The Southern Standard partners with R3 Logistics and Mud Bums Family Sports Grill to honor a Pioneer of the Week throughout the year. Our honoree from Feb. 18 - Feb. 25 is state medalist Zerek Keel.
Junior Pioneer Zerek Keel can tell anybody who asks that he's one of the best wrestlers in the state. He proved it over the weekend while competing in the TSSAA state tournament.
Keel was the lone Pioneer of seven who made the trek to the Williamson County Expo Center to bring home a medal, finishing fifth in the 175-pound weight class. Keel won four matches during the event, including two grueling matchups early Saturday morning at the brink of elimination.
"Every wrestler who has made it this far has been in that position - when you know it's win or you're done - and it can take its toll. Zerek handled it in stride and kept getting the job done," said coach Matt Turner. "He's been building toward that podium for the last two years and I'm glad to see him get there this year."
Keel was a state qualifier in each of the last two seasons, but this year felt like a breakout campaign as he entered following championships in the Region 4AA and Section 2AA tournaments. Keel got his weekend started with a bang, beating Cooper Etheridge (Knox West) by pin in the opener. Keel would fall into the consolation match in the next round, falling to Northwest's Henry Williams that needed four overtimes to decide.
Coming back Saturday knowing he had to win twice to make the podium, Keel went right to work. He dominated Columbia's Jamar Morris on his way to a technical fall win (19-3) before edging by Jimmy Taylor from Dobyns Bennett 5-2 to make the stage.
A rare pinfall loss for Keel followed against Standford Thompson (West Creek), placing the Pioneer in the fifth-place match. In his final battle at the state tournament, Keel was able to defeat Cleveland's Dylan Harrold once again.
In a rematch of the sectional title matchup - one Keel took at home by pin in the third round - Keel was able to again top Harrold. This time, it was by decision as Keel won on points 7-2.
The outlook for Keel next year could be even brighter. Of the six medalists in the 175-pound weight class Saturday, four were seniors. Only Keel and Thompson (the eventual third-place finisher) will have eligibility remaining for next year.
Don't expect Keel to waste time getting ready for next year. He'll be looking to return to Williamson County next February to complete unfinished business.
Six Pioneers get
a shot at state
While Keel was the lone medalist from Warren County over the weekend, he wasn't the only athlete representing the red, white and blue. The Pioneers took seven wrestlers to state and three - PJ Truax, Marley Harris and JR Mares - all earned wins during their time at state.
Truax, one of two seniors wrestling for the final time for WCHS, lost his first match in the 190-pound division before beating Brentwood sophomore Henry Drazek in his second match (9-3 decision).
Truax's final match as a Pioneer was a battle with Bartlett's Tony Hatley, one that Truax dropped by a 5-1 decision.
Harris was a two-time winner during her trip to state. She started off hot last Friday, beating Forrest sophomore Danika Mealer in just 75 seconds, working an early pin in the first round.
Harris fell in her second match to senior Rebecca Deyo (Knox Catholic) as she eventually went on to finish second. The Pioneer junior bounced back to get a forfeit in her first match Saturday before losing to Cearyona O'Connor in a battle for a place on the podium.
Mares' lone win came against Bartlett senior Jackson Witsell. It was a four-OT battle that saw Mares come out on top at the end.
Jakoby Odineal, Brayden McKinley and Allison Sweatman also represented Warren County at state, but were unable to come away with wins in their two matches.
The future of the program is still looking bright as Harris and Sweatman can each come back to lead the women's team next year, while Keel, Odineal and Mares are part of a young core of Pioneers who look ready to push for team championships in the future.
