Oldham County seniors Max and Brady Emerson are double trouble for opponents of the school’s wrestling team. The 5-foot-10 twins are ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in their respective weight classes (Max at 182 pounds, Brady at 152) in the state after both finished third last year (Max at 160, Brady at 138).
So far this season Max is 20-0 and Brady is 29-2 for the Colonels, who are ranked eighth in the state coaches poll.
Q: Who’s older?
Brady Emerson: I’m older by 20 minutes.
Q: How did you two get into wrestling?
BE: Our dad did it (in high school) and my mom was a teacher at Oldham County Middle School and she asked the coach if we could just mess around and he let us on the team when we were first grade. And, we just never stopped since then.
Max Emerson: The middle school needed a coach, and my mom asked my dad to coach and he brought us on the team as well.
Q: You both finished third at state last year, what was that like?
BE: Well third is obviously very good, but we both lost very close matches and if we would’ve won we would’ve been in the state finals. I’m happy with third but I wanted to win state, so I’m working harder so maybe I can win it this year. I think it would be pretty cool if we both won state, if my brother won it and I won it I’d be a pretty special moment. That’s what we work hard for, to win state.
ME: I lost that (semifinal) match at State and was heartbroken, but I use that as motivation. All summer I worked harder. During the state tournament (after my loss) I wasn’t going to lose the rest of the day. That’s how I’ve felt this whole season, like I’ve got a chip on my shoulder, I’ve got to prove myself again that I can get the ultimate job done.
Q: Oldham County finished fifth as a team last year, what’s the goal for this year?
ME: State championship. We’ve worked hard all year for it. We have a ton of kids who wrestle seven days a week basically. …I think it’s really a legitimate opportunity in front of us to win a state championship. That’s what we’ve been working for.
BE: I think, in my opinion, if we don’t win state it’s on us. I would say we would be the No. 1 seed going into the state tournaments. We’re pretty much in the driver’s seat. We’ve got a lot of young talent that needs to step it up and learn what it’s about to be at state. I’ve been here for, this is my fifth year, we’ve always been this close (putting fingers inches apart) to winning it. I think me and my brother and all the seniors have to step it up and show leadership and hopefully we can pull through for the win, and win the team state championship.
Q: When’s the last time you two wrestled each other in a match?
BE: Our first-grade year we actually wrestled each other and it was for a medal and I think Max beat me pretty good. …(But) we wrestle at practice.
ME: Last time we wrestled in a real match would’ve been that first match we had in the first grade. …When we wrestle in practice it’s very competitive. One time there were a few punches thrown, head-butts. My mom was like, ‘How’d you get that black eye Brady?’ I was like, ‘I don’t know.’
Q: Are you two a lot alike?
BE: I’d say we like a lot …
ME: …a lot of the same stuff. We do a lot of stuff together.
BE: We pretty much do everything the same, so I guess we are like twins.
Q: You two want to wrestle in college. Do you know where yet?
ME: Probably the University of the Cumberlands (for both of us).
Q: You two turn 18 on Feb. 17. Do you have big plans?
BE: We usually don’t celebrate it until after wrestling season so we can eat cake and stuff like that. We have a big eating feast.
BRADY & MAX EMERSON UP CLOSE
School: Oldham County.
Year: Seniors.
Sport: Wrestling.
Student-athlete: Brady, who is in his fifth year on the varsity wrestling team, has a 3.5 GPA. Max, who is in his fourth year on the team, has a 3.8 GPA. Both say choir is one of their favorite classes.
Family: Brady & Max, 17, live with their dad, Steve, and mom, Chandra. Their older sister, Ellen, 21, attends Western Kentucky University.
Coach Aaron Riordan says: They’ve been around our program for a long time…forever. I’ve gotten to watch them grow up over the years. They’re both really good kids, really good people, they come from a great family and it’s been really fun getting to coach them. Their personalities, I think they’re what helps make our team click. There’s just something about the two of them, just wouldn’t be the same without them. They’re both goof balls, but in a good way.
They’ve been really supportive of one another. They really get behind one another, they push one another. It’s just been a unique experience.