Neer Wrestling Capture SKIT

The wrestling Pioneers hosted whopping 16 teams yesterday in the Simon Kenton Invitational Tournament.  The Joe was packed and stacked with wrestlers and supporters from all over the state of Kentucky and Ohio.  The good guys came out on top winning first place in the meet with a finals victory over Henry Clay to claim the top prize.  Congrats to the team and coaches as you continue to have a remarkable season!

I had a conversation with a SK teacher during the meet yesterday.  He made a really good point; the SK community and student body doesn’t know what it has with this wrestling team.  The team has been ranked all season in the top 3, not just in Northern Kentucky but the entire state.  If things go the right way, there is no question that they could compete for another state title.  (The last SK state wrestling title was back in 1988 behind a senior laden team led by the state’s most outstanding wrestler, Dave Barnes.)

The Neers are currently ranked behind defending state champion Campbell County, who is currently ranked first, and Union County. 

These Neer wrestlers are ranked in the top 20 in the state:  Jacob Listerman, Elijah Owens, Joey Parrot (2^nd), Chance Lutes, Drew Harris, Kevin Roberts, Kevin Cooper (1^st), Derek Hicks, Hiero Chamblee (3^rd), David Bergman (5^th), and Tucker Mueller.  WOW! 

He’ll tell you it is about the kids first, but Coach Nathan Gilbert was named Coach of the Year in the State of Kentucky following the state meet last season.  I got to be one of the first to congratulate Coach Gilbert on his Coach of the Year award last year but he was quick to point out to me that the award was about his great team of wrestlers and the entire coaching staff.  He’s passionate about what he does and the wrestlers seem to drive off the passion from this SK alum and current teacher.  Coach Gilbert has been coaching wrestling at SK for 8 seasons 4 years as Assistant Coach and 3 years as head coach.  He's done a phenomenal job leading these kids. The team finished 5th in the state last year, narrowly missing bringing team hardware back to Indy.   

Other coaches include:  Jarrod Peebles , an assistant coach at SK for 10 years, Steve Kaiser who has been coaching for 4 seasons and is the primary mat coach for the team,  Kevin Christensen, in his third year of coaching at Simon Kenton and Coach Dave DeStefano who is in his first season coaching at SK.  Several of these guys are Pioneer alumni; neat to see them come back and give back to the program.

The boys will have two meets left at the Joe this season.  The State Dual Qualifier is this Tuesday and Wednesday and the Kenton County Championship will be January 16^th.  Make sure to use this opportunity to get out and support this outstanding SK Sports Team. 

Kevin Cooper with a light moment practicing some moves on Coach Stowers.

 

Boys chillin.

 

 

 

 

Coach Kaiser trains a future Neer.

 

Busy day for Joe at the Joe.

 

Drew Harris looks to be taking a little break during his match.

 

Here, Harris takes his opponent for a fly.

 

Before gametime, Cooper is one of the most focused athletes I've seen in a while.

 

Pretty cool.

 

Cooper drives his opponent to the mat.

 

 

The Neer Singlets are bad.

 

Hicks Drills his opponent.

 

Chamblee's match was a quick one.

 

Chance listening to what comes next.