North's Rusch wins MOP honors

MIDDLETOWN – The bigger, better version of Chase Rusch may have served notice Saturday he’s ready to step out on a statewide scale.
Rusch, a North Oldham High School junior, won the 160-pound regional wrestling title Saturday with an 8-4 win over Tom Rupp of Eastern and was named the meet’s Outstanding Wrestler.
“I was a little bit surprised, I really wasn’t expecting it,” Rusch said.
Rusch, who has been second in the region the past three seasons, won over Rupp with a late charge. He and Rupp split their matches this year with two wins each.
“It was a really tough match,” Rusch said. “He’s really strong and hard to deal with.”
He will enter state with a 42-5 record as a No. 1 bracket seed by virtue of his regional title.
“I think this gives me a little more momentum going into the state,” he said.
Rusch will face a tough battle in his class.
“It would be nice to win, but there is some really tough competition out there,” Rusch said. “I would like to place in the top five. It felt good to win the regional and I want to continue that.”

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