DAY 2: DECEMBER 30, 2025 – VANDALIA
The final wrestling tournament in the year of 2025 was a very memorable experience for the Covington Buccaneers as three wrestlers placed in their weight class and coach Eric Vanderhorst was inducted into the Greater Miami Valley Wrestling Association Hall of Fame.

Vanderhorst’s induction into the Hall of Fame made him the second Buccaneer wrestling coach into that category as he joined longtime legend Tom Barbee. Barbee and Jack Schwamberger are the two coaches who set the standard and culture for Covington wrestling since 1973 and Eric Vanderhorst has carried the culture into the current generation. These three coaches have made wrestling one of the most successful sports in Covington.

Caleb Ryman, Covington’s senior standout and returning state placer, placed third in the 157 pound weight class. He finished 6-1 with his only loss happening in the semifinals in a controversial one-point defeat, 11-10. Fortunately, Ryman remained focused after a frustrating loss by capturing a 10-2 major decision victory over Trey Gregory from Buford to advance to the consolation final. In his final match to finish in third place, Ryman won by default over Landon McCargish from Northmont.

Buccaneer sophomore Brody Taylor had a great performance by finishing sixth place in the 106 pound weight class. He advanced to the semifinals, but dropped a tough match to a returning state placer Trent Huber from Versailles, who then went on to win the 106 pound weight class. Taylor ended up with a 3-3 record in the tournament.

Trenton Havenar finished seventh place in a loaded 215 pound weight class. Havenar won five out of the seven matches he faced in the tournament and the 1-0 victory over Carson Reichelderfer from Troy secured his spot for placement. Havenar closed out the tournament with a 12-10 victory over Sam Bradford from West Liberty-Salem.

The Buccaneers finished with 80.0 team points, which was 10th out of 32 teams in the small divisions.

DAY 1: DECEMBER 29, 2025 – VANDALIA
The Covington Buccaneers had 12 wrestlers competing in the first day of the GMVWA Holiday Tournament and three are still in position to possibly place in the weight class tomorrow.

Brody Taylor (106 pounds) and Caleb Ryman (157 pounds) advanced to the semifinal by winning all of their matches in the opening day, while Trenton Havenar (215 pounds) is still in contention in the consolation rounds after going 3-1.

The wins by Brody Taylor came in two pins over Makarios Green from Fairdale and Landyn Doner from Reading, plus an 18-0 technical fall victory over Brendan Schell from Bellbrook. His next match is against #2 seed Trent Huber from Versailles.

Caleb Ryman won four matches to advance to the semifinal by recording pins over Chaise Johnson from Sidney and Parker Weekly from Troy Christian, then a 19-1 technical fall win over Dominic Hummel from Bellbrook and an 18-2 technical fall victory over Cole Henson from Springboro. Ryman faces #3 seed Ronald Johnson from Chaminade Julienne in the semifinal.

Trenton Havenar started off with three straight wins with a pin over Cody Gunn from Waynesville, a 16-1 technical fall victory over Dorion Briscoe from Trotwood-Madison, and a 14-1 major decision victory over Zane Stephens from Vandalia-Butler. Havenar dropped a match to #4 seed Jackson McNeal from Huntington in the quarterfinals and will face either Carson Reichelderfer from Troy or Miguel Utera from Washington CH.

Three Buccaneer wrestlers went 2-2 on the day; Eddie Deaton (120 pounds), Henry Skaggs (126 pounds) and Liam Geeding (150 pounds). Freshman Weston Roth (138 pounds) won a match due to a disqualification from an illegal move by an opponent, which forced an injury that unfortunately led to a default to end his day.

Jonny Miller (132 pounds), Cooper Turner (144 pounds), Diego Lopez (165 pounds), Landon Beeman (175 pounds) and A.J. Reyes (190 pounds) also wrestled in the tournament for the Buccs.

The competition continues at 10:00am tomorrow morning at Vandalia-Butler High School.

