FalconWrestling

It's Marcus he was posting about it on Facebook when the video came out

You're 100% right, I 100% was wrong

They may not know much but we will make sure they know "Two!"

The official KHSAA bracket has him listed at 50-0 but I agree that I believe he has two out of state losses. This hasn't been the best year for keeping trackwrestling updated and accurate

If I had to pick any 7th grader to pull it off it would be Noah

Neither St. X, Trinity, nor DeSales have or are able to do so to my knowledge. But none of the three have struggled filling 106

My Set 14- Casey Cornett, 170 13- Saul Ervin, 132 12- Zeke Escalera, 106 11- Bryce Sheffer, 138 10- Max Andreoni, 182 9- Geordan Blanton, 160 8- Chance Oxford, 145 7- Nate Wheeler, 120 6- Brady Taylor, 195 5- Lawrence Malala, 220 4- Colton Lampe, 126 3- Derrick Smallwood, 152 2- Adam Bender, 113 1- David Nikolao, 285 Dark Horse- Matthias Ervin, 170, 12th Team- Union County- 200.5

I wonder if it still appropriate for me to run the state prediction game this year

I mean shoot I fist pumped back in the day in a close match against Christian County, I don't remember anyone getting on here and saying I lacked sportsmanship. I of course was in a whole other part of the state during this tournament but if people are upset over a fist pump I can say I've seen far worse and I am usually against bashing high school kids let alone middle schoolers as a general rule of thumb anyway.

Well with Sullivan he was a 3-timer going into the finals his senior year

There are still seniors in low weight classes 106/113 that don't win their senior year. Mostly I'm referring to Travis Sullivan

What a time for my printer to run out of ink

The bottom side of 132 may be one of the toughest brackets I've seen in a long time

St. X wins the region, Moore finishes second Coach of the Year- Mike Thomas, Moore MOW- Lawrence Malala, 220, Jtown Region Champs 106- Scotty Villums, Male 113- Josh Schmidt, St. X 120- Nate Wheeler, St. X 126- Austin Cook, St. X 132- Alex Rivera, Moore 138- Konner Kraeszig, St. X 145- Calyton Hanson, St. X 152- Zane Brown, Male 160- Cameron Ward, St. X 170- Jacob Bratcher, Manual 182- Andrew Marchal, Atherton 195- Kadin Kulmer, Trinity 220- Lawrence Malala, Jtown 285- Isaac Marrett, St. X

