Attack Team has fantastic showing at All-Star tourney
The Holmes Area Wrestling Club Elementary Attack Team All-Star wrestlers had a very good day on the mats on Sunday, Jan. 22, placing all 22 wrestlers on the podium at the Ohio Youth Wrestling Association Mid-Ohio Division All-Star Tournament at Norwayne High School.
Bringing home championships were first-graders Jordan Vaughn and Graham Mathie, third-graders Everett Tuitama and Clay Leyda, and fifth-graders Greyson Hart, Holdyn Shamp, Clint Burgett and Grantham Lovell. All but Leyda finished their day 2-0, with Leyda at 1-0.
Runner-up honors went to second-graders Jaxon Yerian and Brody Shriver, third-grader Jaxon Kinsey, and fourth-graders Mason Gray, Hudson Ross and Kolston Wagers, who all posted 1-1 records.
Second-grader Luke Willard, fourth-graders Tristen Hall and Darak Vaughn, and fifth-grader Brycen Hall all finished third with 1-1 records.
Kindergartener Mack Vansickle, second-grader Kingston Gardner, third-grader Wyatt Yerian and fourth-grader Sterling Weaver all finished fourth.
“I’m very proud of the way we wrestled,” Attack Team volunteer coach Jarret Mathie said. “Out of our 22 wrestlers, we had eight take home first place with another six coming in second, meaning 14 of our competitors made it to the championship match. This will be (a) valuable experience for these wrestlers as their Attack Team season comes to a close. We have encouraged them to continue to practice and work on getting better. Our varsity wrestlers still need to have teammates push them through to the end of (the) season.”
Knights M.S. suffers tough loss to Louisville
The West Holmes Middle School wrestling team fought an uphill battle when it tangled with host Louisville on Jan. 19, suffering a 66-12 dual meet loss to the Leopards.
The Knights ended the dual meet schedule of their season with a 1-8 record.
“Tonight was not a good night of wrestling for us,” WHMS coach Justin Wilcox said. “The truth of the matter is that we were not ready and excited to wrestle tonight, and it showed. I take a large part of the responsibility for that.”
With several wrestlers out of the lineup, the Knights forfeited five weight classes and were simply outmanned in the remaining matches as WHMS only mustered two wins — a Cohen Wilson (eighth grade, 172 pounds) fall win at 2:04 and a forfeit win for Maddax Graham (eighth, 205).
“Put simply, Louisville came ready to wrestle today,” Wilcox said. “We didn’t, and it shows. Louisville wrestled a good dual. If we want to compete at a high level as a team, we need to get tougher. Simple as that.”
With the middle school season ending over the next few weeks, Wilcox said there will be a lot of work in the practice room despite the season drawing closer to an end.
“We are going to take steps this next week to be ready to wrestle at Mount Vernon,” he said. “We are nearing the end of the season. I understand kids are starting to get banged up. Some kids have skin stuff. Some kids are busy (or) whatever, but whether we like it or not, the end of the season is coming, and we have to get ready for it.”
High school varsity schedule
What: West Holmes super triangular meet/Senior Night
Where: West Holmes High School
When: Saturday at 5 p.m.
Participating teams: Bishop Watterson, Claymont, Dalton and West Holmes
Competition format: duals
The 2022 results: West Holmes 63, Claymont 13; West Holmes 45, Dalton 20; did not wrestle Bishop Watterson
High school varsity “B” schedule
What: Galion Covert Tournament
Where: Galion High School
When: Saturday at 10 a.m.
Participating teams: 34
Competition format: bracket
The 2022 results: second of 19 teams
2022 returning individual placers: Cylie Couch (second)
Middle school schedule
What: John Frye Classic
Where: Energy Fieldhouse, Mount Vernon High School
When: Saturday at 9 a.m.
Competition format: bracket
The 2022 results: tournament canceled because of bad weather
Elementary Attack Team schedule
What: OYWA Mid-Ohio Division Varsity Tournament
Where: West Holmes High School
When: Sunday at 10 a.m.
Competition format: bracket
The 2022 results: sixth of 18 teams
2023 returning individual placers: Jackson Vaughn (second), Rowand Mathie (second), Dawson Miller (third), Colt Garver (third), Lane Burgett (fourth) and Finn McClintock (fourth)