Local boys’ wrestling teams recently competed in their sectional championships last weekend, and below are some highlights of winners and top wrestlers in their respective meets.
West Holmes:
West Holmes sophomore Louden Dixon won the sectional championship for the 144 pound class in the Ohio School Athletic Association DII East Sectional Championship at Steubenville on Feb. 24.
Dixon and six other wrestlers will be advancing to the DII East/Southeast District Championship Tournament, taking place on March 2
The team as a whole took fourth place with a score of 164.5, after holding a slight lead heading into the championship rounds. Beaver Local won the Sectional title with a score of 196.5; Steubenville was second at 187.5 and Indian Valley was third at 186.5.
Dixon went 3-0 on the day with a pair of pins. Dixon, who sixth ranked wrestler in the state in his class, beat freshman Maliki Garten of Philo by pin at 1:08 in the quarterfinal round. In the semifinals he defeated Cooper Smith of Steubenville 6-4 in a sudden victory. The championship match was a pin of tenth ranked Owen Edwards from John Glenn at 4:35.
This was the first sectional championship for Dixon, and Coach Scott Vaughn told the West Holmes Wrestling newsletter that he believes this is the toughest weight class.
“Louden had a gutsy overtime win with the Steubenville kid (Smith), then followed that up with a pin in the finals over a John Glenn kid (Edwards) projected to finish fourth in our District,” Vaughn said in the newsletter. “Louden had a great tournament and certainly earned Knight of the Week.”
Runners up in sectionals included sophomore Peyton Martin in the 113 pound class; senior Grady Toye in the 126 pound class; junior Hunter McCluggage in the 157 pound class; junior Cole Porter in the 175 pound class; and senior Grant Miller in the 215 pound class. Sophomore Dylan Sours placed third in the 190 pound class. They will all move on in the tournament to the District Championship.
Junior AAJ Roberts is a District alternate with his fifth place finish in the 132 pound class.
Freshman Wyatt Crabb (106 class) and sophomore Gabe Umstead (120 class) finished in sixth place with 1-3 records.
Sophomore Camden McCluggage (157 class) and freshman Lincoln Goans (165 pound class) each finished 1-2. Sophomore Grady Hawkins was 0-2 in the 285 pound class.
“Finally, it's postseason time,” Vaughn said in the newsletter. “While it is very exciting to see kids reach their goals, it is also heartbreaking to see some young men's seasons come to an end. This team has come so far this season and it was awesome to see them compete today. I am so proud of how they competed.”
Mount Vernon
Olentangy Liberty dominated the Division I Sectionals in Newark with a score of 306.0 but Mount Vernon took second place with a score of 178.5.
Brock Blankenhorn beat Ryan Cote of Licking Heights 7-0 to win the 113 pound sectional title. In the 144 pound class, Mavrik Gregory beat Daine Marburger of Westerville Central by a 5-0 decision. Alex Taylor took the 215 pound class title with a 3-2 win over Brady Quillin of Olentangy Liberty. Luke Mullins won the 285 pound class by pinning Alex Marcum of Gahanna Lincoln at 2:57.
Jake Taylor was a runner up in the 157 pound class, and Hayden Higgins was third in the 165 pound class.
New Philadelphia
New Philadelphia was third with a score of 167.0 in the Division II East Sectional at Claymont, led by three wrestlers taking sectional titles and nine wrestlers heading to the district meet. Carrollton took the sectional title with a score of 212, beating out Minerva for the number two spot.
Ezekiel Williams won the sectional title in the 150 pound class with a pin of Logan Wilhite of Maysville at 2:32. Edgar Meija-Ramos won the 165 pound class beat Ethan Llewellyn of Indian Creek by a 7-6 decision. Garrett Dillon-Rine won the 285 pound class by beating Mason Wilt of St. Clairsville 3-2.
Runners up included Tyler Ulmer in the 138 pound class and Etnie Richardson in the 157 pound class.
Camden Richardson and Crespo Reyes were third in the 113 pound and 120 pound classes respectively. Jackson Korns (180) and Damien Robbins (215) placed fourth and will also advance to the district championship meet.
Mount Gilead
Mount Gilead was 12th out of 16 teams in the Division III Sectional Tournament at Amanda-Clearcreek with a score of 37.0. Westfall took the win with a score of 211.0.