Alright decided to post them here since people have already started posting predictions on these sorts of threads. As always we must remember that this is the regional tournament where a Thracker rises or a Moore falls. You can never 100% predict what will happen and thus in my predictions I always try to pick at least one or two results that don't make sense on paper because paper doesn't decide the regional tournament. I will still do Dark Horse but with how small the brackets are around the state it doesn't really pack the same punch. 106 1. Zeke Escalera, Union 2. Keaton Elliot, Calloway 3. Gage Fowler, Christian 4. Dylan Walls, Caldwell 5. JaRon Nicholas, Hoptown 6. Ashur Jones-Powers, McCracken Dark Horse- Caige Clark, Ohio With no Knight Escalera should run untouched through the region as he makes his first real state title run. His name has been whispered around for a couple years and after a debut season last year I expect him to make the full transition to the elite status we have expected from him for a long time. In a sidenote somebody he used to occasionally train with, Christian Isbell, is making a similar transition down in Tennessee I hope the best success to both of those future superstars. Making up the rest of the pack I have Elliot holding his seed but I expect a good semifinal between him and Walls. I have Fowler picking up the win to move against Escalera in the semis and then beating both Nicholas and Walls off the back end. 113 1. Gabe Adams, Union 2. Daniel Knight, Christian 3. Jack Probus, Ohio 4. Ethan Futrell, Trigg 5. Semaj Kimbrough, Caldwell 6. Hunter Dubois, Hoptown Dark Horse- Quinn Atnip, Paducah Adams and Knight should be a good regional finals matchup but the absence of Grant-Hall is definitely felt. How much rust Knight has will definitely come into play but a Knight at his A game will be very tough for Adams to pull away from. I have Probus pulling off an upset over Futrell based off what I consider to be a slightly tougher route to the third place match for Futrell. 120 1. Sam Bacon, Union 2. Devonta Turner, Trigg 3. Jakerion Merritt, Christian 4. Ray Hamilton, Paducah 5. Ethan Wells, UHA 6. Max Dubois, Hoptown Dark Horse- N/A (I won't do this for a 7 man bracket) Bacon should win the region fairly easily here and is a Dark Horse title threat but Turner is a very dangerous veteran wrestler. Merritt and Hamilton will be two of the better 3/4 guys at state assuming Wells doesn't pull off a highly possible upset. 126 1. Payne Carr, Union 2. Nick Dickerson, Calloway 3. Dylan Martin, McCracken 4. Austin Gibson, Christian 5. Isaac Aguiar, Trigg 6. Shane Gray, Ohio Dark Horse- N/A Really nothing in this weight can be confidently set in stone. I think Carr has made huge strides this season and I expect him to win the region but it isn't a sure thing when he is going up against veterans such as Dickerson. I give Dickerson and Gibson upset nods here but the wrestling should be very close. Aguiar and Gibson will be one of the better first round matches of the tournament. 132 1. Saul Ervin, Union 2. Ishmael Griffie, Christian 3. David Conner, McCracken 4. Damien Crisp, Fort Campbell 5. Tristan Tinsley, Caldwell 6. Caitlin Powers, Calloway Dark Horse- N/A I'd be surprised if Saul gives up a point this year in the region unless he decides to let a kid have an escape. Griffie should finish solidly in second and have Conner/Crisp fight it out for third. 138 1. Bryce Sheffer, Union 2. Louie Regaldo, Fort Campbell 3. Kestin McClain, McCracken 4. Kaleb O'Campo, Caldwell 5. Gavin English, Ohio 6. Tyler Thomas, Hoptown Dark Horse- Joe Fernandez, Christian The big fireworks here is the McClain/Regaldo matchup in the semi's. They are 1-1 with each other and McClain has the last win, does he build off momentum or does Regaldo bounce back? The whole top 3 at this weight are eyeing podium finishes with Sheffer's potential matchup with Trent Johnson on everyone's mind. But before that he has to get through one of two state finalist threats in Regaldo and McClain. O'Campo is the best of the rest but needs to be wary of Thomas and Hoptown's historic tendency to peak at regionals. 145 1. Chance Oxford, Union 2. Zlatko Skuljan, Hoptown 3. Rey Vela, Fort Campbell 4. Klemmer Nicodemus, Ohio 5. Neal Aldrige, Christian 6. Jacob Kramer, Calloway Dark Horse- Hunter Vlach, McCracken This is a weight that will probably blow up in my face. 2-4 are neck to neck and the winner will depend on who is the best wrestler that day. Vela will have to come out pistols firing to have a shot at a region title since his loss to Nicodemus puts him in the dreaded top half of the bracket. The Skuljan/Nicodemus semifinal on the bottom half could be a forebear of an intense rivalry depending on how the two's weights fall in the coming seasons. Of the group hoping to slip into state unseeded Vlach could play spoiler. 152 1. Micah Ervin, Union 2. Colin Stevens, Trigg 3. Jack Hanes, Calloway 4. Bailey Conley, Fort Campbell 5. Seth Slayton, Caldwell 6. John Bowling, McCracken Dark Horse- Jordan Hopson, Hoptown Ervin and Stevens, two coaches sons and heralded freshmen, sit atop the two regional veterans in Hanes and Conley. Ervin is a dark horse state title threat and Stevens is not far behind him. Behind those two Hanes is as tough as they come and seeks a podium finish at the tournament. Conley has been beset by injuries for most of his career and we will see where his health stands Saturday. Slayton and Bowling both have the ability to break into the top four. 160 1. Corbin Ryder, Fort Campbell 2. Dylan Gray, Caldwell 3. Antonio Abren, Christian 4. Malik Cunningham, Trigg 5. Trevor Tilley, McCracken 6. Carlos Perry, Union Dark Horse- Kevonni Young, Hoptown The first weight Union does not have a region champ is also my first huge upset prediction. Ryder and Gray were extremely close in their last match and Ryder has the senior year edge, can Ryder overcome a promising career being marred with injuries and set himself up for a podium run at state or will Gray maintain his dominance in chasing a possible state title. Abren and the veteran Cunningham make up the rest of the qualifiers but Tilley is seeded to make it, I have him getting upset by Cunningham first round. Perry as a Union kid should always be considered dangerous 170 1. Diion Leavell, Christian 2. Ethan Tomerlin, Fort Campbell 3. Matthias Ervin, Union 4. Logan Deasel, McCracken 5. Kolby Morris, Hoptown 6. Dylan Bell, Caldwell Dark Horse- Caleb Martin, Trigg In rare form for me my second big upset is another Fort Campbell wrestler. Tomerlin is wrestling his best at the right time of year to do so coming off of a middle school state title. Matthias however has been proven as a tough wrestler this season as befitting his last name. Regardless of who wins between the two I still pick Leavell to come out ahead, but he will be passing off the torch to the next batch of great young wrestlers that fill up most of the weight class. I feel very confident in this top four maintaining position but Morris and Hoptown have pulled off unexpected wins in the past. 182 1. Avery Buckman, Union 2. Niko Bussell, Christian 3. Katayvon Anthony, Hoptown 4. Josh Efinger, Calloway 5. Colton Stoner, Trigg 6. Jesus Avila, Fort Campbell Dark Horse- N/A It is a last hoorah for the veteran batch of Buckman, Anthony, Efinger, and Stoner who have spent several season vying in the upper weight classes. Included in this bunch is young upstart Bussell who seeks a strong end to his first true high school season. Barring a surprising upset by one of the seniors, which is possible, one of these veterans will be left home from the state tournament. Legacy is on the line here as this batch of four very tough seniors battle it out. Buckman will break the very short streak of non-Union region champs and eyes Andreoni in Lexington. 195 1. Ross Hicks, Union 2. David Woods, Calloway 3. Nick Owens, Hoptown 4. Nautica Bonds, McCracken 5. Dustin Montgomery, Christian 6. Dylan Lynn, Ohio Dark Horse- N/A Hicks will have a tough go in order to bring another region title to Morganfield in what will probably end up a near sweep by Union. Standing in his way will be first Owens and then Woods, Hicks is favored in one but a substantial underdog in the other. Woods will only have one match going in and it may end up a question of rust vs wear and tear if talent alone is unable to decide it. I give Bonds an upset over Lynn on the back end but don't consider that a firm upset call. 220 1. Colby Culver, Calloway 2. Jackson Fitzgerald, Paducah 3. Deion Lane, Hoptown 4. Markus Green, Christian 5. Andrew Pottle, Ohio 6. John Fuqua, Union Dark Horse- N/A Culver is first in the state, the only top ranked non-Union wrestler in the region. There will be a target on his back that Fitzgerald will want to hit but if Culver wants to be that historic first champion he has to prove himself in challenges like this. First he has the veteran Lane, and like I've said Hoptown almost always is a whole different team at the regional tournament and should be feared. Fitzgerald will have Green who has been looking for a breakout win and could notch win with an upset of Fitzgerald. 285 1. David Nikolao, Fort Campbell 2. Payton Snyder, Union 3. Keith Martin, Fulton 4. Gavynn Davis, McCracken 5. Seth Riley, Christian 6. N/A Dark Horse- N/A The knee has been the question all year in regards to heavyweight. A Nikolao on a healthy knee has been one of the most dangerous upper weights to face since 2004. But despite being a part of Fort Campbell wrestling for over a decade and being a dominant force for the team in that timespan we still haven't seen a Nikolao on the podium. David looks to break not only that drought but potentially Fort Campbell's 27 year State Champion drought. To do that he will first have to get past Union's Snyder who will seek to close out another impressive regional tournament for Union County. Martin will seek to give Fulton City their first ever state qualifier and has to get past Christian's Seth Riley to do so.

