2015-16: FORD QUALIFIES FOR STATE, MAGEE AND MILLER ARE ALTERNATES

Ryan Ford advances to state for the third straight year.

DAY ONE: DIVISION III DISTRICT WRESTLING
TROY – It was a rough first day for the Covington wrestling team at the 2016 Division III District tournament at Troy’s Hobart Arena on Friday as just one of the eight remaining Buccaneer wrestlers reached the championship semifinals.

Still, all eight wrestlers are alive heading into day two with seven in the consolation rounds, while 160 pounder Lance Miller will wrestle two-time state champion and unbeaten Kaleb Romero of Mechanicsburg in the semifinals tomorrow.

Miller opened the tournament with an impressive 7-3 win over Nate Golden of Williamsburg and then followed with an equally impressive 11-6 quarterfinal win over Brett Vonderwell of Delphos St. Johns.

Five more Buccaneer wrestlers won their opening bouts of the tournament before dropping their quarterfinal matches.

First, 113 pounder Connor Ryan defeated Andrew Foust of Delphos Jefferson 5-4 and then fell to Tommy Hoskins of Dayton Christian via pin in 2:41.

At 120 pounds, Coleman Ryan opened with a 6-4 win over Bret Hopkins of Blanchester before dropping a heartbreaking 5-3 decision in sudden victory to Kalib Patterson of Ridgedale.

Ryan Ford made quick work of Nik Churchill of North Union with a 53 second pin in his opening match at 138 pounds, but was stunned in his quarterfinal bout against Henry Danishek of Dayton Christian.

At 182 pounds for Covington, Brandon Magee pinned Raymond Hahn of Purcell Marian in 1:08, but lost a narrow 6-4 decision to Peyton Hamrick of Parkway.

Seth Thomas won his first match at 220 pounds with a 59 second pin of Dylan Thompson of North Union. He then lost yet another close match by Covington as Isaiah Harding handed Thomas a 10-8 defeat.

Two Covington wrestlers dipped their opening matches of the tournament, only to rebound in the consolation round with victories.

Jared Ford lost a narrow 3-1 decision to Joey Caprella of Lima Central Catholic before capturing a 1:43 pin of Brandon Lewis of Ridgedale at 126 pounds.

At 152 pounds, Gage Dehart dropped a 9-3 decision to Joseph Eizele of Lima Central Catholic and then defeated Seth Turner of Amanda Clearcreek, 12-6.

Wrestling resumes tomorrow at 1:00am.

Brandon Magee will make a trip to state as an alternate after finishing fifth at 182 pounds.

DAY TWO: DIVISION III DISTRICT WRESTLING
TROY – It wasn’t the outcome the Covington wrestling was hoping for as just one of the eight wrestlers competing in the Division III District Tournament at Troy’s Hobart Arena managed to qualify for next week’s state wrestling meet in Columbus.

And the lone wrestler who qualified for state has been there before, placing third in the past two years. Now, a senior, Ryan Ford is hoping to claim that ever elusive state championship.

Great things never come easy and the district tournament wasn’t a walk in the park for Ford as he was stunned in his quarterfinal match on Friday by Henry Danishek of Dayton Christian. But like a true champion, Ford battled back with wins over Jesse Mitchell of Southeastern and Lee Dues of Allen East to secure a third straight trip to state.

He then capped his effort by defeating Tanner Bey of Versailles by the score of 9-3 to claim third place at 138 pounds.

Junior Lance Miller fell short of returning to state as he took fifth at 160 pounds, which does qualify him as a state alternate at 160 pounds.

Brandon Magee was looking to finish his career at the state meet, but also fell short with a fifth place finish at 182 pounds. He will join Miller as an alternate.

Also seeing their outstanding careers come to an end were the Ryan brothers, Connor and Coleman. Both fell short of qualifying for state as they dropped their matches in the second consolation round.

Seth Thomas (220), Gage Dehart (152) and Jared Ford (126) also competed at districts for the Buccs – all three making it into the second day.

COVINGTON DISTRICT MATCH RESULTS

First Round
113 – Connor Ryan (Covington) dec. Andrew Foust (Del. Jefferson) 5-4
120 – Coleman Ryan (Covington) dec. Brent Hopkins (Blanchester) 6-4
126 – Joey Caprella (Lima C.C.) dec. Jared Ford (Covington) 3-1
138 – Ryan Ford (Covington) pin Nik Churchill (North Union) 0:53
152 – Joseph Eisele (Lima C.C.) dec. Gage DeHart (Covington) 9-3
160 – Lance Miller (Covington) dec. Nate Golden (Williamsburg) 7-33:02
182 – Brandon Magee (Covington) pin Raymond Hahn (Purcell Marian) 1:08
220 – Seth Thomas (Covington) pin Dylan Thompson (North Union) 0:59

Championship Quarterfinal
113 – Tommy Hoskins (Day. Christian) pin Connor Ryan (Covington) 2:41
120 – Kalib Patterson (Ridgedale) dec. Coleman Ryan (Covington) 5-3 SV
138 – Henry Danishek (Day. Christian) pin Ryan Ford (Covington) 1:05
160 – Lance Miller (Covington) dec. Brett Vonderwell (Del. St. John’s) 11-6
182 – Peyton Hamrick (Parkway) dec. Brandon Magee (Covington) 6-4
220 – Isaiah Harding (Greeneview) dec. Seth Thomas (Covington) 10-8

First Round Consolation
126 – Jared Ford (Covington) pin Brandon Lewis (Ridgedale) 1:43
160 – Gage DeHart (Covington) dec. Seth Turner (Amanda-Clearcreek) 12-6

Second Round Consolation
113 – Drew Whaley (Troy Christian) dec. Connor Ryan (Covington) 4-2 SV
120 – Jesse Potts (Deer Park) dec. Coleman Ryan (Covington) 9-7
126 – Jared Ford (Covington) pin Clayton Schirmer (Blanchester) 3:02
138 – Ryan Ford (Covington) pin Jesse Mitchell (S.Char. SE) 3:26
152 – Seth Henderson (MVCA) dec. Gage DeHart (Covington) 4-1
182 – Brandon Magee (Covington) tech. fall Lane Bennett (Del. Jefferson) tf17-2
220 – Seth Thomas (Covington) pin Jasper Miller (Mount Gilead) 1:42

Championship Semifinal
160 – Kaleb Romero (Mechanicsburg) pin Lance Miller (Covington) 2:39

Third Consolation Round
126 – Jay Uhlenhake (Coldwater) dec. Jared Ford (Covington) 5-4
138 – Ryan Ford (Covington) pin Lee Dues (Allen East) 2:30
182 – Brandon Magee (Covington) dec. Nathan Bills (Spr. Northwestern) 13-6

Consolation Semifinal
138 – Ryan Ford (Covington) dec. Wyatt Place (Del. Jefferson) 9-3
160 – Isaiah Pritchard (Dixie) dec. Lance Miller (Covington) 3-1
182 – Corbin Bunsold (North Union) pin Brandon Magee (Covington) 3:50

Fifth Place
160 – Lance Miller (Covington) dec. Calvin Wuorinen (Col. Academy) 8-5
182 – Brandon Magee (Covington) pin Andrew Nichols (Columbus Grove) 2:20

Third Place
138 – Ryan Ford (Covington) dec. Tanner Bey (Versailles) 9-3

Lance Miller trips two-time state champion Kaleb Romero in the 160 pound semifinals at the district tournament. Miller heads to state as an alternate at 160 pounds.