by JOHN HOWLEY / sportingpumpkin.com
COLUMBUS — The Division III state wrestling championships are continuing for a pair of Westfall wrestlers while two of their teammates and two Amanda-Clearcreek wrestlers wrapped up their seasons Saturday afternoon.
Antony Hoty (113 pounds) and Gage Bolt (165) won second round consolation matches to move on to the consolation quarterfinals, which guarantees them a spot on the awards’ podium.
Hoty lost a championship quarterfinal match 8-4 in the morning and then came back to post a 6-0 decision over Sulaiman Muhammed from Dayton Northridge to advance.
“He was very good at my hips, and I couldn’t get out,” Hoty said of his first match. “I was so close to 12 different reversals but he was able to control my hips and control my legs so I couldn’t get the position I wanted.
“It was being so hungry – I’ve been wanting this so long. All I had to do was just keep focused and not do anything stupid and get caught,” Hoty said of his consolation match. “He almost got me with the headlock but he had his forearm on my Adam’s apple was a choking the crap out of me.
“My whole goal since my freshman year was to get on the wall with all the state placers and I finally did it. It feels so great,” he added.
“I think when he was in eighth-grade, all he wanted to do was be on that wall. When you place you get on the wall at Westfall,” Westfall coach Will Breyer said. “That last takedown, he looked over at us and smiled. There’s nothing like when a wrestler comes running over and jumps in your arms and is crying from happiness. It was awesome.”
Bolt lost his championship quarterfinal match 3-2 and came back with a 4-3 decision to advance and secure his spot on the podium.
“It’s been a fun ride getting here. I’ve been through a lot the last couple of years not wrestling freshman year,” he said. “My last match, I ended up losing by one point, it was 3-2, I was hoping for a win there against a really good kid, but being able to bounce back and being able to win your next match, that’s what’s most important.”
“Gage had a very smart match,” Breyer said. “His IQ was high and, once again, wrestled with no mistakes. Gage is one of those kids that I know he wanted it bad, too.”
For Westfall’s Bryce Wickline (175 pounds) and Hunter Probasco (285), their season wrapped up Saturday afternoon.
Wickline (25-7) lost a 2-0 decision in the championship semifinals and was defeated 1-0 in his consolation match.
Probasco (38-11) lost a 4-1 decision in the consolation second round.
“Hunter wasn’t even a district qualifier last year,” Breyer said. “To come as far as he did – he’s signed with Ohio Northern and was one match from (placing). His career is not over. I cannot believe how much better he’s gotten in one year. He needs to be proud of himself.
“Bryce has a bright future. He knows he can win here, and he knows he could have placed here,” Breyer added. “He’s got one more year and I know he’s going to be driven to place next year.”
Amanda-Clearcreek freshman Bodie Martin and sophomore Peyton Beavers wrapped up their seasons Saturday afternoon.
Martin (36-8) lost a 3-1 decision in the second round of 144-pound consolation matches and Beavers (40-7) lost a 12-10 decision at 150 pounds.
It’s tough to take. They fought,” Amanda-Clearcreek coach Curtis Martin said. “I’m just heartbroken for them.
“They both fought with all they had, but just came up a little short. But we’ll be back.”
