championship final. Cornett pinned all five of his opponents in that bracket and received the state tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler Award. His final record this season was 61-3.
Campbell County senior Brady Wells led off the parade of local state finalists with a 9-4 decision over Brody Haverstick of John Hardin at 120 pounds. A few minutes later, Walton-Verona junior Ryan Moore defeated Austin Cooke of Louisville St. Xavier, 7-0, in the 126 title match.
Two local wrestlers faced each other in the 285-pound championship final and Walton-Verona senior Hunter Ruber defeated Dixie Heights junior Kairus Washington, 5-3. In last week’s Region 6 finals, Washington pinned Huber to earn one of top seeds in the state bracket.
The other Region 6 state qualifiers who lost in the championship finals on Saturday were Cooper senior Cody Huston at 152 and Simon Kenton senior Elijah Jackson at 182. Five local wrestlers were in the consolation finals and three of them won to take home third-place medals.
Union County finished on top in the team standings with 227.5 points. Walton-Verona placed fifth with 123.5 points and Simon Kenton was sixth with 115.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
120 — Brady Wells (Campbell County) def. Brody Haverstick (John Hardin), 9-4
126 — Ryan Moore (Walton-Verona) def. Austin Cook (St. Xavier), 7-0
152 — Zane Brown (Louisville Male) def. Cody Huston (Cooper), 6-5
170 — Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton) pinned Joe Jackson (Johnson Central), 1:21
182 — Max Andreoni (Woodford County) pinned Elijah Jackson (Simon Kenton), 01.5
285 — Hunter Ruber (Walton-Verona) def. Kairus Washington (Dixie Heights), 5-3
CONSOLATION FINALS
106 — Brenden Pye (Scott) def. Thomas Deck (Madison Central), 6-5 OT
126 — Tylan Tucker (Woodford County) def. Tanner Yenter (Campbell County), 3-1.
132 — Dante Castellano (Simon Kenton) def. Kaden Darbro (St. Xavier), 13-2
138 — Trent Johnson (John Hardin) pinned Austin Nixon (Dixie Heights), 0:51
160 — Mason Smith (Walton-Verona) def. Jared Branch (Fern Creek),
