31 wrestlers advance to district competition

by JOHN HOWLEY / sporting pumpkin.com

The weekend started with 58 wrestlers from area schools fighting for a spot in next weekend’s districts — 31 were successful. 

Teays Valley led the way with nine district qualifiers, including four champions. 

Circleville and Amanda-Clearcreek advanced six wrestlers while Logan Elm and Westfall each advanced five.

Four Vikings win sectional titles

NEWARK — With nine wrestlers advancing, Teays Valley took second in the Central District Division I sectional held at Newark High School Saturday with 222.5 points. 

Olentangy Liberty advanced 13 athletes on the way to taking the sectional title with 280.5 points. Delaware Hayes was third with 205. 

All four past state qualifiers, Gunner Havens (106 pounds), Zander Graham (144), Cam McDanel (190) and Joey Thurston (285) were the No. 1 seeds in their weight classes, had first-round byes and all claimed titles Saturday at Newark. 

Havens made quick work of his opponents advancing by pin in 29, 28 and 26 seconds. 

Graham pinned an opponent in 1:15, advanced with a 15-0 tech fall and took the title with a 7-2 decision. 

McDanel claimed the 190-pound title with two pins of 45 seconds and won the title with a pin in 60 seconds. 

Thurston started his day with an 18-second pin, won a tech fall 21-5 and claimed the title with a pin in 1:47.

Kadin Walls (120) and Roman Younger (138) took second in their respective weight classes. 

Walls had advanced with two major decisions before being pinned in the finals. Younger advanced by pinning his first three opponents in 56, 33 and 28 seconds but was pinned in the finals.

Joey Williams (132), Ethan Schwalbauch (165) and Jacob Robinette (175) each placed fourth in their weight classes. 

The Vikings will be competing Friday and Saturday in the Division I district at Hilliard Darby High School. 

Fulgham leads qualifiers from Washington CH sectional

WASHINGTON COURT HOUSE — Circleville heavyweight Trent Fulgham won a championship in helping the Tigers to third at the Southeast District Division II sectional. 

Miami Trace had nine individual champions on the way to 266 team points and the sectional title. Washington Court House was second with 176 points and Circleville had 144. Logan Elm was fifth with 116.

Fulgham claimed the heavyweight title with pins in 1:05 and 5:06, and a 3-2 decision. 

Circleville’s Jacob Johnson (126) and Gage Bolt (138) placed second. 

Johnson advanced to the finals with an 11-2 major decision and lost by pin in the finals while Bolt advanced with pins in 1:45 and 3:17 then lost the title match 9-7 in overtime. 

Andrew Simbieda (113) and Braylon Morgan (165) each placed third while Ayden Reedy (132) placed fourth. 

Freshman Gavin Hoover was Logan Elm’s top finisher placing second at 120 pounds. He advanced with a pin in 2:22, went to the finals after a forfeit and lost a 10-6 decision in the finals. 

Blaine Holzschuh (106) and Andrew UK Burns (175) each took third for the Braves and Izeyah Harris-Teets (113) and Tristan Hanning (126) each placed fourth. 

Circleville’s and Logan Elm’s wrestlers will be competing next weekend at Gallia Academy.

Hoty, Kitchen pick up sectional crowns for Mustangs 

ALEXANDER — Antony Hoty and Wayne Kitchen claimed sectional championships to help Westfall take second at the Southeast District Division III tournament. 

The Mustangs tallied 125 points while River Valley won the sectional title with 198. 

Hoty (113) advanced with a pin in 1:44 and took the title with a pin in 2:38. 

Kitchen (138) started with a pin in 35 seconds, won an 8-3 decision and claimed the title with a 9-8 decision. 

Bryce Wickline placed second at 157 pounds. He advanced with pins in 1:50 and 1:59 and an 11-2 major decision before dropping a 4-2 match in the finals. 

Timothy Ward (132) and Glenn Keaton each placed fourth. 

The Mustangs will be competing at Heath High School next weekend. 

Aces place fourth

MORRAL — Amanda-Clearcreek advanced six wrestlers during the Division III Central District sectional at Ridgedale High School.

Those six helped the Aces accumulate 130.5 points to place fourth. Pleasant took the sectional championship with 189.5 points.

Reese Marshall (106) and Hunter Matheny (165) placed second for the Aces.

Marshall opened his action with pins in 26 and 42 seconds, and won a tech fall 16-0 before falling 10-5 in the finals.

Matheny advanced to the finals with a trio of pins — 1:23, 1:22 and 1:02 — before being pinned in the title match.

The Aces had four wrestlers place third — Jacob Durr (113), Landon L’huiller (138), Bobby Pieratt (144) and Grant Guiler (150).

The Aces will compete next week at Heath High School.