Ryle wrestlers defend crown

By Marc Hardin, Enquirer contributor   

The Ryle wrestling team will defend its championship at today's Raider Rumble, a 16-team pool tournament, but coach Tim Ruschell said it will be a challenge to hold off an impressive list of contenders.

"We want to try and get as many good teams as we can so it's tough for everybody," Ruschell said.

"It's a good early-season kickoff. It's a wake-up call, an opportunity for everybody to see where everybody else is at."

Qualifying starts at 10 a.m. The finals begin at 6 p.m. The Raiders are the two-time defending champions, but they will have to hold off six of the top eight teams in Kentucky plus Harrison and Columbus East from Ohio and West Virginia's Gundy, a former meet champion.

Among the Kentucky powers on hand are defending state champion Union, fourth-place state finisher Larue County and fifth-place Campbell County.

The Camels are returning four state placers, including 103-pound champion Garth Yenter, 119-pound runner-up Sean Fausz and heavyweight runner-up Mason Frank.

Competition should be especially keen in the lighter weight divisions, particularly at 126 pounds and 132.

Ryle's T.J. Ruschell is a favorite at 132 but he faces stiff competition in Raymundo Perez of Larue County and Justin Street from Grundy. Perez placed third at last season's Kentucky state meet. Street finished fourth in West Virginia and Grundy finished second as a team.

At 126, Ryle's Keegan North is in the same division as Campbell County's Fausz and Union's defending state champion Brock Ervin.

Ryle won last year by a half point over runner-up Union. Columbus East finished third.

Ryle wrestlers defend crown