Three Christian County Colonels punched their tickets to the KHSAA State Wrestling Championships with top-two finishes Saturday in semi-state action at Owensboro Apollo.
In a typical year, the top four wrestlers in each class at the regional tournament advance straight to state. However, because of COVID-19 this year, the KHSAA adjusted the format, adding the semi-state round to cut down on the total number of wrestlers at state.
Christian County had two champions at semi-state. J.T. Adams won the 195-pound class while TyDarius Kelly took first at 285.
Austin Grant-Hall will go to state after a runner-up finish in the 138-pound class.
Adams won his quarterfinal and semifinal matches by pin, then decisioned Conner Lambert of LaRue County 12-1 in the first-place match.
Kelly won by pin in the quarterfinals and claimed a 12-3 decision in the semifinals. He won his class by forfeit over Andrew Pottle of Ohio County.
At 138, Grant-Hall won his first match 13-0, then recorded a pin at 3:56 in the semifinals. Against Devon Herron of North Hardin in the finals, Grant Hall suffered an 8-4 setback.
In other semi-state action for the Colonels, Deameion Leavell was fifth at 120 and A.J. Harvey placed fifth at 220.
Three Colonels placed sixth — JaRi Campbell at 106, Mason Kellett at 145 and Jacob Newby at 160.
At 126, Gage Fowler was injured in his opening match and did not return.
Everyone who advances to state is guaranteed a medal as a top-eight finisher. The abbreviated state tourney will be held at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester next Saturday, March 27.
