Pirates happy, not satisfied with state results
Matt Frey (35-15) captured a fall win at 1:24 to open his 165-pound challenge, then went on to place eighth and earn a podium finish, making him an All-Ohioan in Division III.
In many ways the Garaway Pirates trip to the Division III state wrestling tournament was filled with wonder and good feelings, including placing two wrestlers on the podium for the first time in school history.
However, head coach Greg Miller said while there were reasons to be excited, the tournament left his wrestlers wanting more.
“We could have wrestled better,” Miller said. “I know those two kids that made the podium are happy but not satisfied, and our other two kids feel like they could have been there with them, so we believe that while this was exciting and a step in the right direction, there’s plenty of things to work on moving forward.”
Mitchell Tetreault (44-9) won his opener, lost in the quarters and then showed enough resolve to come back and capture a 5-0 win in the consolation bracket to land a podium finish, where he ended up eighth.
Matt Frey (35-15) captured a fall win at 1:24 to open his 165-pound challenge. Then after falling in the quarterfinals, he dropped into the consys where he grabbed an 11-8 victory to earn his podium finish, where like Tetreault he placed eighth.
At 106 pounds, Lukas Miller (34-12) lost to eventual runner-up Braedyn Tammarine in his opener by fall before dropping his consolation match 12-9 to bow out.
Braylon Books (41-7) opened up his 138-pound tournament with a 4-0 win before falling to eventual runner-up Antwain Adams of Lima Central Catholic in a very tight 9-6 loss that could have gone either way. Books then fell to eventual third-place finisher Ben James to end his season.
“Braylon was up on the kid that took second with 30 seconds to go, and if he rides that out, it’s possible he’s wrestling in the finals,” Miller said. “Those are really tough to take.”
At 157 pounds, Colton Domer (38-10) dropped his opener and then lost 6-3 in his first consolation match when a late move in a tied match didn’t go his way.
The plus for the Pirates is that Books, Frey, Tetreault and Domer are all just sophomores while Miller is a freshman.
Coach Miller said what his young crew found was they had things to work on moving forward.
“I know these guys, and I know they will tackle it all head on,” Miller said of not just his state qualifiers, but also all his returning wrestlers. “Don’t be embarrassed by the problems you have to fix. It doesn’t mean you’re not good wrestlers; it only means they have things to work on, and they’ll have the right attitude about it.”
Miller said during this record-setting season his team realized they have immense potential, and he said they were on the cusp of some really amazing results that were within grasp.
He said overall this season serves as a great encouragement to his team and coaching staff, and it helps create positive momentum moving forward.
“I think overall we’re really encouraged with the thought of what could be next season,” Miller said. “Even looking at this from a team perspective, we believe we are capable of not just taking five kids to state, but six or eight, and looking at the scores, we think we could break into the top five teams in Div. III.”
He said one big positive is this group sees this sport not as just an individual sport, but as a team sport, and they push and encourage one another to grow and work as one unit.
Miller said that hasn’t always been the case, whereas former teams have had talent but it was more focused on individual performances. This group wants to succeed as a whole.
“They’re wrestling for each other,” Miller said. “That’s exciting to see, and it’s a good, new mindset for all of us.”
There is additional ammunition coming for the Pirates, who had three wrestlers qualify for the OHSAA Middle School State Wrestling Tournament.
That trio includes Dominic McCullough (heavyweight), Michael Hamsher (205 pounds) and Lewey Soehnlen (142 pounds).
They only add to the growing anticipation of what lies ahead for this young Pirates team.