By Scott Brown

Christian County Wrestling Ranked Third in the Preseason

Posted: November 21, 2019
Article, Featured

Christian County is ranked preseason No. 3 in the state by Kentuckywrestling.com and has six wrestlers ranked in the top 25 of their weight division.

Jakerion Merritt won the state title in the 132-pound class last year, becoming the first Colonel wrestler in 15 years to stand on the top podium at state. Merritt is ranked No. 1 in the 145-pound class for 2019-20 according to the website.

The top three wrestlers in the weight class are from Region I. Ranked behind Merritt are Union County’s Trevor Pogue and Paducah Tilghman’s David Conner.

Niko Bussell, who finished runner-up at 220 last year, is the preseason No. 1 at 220 this year. Other Region I wrestlers in the weight division are Paducah Tilghman’s Logan Deasel (fourth), and Union County’s Elijah Calloway (14^th).

Gage Fowler, who won the region title at 113 last year and finished fourth at state, enters the preseason ranked fourth at 120. Paducah Tilghman’s Jayden Frazier is 12^th and Union County’s Gavin Ricketts is 16th in the class.

Ethan Wells, the region champion at 120 last year, is ranked No. 7 in the 126-pound class. Other Region I wrestlers in the weight class include Paducah Tilghman’s Eli Peyton (second); Caldwell County’s Dylan Walls (sixth); and Union County’s Glenn Mayes (20^th).

Neil Aldridge finished third in the region in the 145-pound class last year. His preseason ranking jumps two classes to the 160-pound class where he is fifth at 160. Union County’s Dalton Russelburg is No. 1 at 160.

Cameron Coleman, who finished runner-up at region in the 160-pound class last year, is ranked 9^th in the preseason at 170. Union County’s Stephen Little is No. 1 at 170. Paducah Tilghman’s Seth Slayton, who transferred from Caldwell County, is fourth. McCracken County’s Isiah Frederich is 17^th.

As a team, Christian County is ranked third in the preseason statewide and fifth in the dual rankings. Union County and Paducah Tilghman are ranked 1-2 in the state by Kentuckywrestling.com.

Christian County opens their season Dec. 7 at the King of the Bluegrass in Louisville.