Wednesday, December 27, 2017
Covington finished the first day of the 48-team Greater Miami Valley Wrestling Association (GMVWA) Holiday Tournament in 12th place out of 21 schools in the small school division with 27 points. Three Buccaneers advanced to the second day of competition and the top-16 in their weight classes.
Kellan Anderson (106) upset the number 2 seed, Isham Peace of Walton-Verona, Kentucky, with a 4-0 decision to advance to the quarterfinals. Cael Vanderhorst (113) also advanced to the quarterfinals by upsetting the number 8 seed, earning a pin over Collin Lovett of Miamisburg.
Keringten Martin (152) battled back through the consolations after losing in the second round. He advanced to the 5th consolation round with a 5-0 victory over Northmont’s Eli Newburg and a pin over Pickerington Central’s DaeViyeon Hargrove.
Dropping their 4th round consolation matches to finish a win away from advancing to the second day were Riley Richards (126), Austin Flick (138) and Gavin McReynolds (182). Richards dropped a close 3-1 decision to the number 2 seed before rebounding with an 11-0 major decision over Troy Christian’s Lear Current.
Flick picked up pins over Greeneview’s Taylor Stinson and Moore Traditional’s Jordan Burns, while McReynolds earned a pin over Columbus Bishop Hartley’s Kenyon Davis. Also competing well for the Buccs were Trentin Alexander (160), Dylan Staudt (220) and Bryce Keiser (285).
Thursday, December 28, 2017 – Vandalia
After two days of wrestling at the GMVWA Holiday Tournament a young Buccaneer wrestling team finished 13th out of 21 teams in the small school division and 34th out of the 48 schools overall. The Buccaneers also had two wrestlers finish on the podium.
Freshman 106 pounder Kellan Anderson led the way with a runner-up finish. After knocking off the #2 seed on Wednesday, Anderson started the second day with a 3-1 win over Nick Cambria of Buford, Georgia on a last second takedown. He then advanced to the finals with a 5-3 win over Deacon Sawchuk of Hilliard Bradley before falling in the championship match to James Baumann of Dublin Coffman.
Cael Vanderhorst advanced in the championship quarterfinals where he faced a returning state champion from Buford, Georgia, Logan Ashton. In a tightly contested match Vanderhorst came up short 4-0, but was able to rebound with a 41 second pin of Dylan Rowland of West Clermont. In the Consolation Quarterfinal Vanderhorst dropped a tight 5-1 match to #5 seed Matt Verdes of Bulter before recording a 6-0 victory over Josue Dawson of Princeton for seventh place at 113 pounds.
Buccaneer junior 152 pounder Keringten Martin battled into the second day of the tournament despite returning from the flu. He performed very well under the circumstances, but came up just short of the podium – falling to Jestin Love of Butler in the fifth consolation round.
With a solid effort at the prestigious GMVWA Holiday Tournament behind them, the young Buccaneers look to carry the momentum into the new year as they take part in the Troy Invitational on January 6th at Troy High School.
