Lafayette Jeff wrestlers McCoy, McKinney among six to reach state
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LAFAYETTE — What started as a journey in the 7th grade into wrestling continued with a celebration back home to Portillo's.
The weight cuts endured by Lafayette Jeff junior wrestling partners RJ McCoy and Robert McKinney deserved a feast for the ages on the ceremonious trip home from East Chicago to Tippecanoe County after making history at IHSAA semi-state.
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McCoy placed third at 150 and McKinney finished second at 215 pounds to become the first Lafayette Jeff wrestlers to reach the IHSAA state championship since 220-pound Jacob Raub in 2021.
"I just want to thank my lord and savior Jesus Christ and everything he has done for me," McCoy said. "Nothing I've done would amount to anything if it wasn't for him. I want to thank my practice partners and all the rooms I've been in throughout the summer."
McCoy credited his father Phillip for helping him attend wrestling rooms throughout the state.
No matter where he desired to go, Phillip was there to make the drive.
"I want to thank him because I was able to get that training," McCoy said. "That was a tough semi-state bracket."
McKinney took pride in helping his coach Tom Miller end his 23-year career with two wrestlers reaching state.
"I'm just happy to give him this chance," McKinney said. "It's a battle every day and it starts at practice. It was nerve wracking especially with most of the people there being ranked. It was a very different situation than what I was used to. But every match is a new one with the score 0-0."
Southmont freshman Gavin Mason and sophomore Lukas Scott joined Rossville regional champions Jacob Cole and Jacob Weaver as the six wrestlers that will represent the Lafayette area at the IHSAA state meet beginning Friday.
Cole captured the 157-pound regional title, Weaver earned the 175-pound title while Mason finished second at 132 pounds and Scott finished third at 106 pounds to advance out of New Castle to state.
"Watching them compete and doing the things we've been working on makes me proud of them," Rossville coach Matt Weaver said. "Because that's growth. When you see them doing the things we are telling them to create opportunities to score points and put it into practice and it works, that's exciting as a coach. Really what I'm really more proud about, is who they are as humans. How they represent themselves, how they represent the community and they are two really good young men."
Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter at EthanAHanson and Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: McCoy, McKinney lead six Lafayette area wrestlers to IHSAA state meet