Caldwell County will send two wrestlers to the KHSAA State Wrestling Championships next weekend after a pair of runner-up finishes Saturday in semi-state competition at Owensboro Apollo.
Timothy Nichols placed second at 120 pounds while Dylan Walls was runner-up at 170. They will represent Caldwell at the abbreviated state tourney next Saturday, March 27, at George Rogers Clark High School in Winchester.
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.
Everyone who advances to state is guaranteed a medal as a top-eight finisher.
Nichols won his quarterfinal round match by pin, then decisioned McCracken County’s Parker McKee 11-8 in the semifinals to reach the first-place match and guarantee himself a spot at state.
Nichols was pinned by Union County’s Tracye Eckman in the semi-state final.
At 170, Walls won his first match with a first-period pin. He then decisioned Apollo’s Cameron Baker 10-5 in the semifinals.
In the championship match, Walls dropped an 8-1 decision to Dalton Russelburg of Union County.
Three other Tigers just missed earning a spot at state with third-place finishes. They were Collin Teutsch at 113, Riley Johnson at 132 and Colin Walls at 182.
Also for Caldwell, Logan Brown placed fifth at semi-state at 106 pounds.
At 126, Cofy Walls was injured in his consolation round match. The seventh-place match in that class was a double forfeit.
