Boyle County’s Jordan Bates already has several titles he can be proud of — state champion in wrestling and incoming West Point cadet among them. As of Tuesday, Bates can also call himself an “honorary Boyle County magistrate.”

The Boyle County Fiscal Court bestowed the title on Bates at its regular meeting Tuesday morning, when Bates led the court in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“I had the privilege of visiting with Jordan and his sister in my office before this meeting and I can tell you that I was very impressed with him and his sister,” said Judge-Executive Howard Hunt, a retired brigadier general in the U.S. Air Force. “They both will be people that we should be noticing in the future as leaders of this country in some capacity.”

Hunt said in four years of high-school wrestling, Bates’ record was 170-34.

“He owns the records for most wins in a season and career wins,” he said. “… Academically, Jordan has been a four-year all-state academic wrestler, ending his senior year with a 4.25 GPA.”

Bates became Boyle County’s second ever state wrestling champion in February when he beat Gentry Deck of Madison Central 6-5 in the 138-pound state title game. It had been more than 40 years since Boyle had a state wrestling champ.

“He’s the kid that comes around once in a lifetime,” wrestling head coach Seth Lucas said after Bates’ victory. “He sets the standard for Boyle County wrestling.”

Bates received his certificate of appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point in March. Bates will begin at West Point in July. Bates will wrestle at the college level as a member of the Army Black Knights, according to news archives.

This article has been corrected to reflect the correct month when Jordan Bates begins as a cadet at West Point.