UNION COUNTY, Ky. — Twin brothers brought back a big title to their small hometown in Union County, after competing in the U17 Greco-Roman Wrestling World Championship in Amman, Jordan.
Twins Jayden and Jordyn Raney are juniors from Union County High School.
Jayden said, “Everybody at the world championships, they’ve been working their entire life just to get there.”
During his first match, Jayden took down the champion from Asia.
Jayden said, “After that first match, I was like, ‘Well, I just beat him, and he is probably the top five in the world for sure, so I know I can hang with all the guys.’”
After that, Jayden battled his way into the finals to fight for the gold medal.
Jordyn said, “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, my brother is in the finals.’”
The final match began, and Jayden did not disappoint.
Jayden said, “I was up pretty early, I was up like six to nothing, and I was like, ‘I’m doing pretty good, I’m gonna win this.’”
Eventually, earning a gold medal, winning 7-5.
Jayden said, “All I did was circle, so I didn’t give up any points, and I ended up winning.”
Jordyn, who had won the same championship in 2023, was fighting for bronze, after losing his match in the semifinals.
Jordyn said, “I had gotten over it. I knew I had one more match in front of me. I was not going home with nothing. I got to get something.”
He won.
Jordyn said, “I handled my guy, did what I had to do, and got my bronze medal.”
The achievement was not a stroke of luck. The Raney twins worked out on the Union County High School wrestling mats in the wee hours of the morning, and the late hours of the night.
Brooks Black, the co-head coach of the team, said the pair did what was needed to succeed. “Trying to keep their weight down, running multiple days a week, doing two or three a day workouts.”
Coach Black and coach Jarvis Elam could not be more proud of the pair who worked hard for the success.
Elam said, “It’s what separates the good from the best. It’s a really good feeling seeing all that hard work finally paying off.”