YOUNGSTOWN – Mount Vernon’s Ashlynn Brokaw went a perfect 4-for-4 en route to capturing a championship at the Ohio Athletic Coaches Junior High, Freshman and Girls State wrestling tournament on Saturday and Sunday, March 20-21, at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown.
Brokaw (100 pounds), competing in the Girls Division II bracket, beat Kodiak Attack’s Bailey Crow and East Liverpool Pottermites’ Paige Cowan by pin fall. Brokaw followed that up with a 12-5 decision over Poland Wrestling Club’s Ella Thomas before solidifying her spot atop the podium with a pin fall over Stieber Elite Wrestling Academy’s Brielle Gilmore.
Brokaw was one of 11 to compete for the Mount Vernon Killer Bees at the event.
Kendleigh Dowalter (58) also took home first place after picking up a pair of wins by pin fall over Beachwood Elite’s Ahnai Welchans and Tusky Valley Wrestling Club’s Sara Whitlach.
Brock Blankenhorn (106) finished fourth in the freshman tournament. He picked up an 8-6 decision over Adam Gelman and a 7-3 decision over Sandy Valley Wrestling Club’s Evan Natale to get a spot on the podium. Perryburg’s Christopher Carpenter won a 6-1 decision to send Blankenhorn to the consolation bracket, where he beat Gelman by a 6-3 decision to get to the third-place match. There, Mentor’s Diego Stropko won a 7-2 decision.
Jake Taylor (132) went 5-2 on the tournament to earn a seventh-place finish in the Junior High bracket. He beat Benjamin Mead and Daniel McCrum by pin fall and a 6-1 decision, respectively, before earning a sudden victory over Watkins Warriors’ Scott Speakman in the third round.
Warner Elite Wrestling Club’s Nolan McMorrow sent Taylor to the consolation bracket with an 11-0 major decision. There, Taylor bounced back with a 5-4 decision over Oak Harbor’s Ethan DeTray before dropping a narrow 3-1 decision to Vandalia Butler Wrestling Club’s Joey Love. Taylor took seventh over Teays Valley’s Roman Younger by forfeit.
Centerburg’s Charlie Sargent (220) earned a fifth-place finish in the Freshman C bracket. He won a 3-1 decision over Cleveland Wildcat Wrestling Club’s Matthew Lugo in the first round and a pin fall victory over Chippewa’s Tyler Lower to earn a spot on the podium.
Highland had two representatives at the Junior High showcase in Cael Gilmore (114) and Remington Baker (146). Gilmore went 4-2 in a very deep bracket but fell short of placing. Baker went 1-2.
Kayden Packard (120), Mason Mitchell (126), Mavrik Gregory (126), Karter Harris (146), Blake Elliott (164), Alex Taylor (164) and Luke Mullins (209) also competed for Mount Vernon.
