December 27, 2018 – Vandalia
Covington had a strong first day at the GMVWA Holiday tournament, finishing the session in the top five out of 48 teams overall, benefitting from multiple pins throughout the day. The Buccs advanced nine wrestlers to the second day of the tournament.
Kellan Anderson (106), Cael Vanderhorst (120), Keringten Martin (152), Duncan Cooper (170) and Gavin McReynolds (182) all reached the championship quarterfinals, while Riley Richards (132), Austin Flick (138), Dylan Burns (160) and Jesse Fisher (220) are still alive in the consolation bracket, advancing to consolation round 5.
Anderson advanced with a bye before pinning Centerville’s Spencer Meng, while Vanderhorst pinned Miamisburg’s Kaelon Lawson-West after getting a bye.
Martin earned consecutive pins over Versailles’ Dalton Didier and Bellefontaine’s Noah Yoesting. Cooper also earned consecutive pins, beating Wilmington’s Kile Holland and Chillicothe’s Cade Williams. McReynolds followed suit with pins over Ben Logan’s Blake Rose and National Trail’s Drake Carrell.
Richards started with a pin over Walton-Verona’s Anthony Butts, then dropped a 10-4 decision to Simon Kenton’s Migdoel Ocasio, before winning a 2-0 decision over Moore Traditional’s Agali Radjapov. Flick pinned Centerville’s Triston Jordan then fell to Kenton Ridge’s Bryce Stamps before rebounding with a pin over Greeneview’s Taylor Stinson.
Burns fell to Chaminade-Julienne’s Nicholas Machac, then rebounded with consecutive pins over Preble Shawnee’s Triston Angle and Bellbrook’s Nick Cumpston. Fisher advanced with a bye then fell to Delaware Hayes’ Nathan Robertson before finishing with a 6-0 decision over Jack Fisher of Miamisburg.
Connor Sindelir (126), Fletcher Metz (145) and Gage Kerrigan (195) also wrestled well for the Buccs but were eliminated. Sindelir earned a 13-0 major decision over Delaware Hayes’ Ryan Chupko, while Kerrigan was forced to injury default out of the tournament.
December 28, 2018 – Vandalia
Covington wrestled to an excellent finish at the GMVWA Holiday tournament, finishing in 2nd place out of 21 schools in the small school standings (Divisions 2 and 3) behind overall winner Graham, and in 5th place out of 48 teams overall when you add in the Division 1 teams. The 5th place overall finish is Covington’s second best performance ever at the tournament. The team also tied a school record with 5 placers, and had another 4 wrestlers who finished in the top 12.
Kellan Anderson led the way for the Buccs with a first place finish at 106 lbs. He bested Graham’s Nolan Gessler, 6-3, in the finals after pinning Troy Christian’s Caleb Schroer in the semi finals. He started the day with a 10-0 major decision over Wapakoneta’s Colon Mellot.
Keringten Martin battled his way to a 3rd place finish with his only loss a close 5-3 decision to eventual champion Jeffrey Thomas of Graham. Martin started off with a 5-3 decision over Dylan Schenck, then dropped his bout to Thomas, before rebounding with a pin over Rictor Morgan of Simon Kenton. He then defeated Schenck a second time, 4-3, to place 3rd.
Cael Vanderhorst finished in 4th place at 120 lbs. He dropped his quarterfinal bout in overtime, 3-2, to Centerville’s Damion Ryan, before reeling off three straight victories in the consolations. He pinned Hilliard Bradley’s Sam Pennington, beat Graham’s Dawson Show, 4-2, and defeated Princeton’s Josue Dawson, 9-5, before dropping a 3-0 decision in the finals to Centerville’s Ryan.
Austin Flick (138) and Riley Richards (132) also made the podium, finishing in 7th and 8th place, respectively. Flick opened the day with back-to-back pins, before dropping an 8-6 decision, then closed with a pin over Upper Sandusky’s Brazen McDaniel. Richards won two decisions to place then dropped 1-point and 2-point decisions to finish 8th.
Dylan Burns (160), Duncan Cooper (170), Gavin McReynolds (182) and Jesse Fisher (220) all finished in the top 12 – one win short of placing – each winning their opening bouts of day 2.
Covington competes next at the Troy Invitational on Saturday Jan 5.