BUCCANEER RESULTS:

106 POUNDS – BRODY TAYLOR
Brody Taylor (Covington) pin* Makarios Green (Fairdale) – 1:25
Brody Taylor (Covington) tech. fall Brendan Schell (Bellbrook) – tf18-0
Brody Taylor (Covington) pin Landyn Doner (Reading) – 0:48
Trent Huber (Versailles) pin Brody Taylor (Covington) – 3:16
Mason Heidler (Washington CH) maj. dec. Brody Taylor (Covington) – md20-8
Blake Foucht (Alter) pin Brody Taylor (Covington) – 2:47

120 POUNDS – EDDIE DEATON
Khang Huynh (Northmont) dec. Eddie Deaton (Covington) – 12-6
Eddie Deaton (Covington) pin Noah Leighner (Troy Christian) – 3:33
Eddie Deaton (Covington) maj. dec. Carter Dennison (Tippecanoe) – md9-0
Dillon Lewis (Fairdale) pin Eddie Deaton (Covington) – 4:26

126 POUNDS – HENRY SKAGGS
Henry Skaggs (Covington) pin Lucas Unger (Alter) – 1:21
Henry Skaggs (Covington) dec. Miguel Francisco (Great Crossing) – 17-13
Colby Campbell (Chillicothe) tech. fall Henry Skaggs (Covington) – tf15-0
Zarrin Walton (Preble Shawnee) maj. dec. Henry Skaggs (Covington) – md13-0

132 POUNDS – JONNY MILLER
Cannan Smith (Chillicothe) pin Jonny Miller (Covington) – 2:30
Tyson English (Moore) maj. dec. Jonny Miller (Covington) – md14-3

138 POUNDS – WESTON ROTH
Jeremiah Baker (Carroll) tech. fall Weston Roth (Covington) – tf16-0
Weston Roth (Covington) disq. Blake Murdock (Great Crossing) – Disq
Eli Maurer (Tecumseh) def. Weston Roth (Covington) – Default

144 POUNDS – COOPER TURNER
Owen Weaks (Ben. Logan) tech. fall Cooper Turner (Covington) – tf17-2
Chase McCormick (Tippecanoe) tech. fall Cooper Turner (Covington) – tf16-1

150 POUNDS – LIAM GEEDING
Liam Geeding (Covington) dec.* A.J. Wilson (Jonathan Alder) – 11-5
Phillip Hash (Bid. River Valley) pin Liam Geeding (Covington) – 3:24
Liam Geeding (Covington) pin Sam Milnickel (Milton-Union) – 2:43
Brandt Patton (Versailles) dec. Liam Geeding (Covington) – 10-3

157 POUNDS – CALEB RYMAN
Caleb Ryman (Covington) pin Chaise Johnson (Sidney) – 1:15
Caleb Ryman (Covington) pin Parker Weekly (Troy Christian) – 1:02
Caleb Ryman (Covington) tech. fall Dominic Hummel (Bellbrook) – tf19-1
Caleb Ryman (Covington) tech. fall Cole Henson (Springboro) – tf18-2
Ronald Johnson (Cham. Julienne) dec. Caleb Ryman (Covington) – 11-10
Caleb Ryman (Covington) maj. dec. Trey Gregory (Buford) – md10-2
Caleb Ryman (Covington) def. Landon McCargish (Northmont) – Default

165 POUNDS – DIEGO LOPEZ
Sam Schmitmeyer (Versailles) dec. Diego Lopez (Covington) – 7-4 OT
Andrew Thirey (Wilmington) pin Diego Lopez (Covington) – 0:42

175 POUNDS – LANDON BEEMAN
Kyler Crooks (Graham Local) pin Landon Beeman (Covington) – 0:47
Tapp Gallagher (Bellbrook) maj. dec. Landon Beeman (Covington) – md12-2

190 POUNDS – A.J. REYES
Jay Zang (Hartley) pin A.J. Reyes (Covington) – 1:00
Johnny Tran (Fairdale) dec. A.J. Reyes (Covington) – 7-2

215 POUNDS – TRENTON HAVENAR
Trenton Havenar (Covington) pin Cody Gunn (Waynesville) – 4:59
Trenton Havenar (Covington) tech. fall Dorion Briscoe (Trotwood-Madison) – tf16-1
Trenton Havenar (Covington) maj. dec. Zane Stephens (Butler) – md14-1
Jackson McNeal (Huntington) tech. fall Trenton Havenar (Covington) – tf16-0
Trenton Havenar (Covington) dec. Carson Reichelderfer (Troy) – 1-0
Jax Crowe (Boyle County) pin Trenton Havenar (Covington) – 0:54
Trenton Havenar (Covington) dec. Sam Bradford (W. Liberty-Salem) – 12-10