Miranda H. Lewis
Carter County Times
The 2022-2023 wrestling season marked its second year of competition at West Carter Middle School this season.
Wrestling is becoming more popular not just nationwide, but right here in Carter County – and the talent pool is quite impressive.
“A few of our wrestlers hit their personal best with winning records and getting first wins on the season,” said Coach Phillip Roe of his Middle School Comets. “Will Caudill (8th grade) finished with a record of 18-6, which is really well.”
Eighth graders Tyler Flannery and Ethan Swearigan as well as 7th grader Hunter Flannery are competing at both the Middle and High School levels.
Swearigan recently finished Runner-Up in Region 8 and will be advancing to the upcoming High School State Tournament.
The weekend before last, 17 West Carter Youth wrestlers traveled to Corbin to compete in the 2023 Kentucky Youth State Wrestling Championship.
The middle school division competed on Saturday, followed by the youth division on Sunday.
Participants in 4th through 8th grade were eligible to compete.
Ten of West Carter’s 17 wrestlers were recognized for placing first through sixth place in their respective divisions and weight classes at the state event.
Roe commended his team’s effort at regionals, noting that Region 4 is the largest in the state.
“Our kids wrestled very well,” he said.
Three local wrestlers were crowned champions.
Liam Skinner was the schools only regional qualifier to advance to the Kentucky Middle School State Tournament.
He earned his first state championship in the 12U 78 weight class.
Brothers Parker and Kaysen Mabry are competing in their first year of wrestling.
Parker was crowned champion at the 10U 77 weight class and Kaysen won his first state championship at the 8U 53 weight class.
West Carter also collected two runner ups, three third place finishes, and two other youth wrestlers medaled in the top six in their respective age and weight divisions.
The youth team tied for 20th place overall out of 92 teams.
