[Stardust]

ASHLAND — When the high school wrestling season opened, Ashland coach Tony Love didn’t know what to expect.

The Tomcats graduated state runner-up Trent Hardy and lost several other starters and potential contributors as well. But a season that began with modest expectations has turned into much more.

The Region 8 Tournament is Saturday at Johnson Central and Love said Ashland could be a top four team there.

Although the Tomcats lost their only senior — Chris Blair — to a season-ending knee surgery several weeks ago, Love has watched the squad make strides and build momentum down the stretch.

“We started out not being very good,” Love said. “We have some talented kids, and the younger guys worked hard. They have gotten better.”

In mid-January, Ashland travelled to Perry County Central and finished fourth in the regional duals — a preview for Saturday’s tournament.

“It was a very good showing,” said Love, whose team posted wins over Pike County Central, Belfry, Letcher County Central and Whitley County. “We went down there thinking we would be in the middle of the pack. That’s actually where we started excelling.”

Ashland followed up by taking second place in a 10-team field at its own Tomcat Duals on Jan. 27.

The host team went 3-1 in the tournament and had eight wrestlers advance to the finals. Sophomore heavyweight Luke Johnson won an individual title.

“We’ve been progressing through the course of the year,” Love said. “A couple of teams that beat us at the beginning, later at our duals we handled them pretty well.”

Juniors Dakota Sloas, Slater Swift, Tanner Adams and sophomore Austin Pinkerman have won 20 or more matches apiece.

Swift and Johnson (18-6) were also instrumental in the Tomcats’ run to a regional football championship.

“Slater wrestles in a very difficult weight class (182),” Love said. “A lot of those kids have a combination of strength, athleticism and usually are very experienced because they worked their way up through the years. He’s doing very well.”

Johnson’s confidence carried over after a stellar season at defensive tackle.

“He’s pretty strong and has become more aggressive each week when he goes out there,” said Love, who is Ashland’s defensive coordinator in football. “I think wrestling has definitely helped Luke. One of the reasons he was able to start on the defensive line is his leverage. He understands how to keep himself in good situations.”

Newcomers such as brothers Isiah and Mike Copley, Tyler Sutton and Mike Sams have been good additions, according to Ashland’s 12th-year coach. Pinkerman, a sophomore, participates in ROTC with the Copleys and talked them into coming out for wrestling.

Eighth-grader Grant Krueger filled the void left by Blair at 170 pounds after finishing runner-up in Kentucky’s Middle School State Tournament.

Krueger went 3-1 in the Tomcat Duals to get third place.

“There are a few eighth-graders we are bringing up,” Love said. “Our junior high looked very good this year.”

At regionals, the top four finishers in each weight class will advance to the State Tournament on Feb. 17-18 in Lexington.

“I think we will be able to get some kids to state,” Love said. “I don’t know how many.”

Johnson Central and Wayne County are traditionally strong wrestling programs and again headline the 13-team field.

“Both are very good,” Love said.

http://dailyindependent.com/localsports/...h-momentum