July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Patriots seek state berths (02/08/08)
JCHS wrestling
By By RAY COONEY-
At this point in the season, the path becomes quite clear.
With three victories, the Patriots would advance two wrestlers to the state finals. It's that simple.
Jay County High School juniors Casey Kenney and Ben Theurer will try to make that goal a reality Saturday, when they compete at the Woodlan semi-state meet at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
A state berth for both of them would mark the first time two JCHS wrestlers reached the state finals in the same year since James Brewster and Joe VanSkyock in 1999. Only Kurt Hess, who lost in the first round of the state finals in 2005, has been to the championship round of the state tournament since then.
"It's important," said JCHS coach James Myers, who knows from personal experience having finished seventh in the state in 1997. "If we can get two, that would be excellent for the program."
Kenney, having won the regional title at JCHS in impressive fashion last week, has the easier road.
By virtue of his regional crown, Kenney (103) gets a bye through the opening round and will only need one victory to earn the top-four finish necessary for a state berth. He will get to sit back and watch his potential quarterfinal opponents - Andy Franklin, 31-3, of Homestead and Greg Sexton, 34-10, of DeKalb - battle in the opening round.
"Casey set himself up great last week with a win in the regionals," said Myers. "In the quarters ... it's a match we should win.
"And then in the semis, whoever we get we think it's a guy we should dominate."
Franklin has wrestled Jacob Armantrout of Muncie Southside this season, losing to the No. 6 wrestler in the state 9-1. Kenney pinned Armantrout in the regional semifinal round.
"It gives me some confidence, but I don't want to go in there too overconfident," said Kenney.
Still, his goal is to go undefeated all the way to the state title. At 41-0, he is the first JCHS wrestler to be perfect this deep into a season since 1982 when Glen Glogas was unbeaten until losing the state championship match.
"I think they're pretty good," Kenney added of his chances to keep his unblemished mark in tact. "My toughest match would probably be in the finals."
The path to a state berth is more challenging for Theurer (135), who finished as the regional runner-up last week.
He will have to wrestle in the opening round against New Haven senior Jack Lineberry, 25-6. A victory there will send him to the quarterfinals, where he would need to beat Chad Barrett, 41-2, to secure a state berth.
"It should be a pretty good match," said Theurer, who is 31-6. "I have to wrestle smart, give it all I've got.
"I'm going to try to make it to state. I got a good draw, so if I wrestle hard I have a chance to make it."
Myers said he also feels Theurer's chances are good, given the level of competition he's faced this year. Two of his losses came to ninth-ranked Bryant Whitaker, 28-1, of Muncie Southside, including in the regional championship match.
"Benny's got the tougher road... (but) if he wrestles with confidence, he's capable of beating anybody," said Myers. "He's wrestled some big matches ...
"The last three or four weeks he's wrestled really well on his feet. Usually he's a scrambler, but lately he's been taking a lot of shots, getting a lot of takedowns that way. We feel like he can score on the best. ... His mat wrestling is really his strength."
Looking beyond the quarterfinals, the 135-pound bracket includes four other wrestlers along with Barrett who have three or fewer losses on the year.
If Kenney can make it to the championship round, his foe might well be a familiar one. Armantrout and ninth-ranked Steve Gonzales of Delta, the pair he defeated in the regional semifinal and final rounds respectively, are among the favorites on the opposite side of the bracket.
It also includes fifth-ranked freshman Travis Barroquillo of Prairie Heights, who sports a 42-1 record.
"It would be a really good accomplishment," said Kenney of a state berth. "In my eyes I should have made it to state last year and got put out in the regional. And the kid who put me out (Armantrout) went on to state too."
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With three victories, the Patriots would advance two wrestlers to the state finals. It's that simple.
Jay County High School juniors Casey Kenney and Ben Theurer will try to make that goal a reality Saturday, when they compete at the Woodlan semi-state meet at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum.
A state berth for both of them would mark the first time two JCHS wrestlers reached the state finals in the same year since James Brewster and Joe VanSkyock in 1999. Only Kurt Hess, who lost in the first round of the state finals in 2005, has been to the championship round of the state tournament since then.
"It's important," said JCHS coach James Myers, who knows from personal experience having finished seventh in the state in 1997. "If we can get two, that would be excellent for the program."
Kenney, having won the regional title at JCHS in impressive fashion last week, has the easier road.
By virtue of his regional crown, Kenney (103) gets a bye through the opening round and will only need one victory to earn the top-four finish necessary for a state berth. He will get to sit back and watch his potential quarterfinal opponents - Andy Franklin, 31-3, of Homestead and Greg Sexton, 34-10, of DeKalb - battle in the opening round.
"Casey set himself up great last week with a win in the regionals," said Myers. "In the quarters ... it's a match we should win.
"And then in the semis, whoever we get we think it's a guy we should dominate."
Franklin has wrestled Jacob Armantrout of Muncie Southside this season, losing to the No. 6 wrestler in the state 9-1. Kenney pinned Armantrout in the regional semifinal round.
"It gives me some confidence, but I don't want to go in there too overconfident," said Kenney.
Still, his goal is to go undefeated all the way to the state title. At 41-0, he is the first JCHS wrestler to be perfect this deep into a season since 1982 when Glen Glogas was unbeaten until losing the state championship match.
"I think they're pretty good," Kenney added of his chances to keep his unblemished mark in tact. "My toughest match would probably be in the finals."
The path to a state berth is more challenging for Theurer (135), who finished as the regional runner-up last week.
He will have to wrestle in the opening round against New Haven senior Jack Lineberry, 25-6. A victory there will send him to the quarterfinals, where he would need to beat Chad Barrett, 41-2, to secure a state berth.
"It should be a pretty good match," said Theurer, who is 31-6. "I have to wrestle smart, give it all I've got.
"I'm going to try to make it to state. I got a good draw, so if I wrestle hard I have a chance to make it."
Myers said he also feels Theurer's chances are good, given the level of competition he's faced this year. Two of his losses came to ninth-ranked Bryant Whitaker, 28-1, of Muncie Southside, including in the regional championship match.
"Benny's got the tougher road... (but) if he wrestles with confidence, he's capable of beating anybody," said Myers. "He's wrestled some big matches ...
"The last three or four weeks he's wrestled really well on his feet. Usually he's a scrambler, but lately he's been taking a lot of shots, getting a lot of takedowns that way. We feel like he can score on the best. ... His mat wrestling is really his strength."
Looking beyond the quarterfinals, the 135-pound bracket includes four other wrestlers along with Barrett who have three or fewer losses on the year.
If Kenney can make it to the championship round, his foe might well be a familiar one. Armantrout and ninth-ranked Steve Gonzales of Delta, the pair he defeated in the regional semifinal and final rounds respectively, are among the favorites on the opposite side of the bracket.
It also includes fifth-ranked freshman Travis Barroquillo of Prairie Heights, who sports a 42-1 record.
"It would be a really good accomplishment," said Kenney of a state berth. "In my eyes I should have made it to state last year and got put out in the regional. And the kid who put me out (Armantrout) went on to state too."
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