WH’s Ross wins freshman state wrestling championship
For the second time in as many weeks, the West Holmes High School wrestling program has a state champion.
Freshman Easton Ross captured the Ohio Athletic Committee Freshman State Tournament 217-pound title with a 4-1 sudden victory decision over Sergio Campos of Mason at the Covelli Centre in Youngstown on March 15.
Ross and Campos each scored an escape point in the championship match — Ross early in the second period and Campos early in the third period — to send the match into the extra period tied at 1-1. Ross stalked Campos and scored the winning single-leg takedown 20 seconds into the sudden victory period for the state title.
“Easton might have wrestled the best I’ve seen all year,” Knights coach Scott Vaughn said. “He was getting to his offense from his feet and dominating on the mat. He went through a gauntlet of tough matches on his way to his state finals, which ended in a huge overtime win. I’m very happy for Easton. What a great way to end his freshman year.”
Ross (4-0, two falls) scored a 9-6 decision victory in the championship semifinals to reach the title match. He opened the tournament with two fall wins.
Liam Angle (115, 3-2, three) came up a win shy of getting a podium spot, dropping a tech fall loss in the consolation quarterfinals. He began the day with two fall wins before dropping into the consolation rounds. He came back with his third pin of the day before falling out of the tournament.
Oliver Hiller (140, 2-2), Oliver Roberts (134, 1-2) and Noah Grassbaugh (140, 0-2) also competed for the Knights.
Middle school
West Holmes’ Silas Baker (eighth grade) and Rowand Mathie (seventh) saw their hopes of a podium finish at the Ohio Athletic Committee Junior High State Tournament come to a halt on March 16 after both wrestlers suffered losses early in the morning, eliminating them from the tournament.
“State is always tricky,” Knights coach Justin Wilcox said. “You’re proud of the kids for making it there, but the main reason you’re there is to stand on top of the podium. In that respect we had a rough tournament today.”
Baker (164) posted a 3-0 mark with a fall win on March 15, the tourney’s first day, but suffered a 7-1 decision loss in the championship quarterfinals. He couldn’t rebound in his consolation sixth-round match, losing by fall and eliminating him from the competition.
Mathie (90) lost by a 7-1 decision in the consolation fourth round to drop him out of the tournament. He posted a 1-1 mark in his matches on March 15.
Eighth-graders Colton Garver (115, 0-2), Logan Leyda (154, 1-2) and Finn McClintock (176, 0-2) were unable to advance past the opening day.