The top Indian wrestler was Gabe Simpson, who beat Bobby Kapala of Ready 8-6 in the 165 pound class to take third place.
Northmor
Northmor took third place in the Division III Sectionals at Ridgedale with a score of 161.0, and the Golden Knights were led by four wrestlers taking home sectional titles. Elgin won the title with 251 points, followed by Pleasant with 192.5.
Carter Thomas won the 106 pound class with a 4-2 win over Cory Climer of Centerburg. Brady Carr won the 113 pound class by beating Dylan Compton of Cardington-Lincoln 9-8. Ethan Amens pinned Karson Thomas of Elgin at 2:20 to take the 120 pound title. Cowin Becker pinned Greyson Haycook of Pleasant at 0:56.
Carson Campbell was a runner up in the 157 pound class.
Utica
Utica was right behind Northmor in fourth place with a score of 140.5 in the Division III Sectionals at Ridgedale.
The Redskins had two runners up in the competition, including Robert Cotsamire in the 144 pound class and William Dyke in the 285 pound class.
They had four wrestlers taking third including Anthony Unger (106); Nick Drumm (150); Breyden Hill (157) and Wyatt Rine (190).
Centerburg
The Trojans took fifth place with a score of 136.0 in the Division III Sectionals at Ridgedale, led by Christopher Marshall who won the 138 pound class sectional title.
Marshall beat Colton Long of Elgin with a 15-3 major decision.
Cory Climer was a runner up, losing to Carter Thomas of Northmor 4-2.
They had four wrestlers in third in the sectional meet including Noah Matthews (113); Julius McLaughlin (120); Jonah Gribben (132) and Charlie Sargent (285). Sargent got his 100th career win in the meet.
Tommy Hause was fourth in the 150 pound class and will also go to Districts, along with those previously mentioned
Fredericktown
The Freddies placed seventh in the Division III Sectional meet at Ridgedale with a score of 100.5, led by Trent Rooke who took home the title in the 126 pound class.
Rooke beat Sean Murphy of Pleasant 8-5 to win the sectional title.
There were two Freddies in third place including Cirk Parker (165) and Devon Whitt (215).
Cardington-Lincoln
The Pirates placed eighth with a score of 82.5, led by two wrestlers who were runners up in the Division III Sectional meet at Ridgedale.
Dylan Compton was the runner up in the 113 pound class, as he lost to Brady Carr of Northmor 9-8. Wyatt Denney was pinned by Sam Mentzer of Pleasant at 1:09 in the championship match.
East Knox
East Knox had an 11th place score of 26.0 in the Division III Sectional meet at Ridgedale, led by Blake Elliott who took home a sectional title.
Elliott beat Landon O’Donnell of Pleasant 10-4 to win the 190 pound class. He was 3-0 with two pins on the day.
Loudonville
The Redbirds took sixth place in the Division III Sectional tournament in Rootstown with a score of 119.0 Rootstown placed first with a score of 257.5.
There were two runners up for Loudonville. Isaac Wittel face Tyler Paulus in the championship match for the 144 pound class, and was pinned at 0:36. Baylor Weiser was pinned by Brian Youngblood of Rootstown in the 165 pound class at 5:03.
Josh Serrato was third in the 138 pound class with a 3-2 decision over Maddox Dickey of Salineville Southern. Tyler Reeder also advances to districts with his fourth place finish in the 120 pound class.
Wooster
Wooster was eighth with 55 points in the Division I Sectionals at Wadsworth. Wadsworth took the title with a score of 270.5.
Wrestlers advancing to districts include: CJ Furlong placing third in the 126 pound class; Dylan Hudson with fourth in the 157 pound class; and Evan Patton with a fourth place finish in the 215 pound class.
Lexington:
The Lexington wrestling team was fifth with a score of 123.0 in the Division II Sectionals at Clyde High School. Ontario took first with a score of 190.5.
Lexington had one runner up with David Biggers making it to the championship match for the 190 pound class. He was pinned by Landon Sowards of Ontario at 2:21.
Placing third was Brayden Vance in the 165 pound class and Aedan Nicol in the 285 pound class.
In fourth and advancing to the district meet was Vincent Hardin (126); Owen Reamsnider (132); Cole Eichorn (175) and Nate Taylor (215).
