Christian County may want to explore trademarking the King of the Bluegrass Wrestling Tournament because they have owned the event for over a half-decade.
The Colonels scored 324 points and beat second place Bullitt East by over 100 points to claim their sixth straight KOB title Saturday in Louisville. Christian County finished the day with six individual champions.
JaRi Campbell (106), Gage Fowler (120), Austin Grant-Hall (138), Jakerion Merritt (145), Neal Aldridge (160), and Niko Bussell (220) all took first place in their division. Bussell and Merritt both won all of their matches by pin with Merritt named the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the tourney. None of Merritt’s matches went past the first period as the defending state champion got his senior season off to a strong start.
Caleb Anderson was second in the 170-pound class, and Cameron Coleman was second at 182 to pace four other Colonel wrestlers who brought home top-five finishes. Nathan Hale placed third at 113; Mason Kellett was third at 132; A.J. Harvey was third at 195; and Timmie Dunham was fifth at 152.
Christian County’s 324 team points easily outdistanced second place Bullitt East (197 points) and third place DeSales (183). One other Region I team competed in the 20-team event. Ohio County was fourth with 181 points.
Christian County returns to the mat Saturday at the Beech Invitational in Hendersonville, Tenn. The Colonels host their invitational Dec. 28 at Lyle Dunbar Gymnasium.