Ranked No. 2 in the state, the Trinity High School wrestling team will have to overcome a major injury to live up to that lofty position at this weekend’s State Championships.
Trinity senior Tyler Frankrone, a two-time state champion and the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the 195-pound weight class, will miss the event after suffering a torn pectoral muscle during last weekend’s Region Four Tournament.
Shamrocks coach Eddie Rudolph said Frankrone, who plans to wrestle on the college level, will have surgery at a later date.
“If anyone would have been a lock to win their weight class this weekend when healthy, it would have been him at 195,” Rudolph said. “He’s like, ‘Why me? Why now?’ Being a three-time state champion is something he really wanted. He was hoping to win a couple of awards and maybe take Most Outstanding Wrestler.”
Trinity is among several Louisville-area teams that should be in the mix for a top-five finish during the State Championships, set for Friday and Saturday at the Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena in Lexington.
Rudolph said seven-time state champion Union County, No. 1 in the KentuckyWrestling.com rankings, “is the clear-cut favorite.” Along with Trinity, other top teams include No. 3 Woodford County, No. 4 Oldham County, No. 5 Campbell County, No. 6 St. Xavier, No. 7 North Oldham and No. 8 Fern Creek, which is the defending champion.
Rudolph said Oldham County may be the best equipped to make a run at Union County for the team championship. The Colonels are led by twins Max Emerson (ranked No. 1 at 182 pounds) and Brady Emerson (No. 3 at 152).
“Oldham County has pretty good depth,” Rudolph said. “But in our state tournament, it all depends on the draw because it’s not seeded.”
Union County has three wrestlers ranked No. 1 in his weight class — sophomore Saul Ervin (120 pounds), junior Bryce Sheffer (126) and senior Jackson Oxford (145). Sheffer is a two-time state champion, having won at 120 last year and at 113 as a freshman.
“We wrestled them at the beginning of the year, and they’ve had some kids drop one more weight class since then, which will make them a little tougher,” Rudolph said. “They’re always there at the end of the year, and their coaches to a great job getting them ready.”
Minus Frankrone, Trinity still has three solid chances at individual champions as senior Keegan Duncan (132) and Hudson Heidorf (160) are ranked No. 1 in their weight classes and senior Ben Barton (152) is ranked No. 2.
Other No. 1-ranked wrestlers from Louisville are St. Xavier freshman Nate Wheeler (106 pounds) and Iroquois junior Brandon Reed (220).
Woodford County’s title chances took a jolt this week when sophomore Tylan Tucker, ranked No. 1 at 113 pounds, was declared out because of an injury.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.
STATE WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
* When: Friday-Saturday.
* Where: Kentucky Horse Park’s Alltech Arena, Lexington.
* Tickets: $15 per day, $25 for all-session pass.
* Defending champion: Fern Creek.
* Friday’s schedule: First-round matches begin at 9:30 a.m.; wrestling will continue throughout the day with second round of the championship bracket and first two rounds of the consolation bracket.
* Saturday’s schedule: Third-round matches begin at 9 a.m.; championship round starts at 6 p.m.
* Top 25 teams (according to KentuckyWrestling.com): 1. Union County, 2. Trinity, 3. Woodford County, 4. Oldham County, 5. Campbell County, 6. St. Xavier, 7. North Oldham, 8. Fern Creek, 9. Johnson Central, 10. Lafayette, 11. Walton-Verona, 12. Henry Clay, 13. Male, 14. Wayne County, 15. Madison Central, 16. Simon Kenton, 17. Meade County, 18. Iroquois, 19. John Hardin, 20. Central, 21. Cooper, 22. LaRue County, 23. Harrison County, 24. North Hardin, 25. Christian County.
* No. 1 individuals (according to KentuckyWrestling.com): 106 pounds – Nate Wheeler (St. Xavier); 113 – x-Tylan Tucker (Woodford County); 120 – Saul Ervin (Union County); 126 – Bryce Sheffer (Union County); 132 – Keegan Duncan (Trinity); 138 – Angel Vasquez (Lafayette); 145 – Jackson Oxford (Union County); 152 – Geordan Blanton (Johnson Central); 160 – Hudson Heidorf (Trinity); 170 – Casey Cornett (Simon Kenton); 182 – Max Emerson (Oldham County); 195 – x-Tyler Frankrone (Trinity); 220 – Brandon Reed (Iroquois); 285 – Landon Young (Lafayette).
x – injured; will not compete.