November 24, 2006 – COVINGTON
Although Logan Brown was the first Covington wrestler to capture a state championship last spring, he had others pave the way for him.

The opportunity would have never been available if it wasn't for those from the past who paved the way...all of the previous state qualifiers and state placers.

Think about it. If it wasn't for Randy Kimmel, Brad Hall, Craig Vanderhorst and a host of others, wrestling at Covington would have died a long time ago...and Logan Brown would have never had the opportunity to reach his own goals.

Since one of those wrestlers from the storied past was 1984 graduate Jason Kingrey, Covington wrestling can thank the game of checkers for much of its history and tradition.

Kingrey, who was inducted into the Covington Athletic Hall of Fame on Friday, credited the board game for developing the competitive edge that made him one of the best wrestlers in Covington history.

"When I was in seventh grade I didn't win a match," said Kingrey during his induction speech. "I got pinned every time except my last match in seventh grade."

Many can relate to Kingrey telling the story because of their own personal failures. But what set Kingrey apart was his eagerness to continue.

"I always wondered why I continued to wrestle after getting beat all of the time," Kingrey continued. "But then I realized it was because of a game of checkers. My father and I used to play checkers a lot and he would always beat me. I'd kept coming back to try and beat him and before long I began to beat him more and more. That's why I believe I stuck with wrestling."

According to Kingrey, he continued to struggle with wrestling until his junior season of high school. All the while, many of his teammates gave up the sport while he stuck it out.

"When I was a freshman, about ten of my classmates wrestled," Kingery described. "By the time I was a junior, three of use remained...Craig Vanderhorst, Kent Musgrave and myself."

Kingrey began to reap the rewards of his persistence in 1983 as he steamrolled through the competition to sectional and district championships and then a fourth place finish at state in the 167 pound weight class. He and teammate Craig Vanderhorst were the first two state placers in Covington history and the only two Covington wrestlers to place in the same year.

The wrestler then repeated his performance with a sectional and district title in 1984 as a senior, but failed to place at state.

Regardless, he had already cemented his legend as one of the top wrestlers in Buccaneer history with a 66-23 career record.

Kingery then wrestled in college at Heidelberg University and was a two-time OAC champion (1986 and 1988). He placed second in the OAC in 1987 and fourth as a freshman in 1985.

For his accomplishments, Kingrey was named Heidelberg Wrestling MVP twice (1986 and 1988).

Kingrey finished his college career with an 86-47-1 record.

And to think, all of this would have never happened if it wasn't for a game of checkers.