17 local wrestlers qualify for OHSAA State Tournament
OHSAA District Wrestling Tournament action hit the mats last weekend, and 17 local wrestlers – four women and 13 men – made it through to the next round – the state tournament – that takes place this weekend at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus.
Three Jackets qualify for D-I state tourney
At the Division-I District Hilliard Darby Tournament, March 3-4, Mount Vernon placed fifth among 43 teams, with 85.5 points as Dublin Coffman and Olentangy Liberty routed the competition with 236.5 points and 233.0 respectively.
Mount Vernon had three bronze medalists on the podium, earning them all invitations to the state tourney. Brock Blankenhorn was a third-place finisher at 106 lbs., Jake Taylor was third at 150 lbs. and Alex Taylor finished third at 215 lbs. Just missing the podium for MV, Mavrik Gregory finished fifth at 144 and Mason Mitchell was sixth at 157.
Gilmour second, three Scots qualify in D-II
At the Division-II District Norwalk event, March 3-4, Highland was eighth among 44 teams, with 78.0, well behind winning Wauseon’s 200.5.
Cael Gilmour (45-6) had the top performance for the Fighting Scots with a second-place finish at 138 lbs., losing in the final to Columbus De Sales’ No. 1-seed David McClelland (40-6). Finishing in third place at 106 lbs. was Highland’s Konner Blaney, and Caleb Wetzel bronzed at 132 lbs. All three Scots punched their tickets to State. Landon Pedigo just missed the podium and was sixth at 285 lbs.
Becker wins gold, seven locals move on in D-III
At the Division-III District Tournament at Harrison Central in Cadiz, March 3-4, Northmor placed fifth among 50 teams, with 83.0 points as Barnesville ran away with the gold, amassing 203.0 points. Centerburg tied for 13th with 49.0 points, Utica tied for 20th with 33.0 points, East Knox was 33rd with 16.0 points and Fredericktown was 41st with 9.0 points.
Cowin Becker (42-4) was the only local gold medalist, winning for Northmor at 120 lbs. with a 4-2 decision over North Union’s Trace Williams (42-4). Golden Knight Carson Campbell (41-6) took home silver at 138 lbs., losing in the finals to Barnesville’s No. 1-seed Skyler King (47-5). Also reaching the podium were bronze medal winners Christopher Marshall of East Knox at 126 lbs.; Clayton Smith of Utica at 144 lbs.; Caylan LeMaster of Centerburg at 157 lbs. and Blake Elliott of East Knox at 190 lbs. All qualified for the next round. Just missing qualification were Northmor’s Brady Carr, who finished fourth at 106 lbs.; Northmor’s Ethan Armes, fifth at 113 lbs.; Utica’s Breyden Hill, sixth at 126 lbs. and Centerburg’s Mason Lanthorn, sixth at 285 lbs.
Four Knox County girls qualify for State
At the 2023 Girls Regional Tournament at Olentangy Orange High School, March 5, 66 teams entered 201 wrestlers and Mount Vernon’s Emma Rinehart, seeded No. 2 at 115 with a 31-8 record, got to the finals against Addison Rudolph of Central Crossing (30-7). Rinehart was defeated by Rudolph by an 8-4 decision, but has advanced to the state tournament and is seeded eighth.
Emma Bolton of Highland was second to Olentangy Orange’s Talia Mitchell at 190 lbs. and moves on as does Highland’s Madalynn Morrison, who was second to Olentangy Orange’s Jennifer Huaracha-Arallanos at 235 lbs. Both are seeded fifth in the next round. Also qualifying for the next round is Cardington-Lincoln’s Camron Sherman, who finished third at 170 lbs. and will be seeded seventh.
