TROY – The Covington Buccaneers had six wrestlers qualify for districts and three finished in the top four to qualify for state; Chase Vanderhorst (132), Michael Hagan (120) and Caleb Ryman (138). Jericho Quinter (126) will also make a trip as a state alternate. Covington finished 6th out of 57 teams with 78 team points.
Chase Vanderhorst (38-3) finished runner-up at 132 pounds, dropping a very close 7-5 decision to Wyatt Hinton of Norwood (41-1) in the finals. Vanderhorst entered the tournament as the champion out of the Covington Sectional and steamrolled his way into the finals with three quick pins. He opened the district tournament with a 26 second pin of Columbus Grove’s Levi Schroeder and then followed with a 52 second pin against Lane Bergman of Versailles. He then pinned Edward Kessen of Delphos St. John’s in 44 seconds in the semifinal.
Michael Hagan (42-7) finished third in the 120 pound weight class by defeating Nolan Earles of Preble Shawnee in 57 seconds in the consolation final. Hagan opened the tournament with a 6-2 victory over Tyler Overman of Coldwater in a match where he controlled the action from his feet and the top position. Hagan then followed with a huge victory over Hunter Smith of Blanchester, who was the champion out of the Blanchester Sectional. The Buccaneer junior dominated the match by recording a quick takedown and then pinning Smith in 40 seconds. He lost the semifinal match to Nathan Attisano of Legacy Christian, but rebounded with an 8-1 victory over Tyler Overman of Coldwater to secure a state birth.
Buccaneer freshman Caleb Ryman (41-12) put together an amazing performance to punch his ticket to state by taking fourth at 138 pounds. Ryman opened the tournament by knocking off state ranked Nathan Opichka of Madeira by the score of 7-5. The match was tied up until Ryman recorded the winning takedown in the final minute. Ryman then defeated Luke Batty of Versailles 9-2 to advance to the semifinal round where he fell to Mark Ellis of Waynesville, another state ranked wrestler. Ryman rebounded in a rematch with Nathan Opichka of Madeir, who battle his way impressively through the blood rounds. Ryman defeated Opichka 9-2 to secure a spot in the consolation final and a trip to state. In the consolation final, Ryman fell to Ashtan Hendricks of Greenview.
Jericho Quinter (33-10) came up just short of qualifying for state, but he overcame so much adversity over the past few weeks by showing unbelievable toughness and grit. Quinter finished fifth at 126 pounds to become a state alternate despite a painful injury he had to deal with. He opened the tournament with a 1:48 pin of Middletown Madison’s Matthew Wheeler and then a 6-3 victory over Kyan Hendricks of Greeneview. Quinter dropped into the consolation rounds with an injury default to Jason Shaffer of Troy Christian, but returned to the mat determined to overcome the pain in the consolation semifinal. Quinter built a 16-3 lead over Matthew Wheeler of Middletown Madison, but was caught by a pin in the third period. Showing amazing toughness, Quinter took on Kyan Hendricks of Greeneview in a rematch for fifth place and thirty seconds into the match Jericho’s shoulder popped out of the socket. He returned to the mat once again after a trainer put it back in place and battled his way to a 5-2 victory.
Carson Tylor had aspirations of returning to state, but came up short in a very tough 106 pound weight class. Taylor started the tournament with an impressive 2:57 pin of A.J. Sturwold from Williamsburg, but dropped a heartbreaking 6-4 decision to Hayden Jones of Brookville, a wrestler Taylor defeated earlier in the year 3-2. Carson rebounded with back-to-back pins over Silas Riblet of Ada and Blake Opichka of Madeira, but dropped a 9-2 decision to Ethan Cantrell of West Union in his go-to-state match – the consolation semifinal. Taylor then was forced to injury default his match for fifth place to Ke`Shawn Blackwell of Indian Lake.
The lone Buccaneer who failed to advance to the second day of the tournament was Christian Clark. The 113 pound freshman beat the odds to become a district qualifier by placing fourth at sectionals a week ago and gained valuable experience despite dropping two straight matches to Khadyn Jacobs of Brookville and Lucas Baker of West Union.
COVINGTON RESULTS:
106 LBS – CARSON TAYLOR
Carson Taylor (Covington) pin A.J. Sturwold (Williamsburg) 2:57
Hayden Jones (Brookville) dec. Carson Taylor (Covington) 6-4
Carson Taylor (Covington) pin Silas Riblet (Ada) 3:20
Carson Taylor (Covington) pin Blake Opichka (Madeira) 0:35
Ethan Cantrell (West Union) dec. Carson Taylor (Covington) 9-2
Ke`Shawn Blackwell (Indian Lake) def. Carson Taylor (Covington) Default
113 LBS – CHRISTIAN CLARK
Khadyn Jacobs (Brookville) pin Christian Clark (Covington) 1:37
Lukas Baker (West Union) pin Christian Clark (Covington) 2:53
120 LBS – MICHAEL HAGAN
Michael Hagan (Covington) dec. Tyler Overman (Coldwater) 6-2
Michael Hagan (Covington) pin Hunter Smith (Blanchester) 0:40
Nathan Attisano (Legacy Christian) pin Michael Hagan (Covington) 1:27
Michael Hagan (Covington) dec. Tyler Overman (Coldwater) 8-1
Michael Hagan (Covington) pin Nolan Earles (Preble Shawnee) 0:57
126 LBS – JERICHO QUINTER
Jericho Quinter (Covington) pin Matthew Wheeler (Mid. Madison) 1:48
Jericho Quinter (Covington) dec. Kyan Hendricks (Greeneview) 6-3
Jason Shaffer (Troy Christian) Default Jericho Quinter (Covington) Default
Matthew Wheeler (Mid. Madison) pin Jericho Quinter (Covington) 4:11
Jericho Quinter (Covington) dec. Kyan Hendricks (Greeneview) 5-2
132 LBS – CHASE VANDERHORST
Chase Vanderhorst (Covington) pin Levi Schroeder (Columbus Grove) 0:26
Chase Vanderhorst (Covington) pin Lane Bergman (Versailles) 0:52
Chase Vanderhorst (Covington) pin Edward Kessen (Del. St. John’s) 0:44
Wyatt Hinton (Norwood) dec. Chase Vanderhorst (Covington) 7-5
138 LBS – CALEB RYMAN
Caleb Ryman (Covington) dec. Nathan Opichka (Madeira) 7-5
Caleb Ryman (Covington) dec. Luke Batty (Versailles) 9-2
Mark Ellis (Waynesville) dec. Caleb Ryman (Covington) 11-4
Caleb Ryman (Covington) dec. Nathan Opichka (Madeira) 9-2
Ashtan Hendricks (Greeneview) pin Caleb Ryman (Covington) 0:40
