JANUARY 3, 2009 – TROY
The Covington High School wrestling team put in an outstanding performance at the Troy Invitational on Saturday, taking home the third-place trophy with 214.5 points and holding off Oakwood (210 points) – who defeated the Buccs 56-22 in the opening dual of the season – during the finals. Northmont edged Troy at the 16-team event to win the championship with 275.5 points versus 268.

This season, the tournament changed to an Olympic pool style format with each weight class split into four pools of four wrestlers. Those competing for the top four places had to first win their pool, while those finishing second in their pool went on to compete for places 5 through 8.

Despite filling only ten of the fourteen weight classes, the Buccs were able to generate the necessary team points with some nice individual performances. All ten competing wrestlers won matches on the day, while nine would finish in the top-two of their pool to compete for top-eight placement.

Andrew DeHart went 4-0 on the day, winning the 145 lb. championship with a first period pin over Miami East’s William Moore. At 119 lbs, Sam Herron took second to Troy’s Cole Cochran, and finished up with a 4-1 record.

A trio of Buccs finished in 4th place – Matt Breisch at 125 lbs, Josh McMillion at 152 lbs, and Jake Jennings at 160 lbs. Taking 5th place was Cory Ely (140), while Tyler Tebbe (135) and Josh Shefbuch (189) both finished in 6th place. At 130 lbs, Brandon Flora wrestled to an 8th place finish for Covington. Aaron Devenport – wrestling up a couple weight classes at 171 lbs – didn’t make it out of his pool, but scored some much-needed team points for the Buccs.

VERSAILLES JV INVITATIONAL…
Also on Saturday, the reserve team competed at the 16-team Versailles JV Invitational and five of Covington’s seven wrestlers finished in the top-5. The Buccs finished strong on the day, going undefeated in their finals matches. Sam Angle took home the championship at 119 lbs with a dominating 11-2 victory over Cory Thompson of Vandalia-Butler. At 130 lbs, Ben Wilson finished in third place, while Lon Bitner, competing at the same weight, took fifth. Also taking fifth for Covington were Jordan McIntosh (125) and Tyler Dollison (145). Devan Selanders (140) and Cody Swabb (152) also competed for the Buccs.

Covington will wrestle next at Troy on Thursday, Jan. 15. Miami East and Tipp City will also be competing.