Christian County just missed the program’s first top-five finish at the KHSAA State Wrestling Tournament in 24 years but brings back an individual state champion trophy for the first time since 2004.
Junior Jakerion Merritt became the latest member of Hopkinsville’s first family of wrestling to win a state title. He joins Jeff (1983), Miguel (1995-96), and Livingston Merritt (1995-97) who all won state titles at Hopkinsville High.
Jakerion battled a bloody lip he received early in his semifinal match against Chase Yost of Woodford County, the top-ranked wrestler in the 132-pound class. After finishing regulation tied 4-4, Merritt scored a two-point takedown and won the match.
In the championship match, he faced off against Gabe Adams of Union County who he beat 3-1 in last week’s semifinal. In the title match, Merritt stayed on the attack the entire match and didn’t allow Adams a chance to pick up some late points. Merritt claimed the state title with a 5-2 win.
Merritt is the first Colonel wrestler to win a state title since Kris Perry and A.J. Green won titles in 2004 and is the 24th state title in program history.
Niko Bussell scored the rare semifinal pin, defeating Wayne County’s Jonathan Gregory by fall 2:50 into the match at 220 pounds. In the championship match, he squared off against Union County’s Mattias Ervin in a rematch of the region final Ervin won 5-2. On Saturday, Bussell fell to Ervin 3-1. It was a second straight state title for Ervin, who won the 195-pound state title last year.
Gage Fowler opened with a loss to Scott’s Brenden Pye, the top-ranked wrestler in the 113-pound class, by pin (4:44). Fowler battled back to score two late points and edge Walton-Verona’s Peace 5-3 to advance to the 3rd place match. He finished fourth for the second straight year as Johnson Central’s Dalton Lawson won a 6-3 decision over Fowler.
Five other Colonel wrestlers failed to reach the podium Saturday.
Neal Aldridge lost his consolation round opener to Oldham County’s Gabe Jacobs 5-0.
Antonio Abren lost his consolation round match to South Oldham’s Mason Hall by a close 8-6 decision.
Markus Green saw his high school career end with a loss to Ashland’s John Stone by pin (1:53) in his first match Saturday.
Ethan Wells won his consolation opener against Scott County’s Augustus Roberts 16-1 in the 120-pound class. He faced Caldwell County’s Dylan Walls in a rematch of last week’s region final won by Wells with a pin. Walls scored a late takedown to defeat Wells 7-5 and end his tournament one match shy of the podium round.
Cameron Coleman opened his 160-pound consolation round with a 14-6 major decision over Bourbon County’s Will Baber. He lost to Walton-Verona’s Brandon Gibson 8-5 in the next round.
As a team, Christian County finished sixth with 107 points, just missing their first top five finish since 1995 by a point-and-a-half. Union County (227) easily won their fourth straight state title by easily outdistancing second place Johnson Central (146.5) and third place St. Xavier (135.5).