Tough road ahead (02/19/2009)

If Casey Kenney wins a state title this weekend he will have definitely earned it.

Kenney, a Jay County High School senior, will compete in the most loaded bracket in the IHSAA Wrestling State Finals at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis Friday at 6 p.m. He is one of eight former state-medalists in a 119-pound field that includes three former state champions.

"It's probably the most talented weight class in the state," said JCHS coach James Myers. "If we're in the finals or the semis we've earned the trip. It'll be a true test for Casey. This is why he stayed at 119, to wrestle the best kids in the state. He didn't want to cut to 12, he wanted to push himself to get ready for that college experience."

Three South Adams wrestlers, Jim West, Josh Ehr and Todd Batt will also be seeking state medals.

The top 10 wrestlers in the state are all still alive at 119 pounds, and No. 8 Kenney will face off against one of them in his opening-round match Friday. He takes on 10th-ranked John Petrov (38-4) of Hanover Central.

A win Friday night would guarantee Kenney a state medal and he would return to Saturday's action beginning at 9 a.m.

"I think it's about him coming out and attacking Petrov early, wrestling with the lead, not letting Petrov breathe and have a chance to be in the match," said Myers, who finished seventh in the state at 125 pounds in 1997. "He's been tested the last couple of weekends ... I think mentally he's there. I think that'll be the key for Friday night."

The bracket also include the only two wrestlers Kenney has lost to in the last two seasons - Indian Creek's No. 4 Ethan Raley (31-1) in the 103-pound state championship match last year and Anderson Highland's No. 2 Camden Eppert (35-4) twice this season. Kenney could meet Raley in the quarterfinal round Saturday morning with a possible semifinal battle looming against Eppert.

Raley, a sophomore, and No. 1 Brandon Wright (45-2), a junior from Cathedral, won state titles at 103 and 112 pounds respectively last season, and three-time state medalist Eppert was the 103-pound champion in 2007. Warsaw's Justin Brooks, who is ranked No. 3, is a three-time state medalist and brings a 38-0 mark to the state finals.

Other ranked wrestlers include Evansville Reitz's No. 6 Alex Johns (49-1), a senior and two-time state medalist, Roncalli's No. 5 Justin Kiefer, who placed seventh at 112 as a freshman last season, Yorktown's No. 7 Derek Bevans (40-2), a junior who placed fifth at 112 in 2008, and No. 9 Danny Bradley (38-1) of Knox.

The top 10 wrestlers have just a combined 19 losses this season, many of which have come against each other. The only two losses for Bevans came against Kenney in the regional and semi-state championship matches.

"It's going to be a big challenge," said Kenney, who hopes to wrestle at Indiana University next season.

"Definitely whoever wins this weight class this weekend ... will be whoever came to wrestle that day. Anyone can beat anyone on any day. Everyone is up to that level."

All three South Adams wrestlers will open their tournament action Friday against state-ranked foes.

Ehr (34-10), a sophomore, faces the most difficult path of the group as he begins against Mishawaka's top-ranked Joshua Harper (33-3), who can become the eighth fourth-time state champion in Indiana history. He won the 103-pound title as a freshman followed by the 112 in 2007 and the 125 last season.

Batt (38-4) will try to earn a state medal in his freshman season as he starts against No. 8 Aurleio Medina (45-5) of Munster in the 103-pound bracket. He could face either second-ranked Cody Phillips (45-0) of Union County or No. 10 Dylan Hall (40-6) from Evansville Harrison in the quarterfinal round.

Junior Jim West (35-7) kicks off his state finals appearance against Delphi's No. 13 Wes Everett (44-1). If he were to make the quarterfinals, he would take on other No. 3 John Clark (30-3) of Jeffersonville or Dylan McBride (40-6) from Crawfordsville.

For the second straight season, Kenney has made his run to the state finals with a perfect tournament record. He has mostly dominated his postseason matches, with only Bevans truly providing a challenge.

In the semi-state tournament Saturday at Allen County War Memorial Coliseum in Fort Wayne he won his first three matches by pin, major decision and a 21-6 technical fall over state qualifier Alex Filer (39-4) of Elkhart Central.

"It's definitely been fun," said Kenney. "I love this time of year, especially the last two years. It's just great. I love going to these tournaments, and especially winning."

Kenney's tremendous junior and senior seasons have made him one of the most accomplished wrestlers in Jay County history.

He has accumulated a 90-3 record over the last two seasons, winning two sectional, two regional and two semi-state titles. His 140-19 career record gives him the most victories in Patriot history.

With his runner-up finish at 103 pounds last season, he became one of just eight wrestling state medalists in school history.

"His career has been great," said Myers. "From the time he came in as a short, round 103 pounder until now he's ... grown leaps and bounds. All the hard work ... has paid off for him."

Jay County has only two state champions in wrestling in school history - Geoff Glogas and Dave Ferguson, both of whom won in 1987. No Patriot athlete has won a state title in any sport since Kerri McClung in the shot put in 2000.

The strength of the 119-pound field has not dampened the hopes that Kenney will join those JCHS greats.

"I expect him to win it," said Myers. "Obviously I couldn't be disappointed, whatever he gets. Whatever anybody gets at 119 this weekend is going to have earned it. Nothing is going to come easy. But we expect to be under the lights against to finish the career."

"There's a lot of good kids," said Kenney. "I'll be happy as long as I give it my best, but I'm shooting for a state title."[[In-content Ad]]