2015-16 COVINGTON BUCCANEERS

2015-16 BUCCANEER WRESTLING TEAM: Sitting (L-R): Alexis Roth, Connor Ryan, Riley Richards, Jared Ford, Joey Schmelzer, Chris Triplett, Keringten Martin, Coleman Ryan, Dolan Young. Kneeling (L-R): Ross Bowman, Gavin McReynolds, Ryan Ford, Gage Dehart, Josh Sowers, Branden Robinson, Deron White, Parker Dysinger. Standing (L-R): Coach Tom Barbee, Dylan Swob, Ian Wilson, Seth Thomas, Brandon Magee, Carl Lankford, Bryce Keiser, Luke Grieshop, Coach Mike Stephen, Coach Eric Vanderhorst. (Not Pictured: Lance Miller)
BUCCANEER COACHES: (L-R) – Mike Stephan, Tom Barbee, Eric Vanderhorst.

Covington is coming off another spectacular season which included a second consecutive top-six finish at State and the second-best overall team record in 43 seasons of wrestling (190-14). The Buccs continued their streak of 20+ dual wins to 7 consecutive years, finishing with a 27-3 record, and advancing to the dual meet Regional Finals. Covington claimed its 13th straight unofficial Cross-County Conference title and their highest finish at the 55-team Greater Miami Valley Wrestling Association tournament, taking runner-up to perennial power Graham.

The team earned its 3rd consecutive top-five finish out of 54 teams at Districts, qualifying four wrestlers to State – Jarred Ganger, Ryan Ford, Ben Miller and Lance Miller – Covington’s second highest total ever. At State, Ryan Ford took third and Ben Miller finished sixth to become Covington’s 6th and 7th two-time state placers, while Jarred Ganger became just the 59th wrestler in Ohio history to win 3 state titles, leading the Buccs to a 6th place team finish. The Buccs have had at least one state placer in ten of the past eleven seasons.

The Buccs lost two outstanding wrestlers to graduation – three-time state champion Jarred Ganger and two-time state placer Ben Miller, but return a number of talented wrestlers including two state qualifiers, seven additional district qualifiers, plus other returning lettermen.

Covington will be led by seniors Ryan Ford, Brandon Magee, Coleman Ryan and Connor Ryan. Ford is a two-time state placer who recently earned a Division 1 scholarship to Cleveland State, Connor is a former state alternate, and Brandon and Coleman are former district qualifiers. The junior class includes Ross Bowman, Luke Grieshop, Carl Lankford, Lance Miller, Branden Robinson, Josh Sowers, Seth Thomas and Deron White. Miller is a returning state qualifier while Sowers and White are returning district qualifiers.

The sophomore class includes district qualifiers Gage DeHart and Jared Ford, plus Bryce Keiser, Alexis Roth, Joey Schmelzer and Dylan Swob. Rounding out the roster are freshmen Parker Dysinger, Keringten Martin, Gavin McReynolds, Riley Richards, Chris Triplett, Ian Wilson and Dolan Young.

Covington looks forward to competing with the mix of Division 1, 2 and 3 teams that are on their schedule. The Buccs return to two prestigious mega-tournaments: the 52-team GMVWA Holiday tournament and the 38-team Lima Central Catholic (LCC) Invitational. They will also compete in the Northeastern, Versailles and Troy Invitationals. Covington will once again square off with some of the top dual-meet teams in the western part of the state, including Mechanicsburg, Coldwater, Eaton and Versailles. Additionally, the JV team will travel to some very competitive reserve meets including Versailles, Ben Logan, Sidney, Vandalia-Butler and Mechanicsburg.

Covington has one home dual and will once again host the Covington Duals tournament – which includes their Cross County Conference rivals, along with Lehman. The Buccs will compete again in the OHSAA team dual meet tournament and then travel to Lehman for the Division 3 sectional tournament – whose participants have proven to be among the most successful among all divisions in Ohio at the state tournament over the past several years.

RYAN FORD TAKES 4TH, MAGEE COMPETES AT STATE

Covington senior Ryan Ford capped an impressive high school career as a three-time state qualifier and three-time state placer after finishing fourth at 138 pounds. Brandon Magee was able to compete as an alternate after another wrestler failed skin check and he performed well by advancing to the second day of the tournament.

DUAL RECORD

TOURNAMENT RECORD

OVERALL RECORD

WINNING %

25-3

173-17

198-20

91%

DATE

OPPONENT

H/A

RECAP

DEC. 4

Northeastern Invitational

A

DEC. 5

Northeastern Invitational

A

DEC. 8

Versailles

H

DEC. 11

Walsh Ironman

A

--

DEC. 12

Walsh Ironman

A

--

DEC. 16

Mechanicsburg

H

--

DEC. 19

Versailles Invitational

A

--

DEC. 28

GMVWA Tournament

A

DEC. 29

GMVWA Tournament

A

JAN. 2

Troy Invitational

A

JAN. 6

Southeastern/Troy/Miami East

A

JAN. 12

Sidney Quad

A

--

JAN. 21

Lima Bath/Eaton

A

JAN. 27

OHSAA Duals

A

JAN. 29

LCC Invitational

A

--

JAN. 30

LCC Invitational

A

--

FEB. 3

OHSAA Duals

A

FEB. 6

Covington Duals

H

--

FEB. 19

Sectional

A

FEB. 20

Sectional

A

FEB. 26

District

A

FEB. 27

District

A

MAR. 3

State

A

MAR. 4

State

A

MAR. 5

State

A

2015-16 BUCCANEER ROSTER

Ryan Ford - 12
Connor Ryan - SR
Coleman Ryan - SR
Brandon Magee - SR
Seth Thomas - JR
Ross Bowman - JR
Luke Grieshop - JR
Lance Miller - JR
Josh Sowers - JR
Deron White - JR
Branen Robinson - JR
Carl Lankford - JR
Joey Schmelzer - SO
Jared Ford - SO
Gage Dehart - SO
Alexis Roth - SO
Riley Richards - FR
Parker Dysinger - FR
Keringten Martin - FR
Ian Wilson - FR
Gavin McReynolds - FR
Bryce Keiser - FR
Dolan Young - FR
Dylan Swobb - FR
Chris Triplett - FR
RETURNING LETTERMEN: Kneeling (L-R) - Connor Ryan, Jared Ford, Josh Sowers, Deron White, Coleman Ryan. Standing (L-R) - Gage Dehart, Seth Thomas, Brandon Magee, Carl Lankford, Ross Bowman, Ryan Ford. (Not Pictured: Lance Miller)