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The 1983 team was one of two district championship teams from Covington (1986).
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The Covington Buccaneers wrestling teams have had great success at district tournaments through the years. Success at this tournament qualifies wrestlers for the state tournament and along the way, 14 wrestlers and two teams have wrestled their way to district gold.
Randy Kimmel became the first district champion in 1978 and duplicated that accomplishment in 1979. Kimmel also became the first Covington wrestler to wrestle at state in '78 and '79.
Kirk Tisdale won the district championship in 1980 at 145 lbs. In 1982, the Buccs had two wrestlers earn district titles for the first time. Brad Hall (98 lbs.) and Don Emenegger (132 lbs.) captured titles. Hall was also the lone district champion in 1983 at 105 lbs.
1983 saw the beginning of the Jason Kingrey and Craig Vanderhorst runs. Kingrey and Vanderhorst won back-to back titles in 1983 and '84.
In 1986, Mike Hagan won the 155 lb. weight class while Scott Taylor won at 175 lbs. in '86 and '87. Brian Olson also won a title in 1987 at 185 lbs.
In the next ten years only one Covington wrestler captured a district championship. In 1992 Eric Vanderhorst won the 189 lb. class. In 1997 Noah Turner added his name to the championship list with a title at 152 lbs.
Brandon Owens started off the new millennium with a district title in 2000. Owens won the 171 lb. class and earned a trip to state.
Mike Stephan won back-to-back titles in 2001 and 2002 in the 171 lb. weight class, and the last to capture district gold was Logan Brown in 2005 and 2006 who went on to place third at the state meet in 2005 and became a state champion in 2006.
Only two Covington teams in history won the team district championship. The 1983 and 1986 teams may have been the best wrestling teams in school history.
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