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Lindsey Wilson University Blue Raiders Serve Key Roles with Adair County Indian Athletics

Abe Cross helps resurrect Adair County wrestling program, Josh Kreiner leads Adair County Middle School girls' volleyball teams.

by Duane Bonifer

COLUMBIA, Ky. (01/16/2026) — A pair of Lindsey Wilson University employees are helping expand athletic opportunities for Adair County students.

Assistant Dean of Students Abe Cross is among a group responsible for resurrecting Adair County Public School's wrestling program, and volleyball coach Josh Kreiner has stepped in this season to coach the Adair County Middle School girls' volleyball teams.

Kreiner, who came to Lindsey Wilson from Ohio last March, said that one reason he wanted to help the Adair County Middle School volleyball program was because it would be a good opportunity for him to learn more about his new community.

"I was thinking that this would be a good way for me to put down some roots while helping out in the community," he said. "One of the biggest things that got me interested in the Lindsey Wilson coaching job was how awesome the community was. I was really impressed with the interaction between the campus and the community. That was pretty big to me."

For Cross, who has lived in Adair County for more than 15 years, serving as head wrestling coach in Adair County Schools is a way to help his community and his family. Cross' son Deacon, who is in the fourth grade at Adair County Elementary School, competes on the middle school wrestling team.

Deacon is among 56 students who make up three teams in the Adair County wrestling program -- a coed middle school team of fourth- through eighth-graders, a coed high school team and a high school girls' team.

"I wanted Adair County to have a sound wrestling foundation, and I wanted to do things in a way that encouraged participation," said Cross, who served as assistant wrestling coach at Lindsey Wilson. "Everything we've done has been very intentional from a recruitment and a retention perspective. We're also coupling that with sound wrestling techniques and a good foundation that will help the students grow and develop into good wrestlers."

Off to strong starts with strong community support

So far, the Indians are building a very strong foundation. Since competition began in December, Adair County's teams have turned in several impressive performances.

Helping Cross rebuild the Indians' wrestling are several assistants with Lindsey Wilson connections: Lindsey Wilson alumnus and former standout wrestler Derek Nickel '14, Josh Furkin '08, and LWU students Alex Beam '26 of Cynthiana, Kentucky, and Hunter Lehrke '27 of Louisville, Kentucky.

"We're very fortunate to have a staff with the amount of wrestling experience that our staff has, especially in Southcentral Kentucky, which didn't have much exposure to wrestling until Lindsey Wilson started the sport in 2009," said Cross.

Kreiner's Adair County Middle School girls' volleyball team has also benefitted from the wisdom of current Lindsey Wilson students as members of his Blue Raider volleyball program have dropped in on the Lady Indians' practices to share finer points of the game. Kreiner coaches 25 students on three teams -- a team of fifth- and sixth-graders, a team of seventh-graders and a team of eighth-graders.

"I've always had a passion for helping younger athletes grow, and this has been a great way to be involved with that," said Kreiner.

Kreiner's team also got off to a winning start when his three Lady Indian teams opened the season on Jan. 13 with a sweep of visiting Campbellsville High School. Then against Russell County on Jan. 15, the eighth-grade team continued its winning ways while the sixth- and seventh-grade teams lost in two games.

"We've had such great support from the community," said Kreiner.

Cross said the wrestling program has also enjoyed strong community support, as well as help from the Lindsey Wilson wrestling team, whose members have attended practices and competitions. The Adair County teams have also been invited to hold practices in the wrestling room at Lindsey Wilson's Doris and Bob Holloway Health & Wellness Center.

"It's really been fantastic," said Cross. "There's a buzz around the team. One of my wife's friends posted on Facebook that if you've not been out to watch Adair County wrestling, you need to go. And it's been great to see the Lindsey Wilson wrestlers work with our teams because that's been a great way for them to give back to the community as well."

Lindsey Wilson University is a vibrant liberal arts university in Columbia, Kentucky. Founded in 1903 and affiliated with The United Methodist Church, the mission of Lindsey Wilson is to serve the educational needs of students by providing a living-learning environment within an atmosphere of active caring and Christian concern where every student, every day, learns and grows and feels like a real human being. Lindsey Wilson offers 28 undergraduate majors, five graduate programs and a doctoral program. The university's 29 intercollegiate varsity athletic teams have won more than 120 team and individual national championships.

Media Attachments

Lindsey Wilson University Assistant Dean of Students Abe Cross speaks to members of Adair County Public Schools’ wrestling program during a recent practice at Adair County Middle School.

Members of Adair County Public Schools’ wrestling program gather for a team picture in December at Adair County Middle School. The program’s head coach is Lindsey Wilson University Assistant Dean of Students Abe Cross (back row, third from left), who is assisted by several Lindsey Wilson alumni and students.

Lindsey Wilson University volleyball coach Josh Kreiner gives instructions to his team during a recent Adair County Middle School volleyball practice at Adair County Middle School.

Lindsey Wilson University volleyball coach Josh Kreiner chats with Lindsey Wilson student Briley Burns ’26 of Columbia. Burns, who was part of the Adair County volleyball program as a student, stopped by a recent Adair County Middle School volleyball practice at Adair County Middle School to observe the program.

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