BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

LEXINGTON — Martin County High School Cardinal wrestling team, under the guidance of head coach Josh Muncy, won the Tates Creek Invitational championship team title and added three individual championships Saturday.

The Cardinals amassed 191 points, 50 more than second-place Bullitt Central’s 141. Tates Creek finished third with 136 in the 19-team field.

Julian Stafford, Parker Maynard and Weston Jude all claimed individual championships, while Rafe Price and Madden Miller finished second and Caleb Costa took third.

Stafford (26-5) won the 126-lb. division, pinning Cedrick Stewart of Paintsville, Nick Fultz of Bullitt East and Corey Patyon of Bullitt Central.

Maynard (23-1) won the championship in the 132-lb. division. He pinned Daxton Baker of Montgomery County and Nathaniel Williams of Ashland and won the final round over Jefferson Crump of Tates Creek 11-10.

Jude (25-4) took first place in the 150-lb. division. He pinned Crayson Lafferty of Paintsville, won 16-4 over Kanye Garrett of Scott County 16-4, and pinned Bryce Helms of Ashland to reach the final round. Jude beat Braedan Kelly of Madison Southern 5-0 for the win.

Price (22-7) finished second in the 144-lb. division. Price pinned Alex Miller of George Rogers Clark and Clayton Bradley of Montgomery. He lost the championship round to Chris Begley of Madison Southern.

Miller (14-4) earned a second-place finish in the 175-lb. division. He pinned Case French of Grant County and Black Hurley of Belfry before losing to Jayden Justice of Pikeville in the championship round.

Costa (20-11) wrestled his way to a third-place finish in the 165-lb. division. He pinned Jaxson Borders of Paintsville in round 1, won 4-2 over Trinity Gottler of Tates Creek in round 2, and lost to the eventual champion Isaiah Barillas of Pikeville in the third round. Costa moved to the consolation bracket and won 10-1 over Grant Schneider of Madison Southern and 4-3 over Ben Thomerson of Montgomery County in the final round.