02-10-2012, 09:41 PM
LaRue Countyâs quest for the schoolâs first state wrestling championship begins Saturday when the Region 2 Tournament is held at Danville High School.
The top-ranked Hawks dominated during the regular season, when they went undefeated against in-state competition until a loss to No. 2 Union County in the championship of the State Duals.
With seniors Shawn Hull (33-1), Drew Newberry (36-2), Nick Paden (34-5) and Bernard Ray (38-2) leading the way, the Hawks are locked and loaded to make a run at the state title. But LaRue County must first take care of business in the region tournament, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.
âWe shouldnât have much trouble winning it,â said Paden, whoâs going for his fifth straight region title. That would match the mark set by Josh Johnson, who won five region titles at John Hardin and North Hardin. âBut individually, one little slip-up and you can get third or fourth or not even make it to State. We need all 14 individuals to do well this weekend.â
Winning their third region title in a row, however, isnât the Hawksâ focus. Setting themselves up for a chance to win the state title in Lexington is.
âWe are not looking at this as the region tournament; weâre looking at it as the beginning of the state tournament,â LaRue County coach Gary Canter said. âWeâre trying to set ourselves up for the best possible draws we can get. But weâve stressed to the kids that if you lose, itâs not the end of the world. A lot of times the No. 2 comes out with a better draw than the No. 1. It all depends on the luck of the draw.
âIf we win region, great,â he added. âBut our ultimate goal hasnât been to win the region; itâs been to win the individual state tournament. The good Lord willing and us working to our potential, we ought to be right in the hunt to do so.â
The Hawks have come close before as they finished second in 2001 and â05 and took third in 2000 and â06.
Despite the loss to Union County, Canter feels everyone is chasing the Hawks.
âI still think we are the team to beat,â he said. âWeâve kind of used the saying that the state tournament is not ours to win this weekend, but itâs our tournament to lose. If we donât set ourselves up correctly this weekend, we could very easily not win the state tournament.â
Paden agreed, saying the Hawks can set themselves up for success or failure at State depending on how they perform Saturday.
âWe canât win the state tournament this Saturday at region, but we can lose it,â Paden said. âIf only half our team does well this weekend, then there goes our chance at a state title. Itâs ours to lose this week, and we just have to keep the whole big picture in mind.â
LaRue County received seven No. 1 seeds for the region tournament. The other seven were awarded to Anderson County (three), Central Hardin (two) and Danville (two).
Sophomore Kyle Edlin (106 pounds, 34-5), and juniors Caleb Canter (170, 34-5) and B.J. Carman (195, 34-4) received the Hawksâ other No. 1 seeds.
Gary Canter said the Hawks should expect a challenge from No. 15 Anderson County and Central Hardin.
âI think Anderson County is a solid squad,â he said. âThey fly under the radar and theyâre good, solid kids. Theyâre going to win matches. If we overlook Anderson County, they could sneak in there and give us a push. They looked awfully good at the State Duals. Theyâre right up there. If anyoneâs going to challenge us, Iâd expect it to come from Anderson County.
The top-ranked Hawks dominated during the regular season, when they went undefeated against in-state competition until a loss to No. 2 Union County in the championship of the State Duals.
With seniors Shawn Hull (33-1), Drew Newberry (36-2), Nick Paden (34-5) and Bernard Ray (38-2) leading the way, the Hawks are locked and loaded to make a run at the state title. But LaRue County must first take care of business in the region tournament, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday.
âWe shouldnât have much trouble winning it,â said Paden, whoâs going for his fifth straight region title. That would match the mark set by Josh Johnson, who won five region titles at John Hardin and North Hardin. âBut individually, one little slip-up and you can get third or fourth or not even make it to State. We need all 14 individuals to do well this weekend.â
Winning their third region title in a row, however, isnât the Hawksâ focus. Setting themselves up for a chance to win the state title in Lexington is.
âWe are not looking at this as the region tournament; weâre looking at it as the beginning of the state tournament,â LaRue County coach Gary Canter said. âWeâre trying to set ourselves up for the best possible draws we can get. But weâve stressed to the kids that if you lose, itâs not the end of the world. A lot of times the No. 2 comes out with a better draw than the No. 1. It all depends on the luck of the draw.
âIf we win region, great,â he added. âBut our ultimate goal hasnât been to win the region; itâs been to win the individual state tournament. The good Lord willing and us working to our potential, we ought to be right in the hunt to do so.â
The Hawks have come close before as they finished second in 2001 and â05 and took third in 2000 and â06.
Despite the loss to Union County, Canter feels everyone is chasing the Hawks.
âI still think we are the team to beat,â he said. âWeâve kind of used the saying that the state tournament is not ours to win this weekend, but itâs our tournament to lose. If we donât set ourselves up correctly this weekend, we could very easily not win the state tournament.â
Paden agreed, saying the Hawks can set themselves up for success or failure at State depending on how they perform Saturday.
âWe canât win the state tournament this Saturday at region, but we can lose it,â Paden said. âIf only half our team does well this weekend, then there goes our chance at a state title. Itâs ours to lose this week, and we just have to keep the whole big picture in mind.â
LaRue County received seven No. 1 seeds for the region tournament. The other seven were awarded to Anderson County (three), Central Hardin (two) and Danville (two).
Sophomore Kyle Edlin (106 pounds, 34-5), and juniors Caleb Canter (170, 34-5) and B.J. Carman (195, 34-4) received the Hawksâ other No. 1 seeds.
Gary Canter said the Hawks should expect a challenge from No. 15 Anderson County and Central Hardin.
âI think Anderson County is a solid squad,â he said. âThey fly under the radar and theyâre good, solid kids. Theyâre going to win matches. If we overlook Anderson County, they could sneak in there and give us a push. They looked awfully good at the State Duals. Theyâre right up there. If anyoneâs going to challenge us, Iâd expect it to come from Anderson County.