HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

In 2 years as varsity wrestling coach at White Knoll High School, coach Kyle Kimrey is building a program that is rapidly becoming one of the most improved in the Midlands.

Last season saw a state championship come to the program with 145-pound 5A champ Selwyn Porter. So far this season, the Timberwolves have won the Eagle Duals at Airport High School and had strong performances both against Lexington High School and at the KO Sportswear Duals held at Wildcat Gymnasium.

“Last year we had to change the mindset, get the team invested in a better culture,” Kirmey said. “This year, the pace and effort are where we need it to be, and we have had some success early with the dual team. We don’t have any superstars, just a bunch of tough kids top to bottom.”

It’s a young team with 6 seniors on a 45-member high school and 15-member middle school age team. There are 14 different weight classes in high school wrestling, and Kimrey is aiming to compete in all of them.

The Dec. 19 match lost to Lexington 39-34 saw the team earn 5 pins and 1 major decision to Lexington’s 3 pins, 1 major and 2 minor decisions, a tech fall and 1 win by forfeit which ended up being the difference in the match.

“We hope to build the program over time,” Kimrey said. “We have 30 kids in the youth level program that starts in kindergarten through 6th grade and we’ve had some success there already.

“Our administrators and students at White Knoll are very supportive as well—when we have a rivalry match like Lexington, they come out and support us in a big way.”

Kimrey attributes the team’s current success to the wrestlers themselves and their work ethic this season so far.

“They are all working hard and holding each other accountable for putting in the time to succeed,” he said. “They all understand the expectations and are striving to meet them every day.”