December 29, 2015 – DAYTON
Covington put in an impressive performance on the second day of the GMVWA Holiday wrestling tournament, finishing in 6th place overall out of 57 schools with four individual place-winners – the school’s second-best finish ever at the event. The Buccs also finished 3rd out of the 25 non-Division 1 schools. Graham won the tournament, followed by Dublin Coffman, Delaware Hayes, Glen Este and West Branch.

Ryan Ford (138) and Lance Miller (160) both advanced to the finals of the tournament before finishing as runners-up. Ford started the day with a 9-3 decision over Tanner Bey of Versailles in the quarterfinals, before defeating Kentucky state champion Logan Erdman of Ryle, 8-3, in the semifinals. He then dropped a late 6-4 decision to Graham’s state champion Brent Moore.

Miller earned an 8-4 quarterfinal victory over state alternate Max Wright of Delaware Hayes, before winning his semifinal bout with a 19-7 major decision over Shota Sisco of Pickerington Central. He then dropped an 11-3 major decision to state-placer Garrett Jordan of Graham.

Connor Ryan (113) placed 5th at the tournament after receiving a forfeit in the finals from state alternate Jakaria Hossan of Dublin Coffman – a wrestler he defeated the previous day. Ryan started the day with a pin over Milford’s Kobey Bronaugh, before falling to Graham’s Jeffrey Thomas in the semifinal. He then dropped a close 4-2 decision to Tri-Valley’s William Harris in the consolation semi-finals.

Gage DeHart placed 8th at the tournament after dropping a close 3-2 tiebreaker decision to state alternate Chris Motter of Hudson. He dropped a 7-4 quarterfinal decision to state alternate Andrew Acuna of Lakota West, before rebounding with a 5-1 decision over Robert Speaks of Watkins Memorial. He then fell to Springboro’s state qualifier Jakob Ottoway in the consolation quarterfinals.

Coleman Ryan (120), Kerington Martin (132) and Brandon Magee (182) each wrestled well, but dropped their fifth consolation round match.

In the opening day of the tournament on Monday, Covington had a strong first day by advancing seven of their twelve wrestlers to the second day of competition. At the conclusion of day one, the Buccs sat in 17th place out of 57 schools with 65.5 points.

Four Covington wrestlers advanced through three championship rounds to make it to the quarterfinals. Connor Ryan (113) upset the no. 2 seed Jakaria Hossan of Dublin Coffman, 5-2 in the second round, followed by a pin over Centerville’s Ryan Fey. Ryan Ford (138) earned a major decision over Dublin Coffman’s Lennox Wolak, and consecutive pins over Stebbins’ Zeke Cook and Athens’ Cortez Gainey.

Gage DeHart (152) advanced with a bye before pinning Troy Christian’s Caleb Hoskins, then followed with a 7-3 decision over Mohawk’s Parker Brown, the no. 7 seed. Lance Miller (160) earned consecutive pins over Dublin Jerome’s Liam Stein and Watkins Memorial’s Dante Fair, before getting a 17-1 technical fall over Xenia’s Stephen Holton. Josh Sowers (145) advanced with a bye and 7-3 decision over Oakwood’s Trent Gould, but had to exit the tournament in order to get a dislodged tooth put back in.

Also advancing to the second day of competition were Coleman Ryan (120), Keringten Martin (132) and Brandon Magee (182). Ryan advanced with a bye then fell to the no. 1 seed Brady Wells of Campbell County, before rebounding with a 3-2 decision over Hilliard Bradley’s Val D’Ambrosi and a pin over Cameron Turco of Hamilton.

Martin dropped his first bout to Wapakoneta’s Brad Beemer, before responding with a pin over Northmont’s Ezra Smith, an 8-1 decision over the no. 7 seed Bryson Mills of Clinton-Massie, and a pin over the no. 4 seed Max Neiling of Bellbrook. Magee pinned Clinton-Massie’s Cody Collingham and Zane Trace’s Jaiden Rittenger, before losing to Troy’s Davin Snyder. He then responded with a 4-1 decision over the no. 3 seed Seth Campbell of Miamisburg in the consolation round.

Jared Ford (126) and Joey Schmelzer (170) won big matches on the day, but dropped two matches to exit the tournament along with teammates Seth Thomas (220) and Carl Lankford (285).

The Buccs compete next at the Troy Invitational on Saturday, January 2. Wrestling starts at 9 am.