FEBRUARY 15, 2014 – SIDNEY
Covington put in a record setting performance at the Division 3 Sectional tournament on Saturday, winning the 15-team event with 247 team points – the highest total scored in the five years that Lehman has hosted the event. In doing so, the Buccs set a new school record by qualifying all 13 of their competing wrestlers to Districts – beating the previous record of 11 set last season and in 1986. Mechanicsburg finished in second place (201.5 points), followed by Versailles (157).
Jarred Ganger (126 lbs), Ryan Ford (132) and A.J. Ouellette (195) each won individual titles for Covington. Ganger earned a 12-4 major decision over Versailles’ Matt Mangen in the finals, after picking up a 22-7 technical fall over Miami East’s Matt Amheiser in the semifinals.
Ford battled to a 9-3 finals victory over Troy Christian’s Cody Ohnmeiss after an 18-3 technical fall semifinal victory over Andrew Harmon of Miami East, while Ouellette won a 5-2 victory over Versailles’ Kyle Dieringer in the finals after a 17-3 major decision over Northeastern’s Adam Sudhoff in the semifinals.
Connor Ryan (106), Ben Miller (170) and Ian Fries (220) all advanced to the finals before finishing as runners-up. Ryan won a 15-0 technical fall semifinal victory over Versailles Damon Miller, before dropping a technical fall to Mechanicsburg’s Alex Rhine.
Miller earned a first period pin over Northeastern’s Jonnie Dean in the semifinals, before dropping a 9-4 decision to National Trail’s Zach Sullivan in the finals. Fries fell to National Trail’s Ben Sullivan after picking up an 11-1 major decision over Northeastern’s Drey Williams in the semifinals.
Taking third place for the Buccs were Coleman Ryan (113), Lance Miller (138), Daniel Jennings (152) and Jordan Wolfe (285). Ryan dropped his semifinal bout to eventual champion Michael Sergent of Troy Christian before rebounding with a 13-2 major decision over Tri-County North’s Anthony Jacobs in the consolation semifinals. He then earned a 6-2 decision over Mechanicsburg’s Tyler Wetzel in the finals. Miller dropped a nail biter, 7-6, to Miami East’s Austin Rush, but rebounded with a consolation semifinal pin over National Trail’s Josh Cook and a 14-1 major decision over Versailles’ Corey Deiringer.
Jennings dropped a 6-4 decision to Triad’s Damian Boldman in the semis, before getting an 8-0 major decision over Lehman’s Gabe Xayathone. He then won his finals match with a 7-4 decision over Mechanicsburg’s Logan Hartman. Wolfe dropped a tight 1-0 semifinal bout to Troy Christian’s Seth Douglas before defeating Lehman’s Chad Demaree, 3-0. He finished with a pin over Springfield Catholic Central’s Hunter Hazlit.
Qualifying for districts with fourth place finishes were Josh Sowers (120), Deron White (145) and Brandon Magee (160). Sowers fell to eventual champion Garrett Hancock of Troy Christian, but rebounded in the consolation semifinals with a 4-0 decision over Arcanum’s Kyle Carlisle. He dropped a major decision to Nick Miller of Mechanicsburg in the finals. White fell to eventual champion Joe Ziegler of Mechanicsburg, before getting a key pin over Lehman’s Jake Earhart. He then dropped a close 1-0 decision to West Liberty-Salem’s Josh Cordell in the finals.
Magee had a more difficult road to advance on Saturday, but stormed through the consolation bracket and into the finals. He opened the day with a pin over Versailles’ Shane McGlinch before winning a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Tri-County North’s Dustin Green. He then picked up a huge 8-3 decision over Triad’s Jacob Thompson to qualify, before dropping his final bout to Miami East’s Mack Rose.
Covington had an outstanding first day at the Sectional wrestling tournament Friday night, advancing twelve of their thirteen wrestlers to the semifinal round. The Buccs ended the day in first place, leading the field of fifteen teams with 100.5 points. Versailles (79) is in second, followed by Mechanicsburg (64).
Lance Miller (138) got things started with a first round pin over Brandon Simmons of Lehman. He then pinned Caleb Hoskins of Troy Christian to advance to the semifinals. Ben Miller (170) also advanced with consecutive pins over Thorn Stoops of Southeastern and Cole Hofmann of Lehman.
Ten more Covington wrestlers advanced to the semifinals with a first round bye and a quarterfinal victory. Connor Ryan (106) pinned Tanner Workman of West Liberty-Salem, while brother Coleman Ryan (113) earned an 11-9 overtime decision over Aaron Adams of Miami East.
Josh Sowers (120) advanced with a 12-2 major decision over Trey Rush of Miami East, before Jarred Ganger (126) pinned Joe Morrow of Miami East. Ryan Ford (132) then pinned Matthew Tirey of National Trail, followed by a Deron White (145) upset over no. 4 seed Andrew Zirkle of Triad, 12-7.
Daniel Jennings (152) earned a pin over Keegan Artz of Arcanum, before A.J. Ouellette (195) pinned Daniel Everett of Miami East. Ian Fries (220) then picked up a pin over Mechanicsburg’s Isaac Helmuth, followed by a Jordan Wolfe (285) pin over Versailles’ Wesley Wilson.
Brandon Magee (160) advanced with a first round bye before dropping a hard-fought 8-3 decision to Springfield Catholic Central’s returning district placer Cameron Luther.
Covington will compete at the District tournament on Friday and Saturday, February 21-22, at Troy’s Hobart Arena. Wrestling starts at 3 pm Friday.
FINAL TEAM STANDINGS
- Covington – 247.00
- Mechanicsburg – 201.50
- Versailles – 157.00
- Troy Christian – 137.50
- Miami East – 125.00
- National Trail – 103.00
- Cath. Central – 84.00
8 .Northeastern – 72.50 - Tri-County No. – 70.00
- Triad – 69.00
- Arcanum – 61.00
- Lehman Cath. – 45.00
- W. Liberty-Salem – 23.50
- Southeastern Local – 22.00
- Riverside – 6.00
