COVINGTON – The Covington wrestling program has a strong tradition of success and five 2024 graduates – Chase Vanderhorst, Michael Hagan, Jericho Quinter, Carson Taylor and Kamden Hughes – established themselves as the greatest class of wrestlers in the history of the program.
Due to their overall impact on the wrestling tradition at Covington, seeing these five young men graduate leads to mixed emotions. The gratifying part is the memories of watching them develop throughout their careers and the success each one of them were able to accomplish. What is painful is the reality that they will never compete in a Buccaneer uniform again.
In a tribute to these five outstanding wrestlers and even greater young men, here is a recap of each of their wrestling careers – listed in alphabetical order by their last name.
MICHAEL HAGAN
Michael Hagan was the fourth four-time state qualifier in school history and a two-time state placer, placing 8th in 2021 at 106 pounds and 7th in 2024 at 132 pounds. He is also one of six father and son combinations in Covington history to reach state as his father, Mike Hagan, was a state qualifier in 1986. Plus, his brother, Daniel Jennings was a two-time state qualifier in 2013 and 2014.
Michael finished his high school career with 177 wins, which is seventh in school history. He is in the top ten in Covington history with the best winning percentage as he complied a career record of 177-29 for a winning percentage of 85.9%. He finished with the most career pins in school history with 122 and the most pins in one season with 37 pins in 2023-24. Michael tallied 979 career points, which ranks third in program history, and finished with 272 points in his senior season, which ranks seventh in school history. In 2023-24 as a senior, Michael became one of 12 wrestlers who capture at least 50 wins in one season.
Hagan’s path to success at the high school level began with his development at the youth and junior high level. Michael was a 4x Grade School State Qualifier and a 2x Jr. High State Qualifier. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to compete at state as an 8th grader because the state tournament was cancelled due to Covid.
KAMDEN HUGHES
Kamden Hughes was an extremely talented and hard working wrestler who set up a path to become one to the top wrestlers in Covington history. Unfortunately Kamden’s wrestling career was ended just prior to his eighth grade school year due to a horrific car accident. Still, Kam never walked away from the sport as he continued to work out in weight training and supported his wrestling teammates throughout their entire high school careers. Kam’s impact and popularity in the sport of wrestling made him very well known throughout the area as he was recognized at several huge tournaments over the years.
Prior to his wrestling career being taken from him, Kam had a huge amount of success at the youth and junior high levels. He was a 7x Grade School State Qualifier, 6x Grade School State Placer, 3x Grade School State Champion. He was also a 2x Jr. High State Qualifier in sixth and seventh grade.
JERICHO QUINTER
Jericho placed twice at state in his high school career by finishing sixth in 2022 at 113 pounds and seventh in 2024 at 126 pounds. Quinter’s accomplishments were inspiring as he overcame serious injuries suffered in his freshman and junior years – injuries that prevented him from qualifying to state in 2021 and 2023. Still, the desire and determination Jericho had led to the state medals he earned in 2022 and 2024.
Jericho also put his name in the wrestling records throughout his career. He finished with 51 career wins as a senior in 2023-24, which only eight other wrestlers have been able to accomplish. He ranks ninth in the history of the program with a career winning percentage of 85.2% by compiling a career record of 155-27. Jericho compiled 90 career pins, which ranks ninth, 93 near falls in 2023-24, which ranks second, and 226 career near fall, which ranks third in school history.
Prior to a stellar high school career, Jericho developed himself at the youth and junior high level with a huge amount of success. He was a 4x Grade School State Qualifier and 2x Grade School State Placer at the youth level and then a 3x Jr. High State Qualifier and a 2x Jr. High State Placer. Unfortunately he wasn’t able to compete at state as an 8th grader because the state tournament was cancelled due to Covid.
CARSON TAYLOR
Carson Taylor closed out his outstanding wrestling career at Covington by placing 8th at state in the 113 pound weight class as a senior in 2024. He was also a state qualifier in 2022 at 106 pounds.
Taylor tallied 95 career pins, which is seventh in program history. He also compiled 127 career near falls, which is tied for ninth in program history, and 872 career points, which is ranked tenth in school history.
Prior to his success at the high school level, Carson earned three trips to state – once as a Grade School State Qualifier and twice as a Jr. High State Qualifier. Unfortunately, Carson wasn’t able to compete at state as an 8th grader because the state tournament was cancelled due to Covid.
CHASE VANDERHORST
Chase added not only to the Covington wrestling tradition, but the Vanderhorst family tradition by becoming a three-time state qualifier and three-time state placer. After losing his entire freshman season due to an injury suffered in football, Chase finished 5th at state in 2022 at 126 pounds, 5th at state in 2023 at 132 pounds, and 4th at state in 2024 at 138 pounds. His three state medals now tallies a total of eight state medals in the Vanderhorst family as his brother, Cael, was a three-time state placer and his uncle, Craig, was a two-time state placer. Plus, Chase’s father, Eric, was a two-time state qualifier in 1991 and 1992.
Despite losing out on his entire freshman season, Chase was still able to put his name into the wrestling records throughout his career. He ranks fifth in program history with an 88.1% winning percentage with a career record of 118-16. He also has 86 career pins, which is tenth in program history.
Chase competed at a very high level as well in grade school and junior high. He was a 4x Grade School State Qualifier, 2x Grade School State Placer, 1x Grade School State Champion at the youth level. Then, in junior high, Chase was a 3x Jr. High State Qualifier and a 2x Jr. High State Placer. Chase wasn’t able to compete at state as an 8th grader because the state tournament was cancelled due to Covid.
Vanderhorst’s wrestling career will continue at the collegiate level as he has committed to Ohio Northern University.
