Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Covington high school wrestling team competed at Miami East on Wednesday in a double-dual format, winning the event. The Buccs opened the first round with Troy and won an exciting 39-36 victory over the Trojans before advancing to face Tipp City who defeated Miami East. The Buccs then bested the Red Devils by a score of 48-21 to go undefeated on the evening.
Troy got off to a strong start with a Kyle Croft forfeit at 113 lbs, followed by a pin for Tyler Sparks (120) over Matt Carder. The Trojans then extended their lead, 24-0, with pins by Mason Perkins (126) and Ryan Simon (132) over Bryton Lear and Brock Smith, respectively.
The Buccs would then reel off seven consecutive victories to put the dual out of reach. Kyler Deeter (138) turned things around for Covington with a pin over Logan Etherington, followed by a Jake Sowers (145) pin over Brandon Lee. Cole Smith (152) and Ben Miller (160) kept the momentum going with pins over Logan Scholsser and Cam Kauflin. A.J. Ouellette (170) then picked up a forfeit to give the Buccs a 30-24 lead.
This set up a key dual between two of the area’s top 182 lb. wrestlers in Covington’s Brian Olson and Troy’s Kevin McGraw. Olson came out strong with a quick 5 point move and held on for a 7-2 victory in what turned out to be the deciding match of the dual.
Covington’s Justin Daniel (195) and Troy’s Andrew Kostecka (220) then swapped forfeits before Troy’s Ryne Rich (285) won the final match over Jordan Wolfe.
In the next round, the Buccs twice came back from deficits to earn a solid victory over a scrappy Tipp City squad. Tipp’s Korey Florence (113) picked up a forfeit before Covington’s Matt Carder (120) evened the score with a pin over Logan Mangen. Tipp responded with a Gabe Callicoat (126) pin over Bryton Lear, followed by a tight back-and-forth 5-4 victory by Tipp City’s Jarett Wasson over Brock Smith, to take a 15-6 lead.
Kyler Deeter (138) then once again picked up the first of seven consecutive Covington victories with a pin over Ben Patzek, followed by a Jake Sowers (145) pin over Connor Thomas. Cole Smith (152) and Ben Miller (160) each won close decisions for the Buccs, 6-3 over Thomas Gay, and 7-6 over Austin Robbins, respectively.
A.J. Ouellette (170) kept things going for Covington with a pin over Brandon Arndts, followed by a Brian Olson (182) pin over Shane Dodd. Covington’s Justin Daniel then earned a second-period pin over Ian Turner, before Tipp’s Andrew Gatchell (220) and Covington’s Jordan Wolfe (285) picked up forfeits to conclude the dual.
Covington’s varsity competes next in a dual at Coldwater on Thursday, January 19, while the reserve team travels to the Ben Logan JV invitational this Saturday, January 14.
