2014-15 All-Clark County wrestling team
First team
106: Jacob Lees, Northwestern, 25-12, district qualifier
113: Jacob Snoddy, Greenon, 24-10, district placer
120: Blake Biteman, Tecumseh, 37-6, district qualifier
126: Devin Rogers, Northwestern, 44-4, state runner-up
132: Jake Gutierrez, Catholic Central, 43-7, state placer
138: Andrew Franzen, Northwestern, 36-13, district placer
145: Wade Smiddy, Shawnee, 44-8, state placer
152: Tyler Sowards, Kenton Ridge, 47-11, district runner-up
160: Corey Williams, Greenon, 32-10, state placer
170: Michael Herbert, Tecumseh, 26-14, district qualifier
182: Connor Rogers, Northwestern, 37-10, state qualifier
195: Mitchell McCune, Shawnee, 26-10
220: Aaron Leciejewski, Greenon, 32-11, district placer
285: Tristan Taylor, Tecumseh, 38-8, district placer
Second team
106: Bryce Davis, Kenton Ridge
113: Hunter Donnan, Tecumseh
120: Ben Boggs, Northwestern
126: Seth D’Allesandris, Shawnee
132: Gage Whitt, Tecumseh
138: Pat Wilkerson, Kenton Ridge
145: Steven Marker. Tecumseh
152: Will Rose, Tecumseh
160: Nate Walden, Kenton Ridge
170: Johnny Dean, Northeastern
182: Luke Matthews, Shawnee, state placer
195: Jacob Dooley, Northwestern
220: Scott Dooley, Northeastern
285: Lane McKinney, Northeastern
Honorable Mention
106: Connor Maxwell, Tecumseh
113: Izac Hernandez, Shawnee
120: Jessie Mitchell, Southeastern
126: Dylan Johnston, Tecumseh
132: Justo Boggs, Northwestern
138: Cordell Bishop, Northeastern
145: Blake Speakman, Northwestern
152: Jacob Yost, Springfield
160: Gabe Xyathone, Southeastern
170: Joe Cochran, Springfield
182: Zach Taylor, Northeastern
195: Ariaz McDargh, Catholic Central
220: Drew Scott, Catholic Central
285: Hunter Hazlet, Catholic Central
Wrestler of the Year: Devin Rogers, Northwestern
Coach of the Year: Scott Herbert, Tecumseh
(Teams determined by Clark County high school coaches)
Devin Rogers’ rise through high school wrestling was a trip he never imagined.
After being a district qualifier as a freshman, Rogers became a state placer by his junior year and capped his high school career with a second-place finish at 126 pounds in the Division II state tournament earlier this month.
The Northwestern senior can add one more accomplishment to his final campaign after being selected as the Clark County Wrestler of the Year by the county’s coaches.
“I never thought I would accomplish this or a lot of the things I did (accomplish),” Rogers said. “But I worked my butt off all four years. It feels good to be recognized”
The county coaches voted on first and second teams and honorable mention.
Roger dropped a 6-3 decision to Graham’s Eli Seipel in their state title bout. Rogers recorded a late takedown and was on the verge for another when time expired.
“I didn’t accomplish what I wanted, but I did wrestle well,” Rogers said. “I’m happy with what I did. I went out there and competed. I never expected myself to be there after my freshman year, but I just kept working and improving.”
Rogers was part of a rebirth of Northwestern wrestling under coach Harry Husted.
After seeing the program drop to two wrestlers five years ago, the Warriors advanced six to district this year.
“I give a lot of credit to our coaches,” Rogers said. “They really worked with us and helped us improve. I can tell how much I’ve improved to go from being a district qualifier to a two-time state placer is a huge jump progress-wise.”
Rogers is one of five members of the All-Clark County team who advanced to the state tournament.
Catholic Central’s Jake Gutierrez (132), Shawnee’s Wade Smiddy (145) and Greenon’s Corey Williams (160) all placed at state while Northwestern’s Connor Rogers (182) was a state qualifier. Second-team selection Luke Matthews of Shawnee was a state placer at 182.
“There were a lot of tough Clark County kids at state,” Rogers said. “I think Clark County wrestling has gotten a lot better, but I don’t know if that just comes from growing up with them and watching them my whole life or not, but we (the county) did well at state.”
The all-county first team features 13 district qualifiers.
Northwestern led the way with four first-team selections. Greenon and Tecumseh each had three, Shawnee two and Catholic Central and Kenton Ridge one.
Tecumseh coach Scott Herbert was named coach of the year. The Indians had five district qualifiers.
“We had a nice season,” Herbert said. “The kids worked hard and the seniors took the team on their shoulders and provided a lot of leadership and examples. They left a good foundation for the returners to continue to build on.”
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