There are things we agree on, things we disagree one. Just going to say my predictions are the most I've given to Fort Campbell in awhile, I guess to counteract the many times I've underpredicted them. Also in the spirit of full disclosure I will reiterate that I've known and been close with the Nikolao family for a long time and have known David since he was relatively my size, give or take a few pounds. I consider them to be close friends and think nothing but the world of David and it shines through when I talk about him. I have my brackets done I just need to do the write up Edit- If anyone had an issue with something I said I would greatly appreciate a comment about it so we can address it. Also I left the brackets on my desk so I'll have to post my predictions tomorrow

Numbers are down all over the country but Kentucky's numbers issue was already bad enough so it looks even worse now. I've been vocal privately that I think the belief us coaches have that it is normal for half your team to quit is not a good thing. It's the idea of a fixed mindset vs a growth mindset, instead of looking at ways we can keep kids in the program we just go "eh it's always been this way and always will." I think the fighting over uniforms is one of those shooting ourselves in the foot problems that are pinching numbers before they even come through the door. Also I think Wrestling's media exposure needs a serious overhaul. That's part of why I am so adamant about the brackets issue, we need to make a big deal about the tournament. Instead we seem to be so focused on making the tournament a virtual secret. When Fort Campbell was going into our semifinal matchup the first year we won our football title they played a hype video for the school to get us excited about the program and the game. Football numbers skyrocketed the following year because kids wanted to be a part of the program that was being hyped throughout the entire school. Have a big dual matchup with a rival school, make hype videos for the school, talk it up at a pep rally, have team gear giveaways at the duals, get creative. Obviously staying the course is not working so why should we fight change so much? In Louisville the Courier-Journal has articles for every basketball result but barely anything when it comes to wrestling, they keep using the same stock photo for every wrestling match. That can't rest on the Courier-Journal, we need to make a big dual out of an event and sell it as a huge sports story. Keeping numbers at the youth and middle school is usually an issue of kids getting burnt out from parents and/or coaches. Stressing success at that level is usually self defeating. The Russians don't even teach their kids technique until they reach the age of 12. Focus should be on athleticism, having kids understand how their body moves in wrestling, not techniques that get wins at the youth level.

I'll post predictions tomorrow possibly

I wait with bated breath

Well not exactly if you're only in third round consi to start the day

That 3 day grind and the intense atmosphere is the stuff of memories now

That's a long wait for the state finalists. I like this schedule though, all things considered

So a couple regions have released their brackets. I believe Region 2 and Region 7 have to my knowledge. Other regions, even those who have brackets built and seeds done, aren't releasing their brackets to the public until the last possible second per their trackwrestling deadlines. For years after the creation of trackwrestling's monopoly I have wondered the logic behind locking out the public once the brackets have been built. Why do we do it? What purpose does it serve?

We still haven't had our seeding meeting

Both arguments make sense, I know I personally refuse to let my wrestlers look at the brackets, it makes my job ranking an entirely different region a lot more difficult though.