Hopkinsville is sending four wrestlers to the state tournament this weekend with the hope of bringing home the school’s first finish inside the top four in six years.
Zlatko Skuljan won a pair of matches at the state tourney as a sophomore but didn’t qualify last year. He finished second in the 160-pound class at the region tournament and enters this weekend ranked seventh in the state in the weight class. He will open with No. 22 Brandon Burchett of Fairdale and appears to have a favorable draw to the third round.
Denarius Barnes (12-5) finished third in the region at 220. He is ranked No. 23 in the state and opens Friday against Oldham County’s Blake Young, who is ranked No. 10 in the state. If Barnes wins his first round match, he would face a ranked wrestler in the second round as well.
Trushaun Matt (33-14) finished third at 106 in his first season on the mat. The freshman is ranked 15th in the state and will begin wrestling Friday against No. 24 Hayden Canady of Perry County Central.
Kevonni Young makes his return to the state tournament after finishing fourth at region at 152. Young, who committed last week to wrestle in college at Campbellsville, is ranked 12th in the state. Young will open with Region 3 champion Matthew Hendricks of Bullitt East, who carries a No. 17 ranking into the match.
The first round of the state tournament begins Friday at Alltech Arena in Lexington and continues Saturday.
