All six Caldwell County wrestlers who qualified for the KHSAA State Finals have advanced to day two at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.
Riley Johnson is the Tigers’ only undefeated wrestler remaining. Ranked No. 5 in the state at 132 pounds, Johnson won both of his matches on Friday by pin to reach the semifinal round at state.
Johnson, a senior, had little trouble with Brock Messer of Martin County in his opening match, recording a pin in just 40 seconds.
Johnson then pinned No. 4-ranked Jeremy Ray of Union County in 2:58 in the second round. Ray had pinned Johnson the previous week in the semi-state competition.
Johnson will next face No. 1-ranked Cole Thomas of Ryle for a berth in the championship match at 132.
Caldwell’s other five wrestlers are still alive in the consolation bracket.
At 106, freshman Logan Brown suffered a tight 1-0 loss to Trent Cano of Great Crossing in the first round but bounced back to decision Steven Smith of Frederick Douglass 5-1 in the wrestlebacks.
Collin Teutsch, a junior, won his first match by pin at 2:15 over Peyton Harrison of Taylor County. But Teutsch was then pinned in the quarterfinals by third-ranked Hunter Jenkins of Union County in 2:47.
At 138, sophomore Timothy Nichols was pinned by No. 3-ranked Jonathan Gilbert of Madison Central in 3:37 in his first match. Nichols came back in the consolation bfracket to decision Johnathan Bennem of Atherton 9-2.
Senior Colin Walls won his first match at 175, pinning Jacobie White of Harrison County in 3:43. However, Walls ran into top-ranked Lane Kiser of Louisville Trinity in the quarterfinals and fell by pin in 5:46.
At 285, sophomore Cole Sherill took his first match by a 5-1 decision over David Riggins of Taylor County. But Sherill was decisioned 8-1 in the quarterfinal round by No. 3-ranked A.J. Harvey of Christian County.
Saturday’s wrestling is set to begin at 9:30 a.m Eastern time.
