Union County has had a sports run never seen before, not only in the Second Region, but also statewide following another state wrestling championship on Saturday.
The Braves had 12 wrestlers reach the medal podium and four claim a state championship on their way to a 113-point win over Johnson Central.
Twin brothers Jayden and Jordyn Rainey continued their dominance at the state tournament with championship wins.
Jayden won the 132-pound class, claiming five wins by pin with an average of 50 seconds per match. The junior has won four straight state championships — taking first place in the 106, 120, 126, and 132-pound class with a record of 18-0.
Raney has pinned 16 of his 18 opponents at the state tourney. One of his non-pins was a 17-1 technical fall in the 2022 state championship match, while Walton Verona’s T.J. Meyer lost by a 3-2 decision to Raney in the 2023 championship.
Jordyn has won five straight state titles, coming in the 106, 113, 126, 132, and 138-pound classes. He improved his state tournament record to 21-0, with all but one win coming via pin.
Braxton Corbett won the 106-pound class with a 12-6 decision over Paducah Tilghman’s Josh Waufle.
Lucas Ricketts won the 175-pound class with an 8-1 decision over Johnson Central’s Zack McCoart.
Other Union County wrestlers to reach the medal podium were Jaxson Mayberry, second place at 113; Jake Dowdy, second place at 157; Brennen Clifford, second place at 126; Hunter Jenkins, third place at 150; Jeremy Ray, third place at 165; Cameron Vinson, third place at 190; Austin Cummings, third place at 285; and Jake Ramsey, seventh place at 120.
The state title is the 16th for the Union County wrestling program and ninth in the past 10 years. Union County also won state titles in 1976, 1980, 1982, 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2014.
The state title is also the 20th for Union County, who won three straight Class 2A boys’ track and field titles from 1997-99 and the 1996 girls state basketball championship.
Union County has won the second-most team KHSAA state titles of any Second Region school. Only Fort Campbell, with 36, has won more state championships. Trigg County is third in the region with 16 state championships.
