LIMA – The Covington Buccaneers had a great weekend in the 2026 Thunderbird Invitational as five of the eleven wrestlers earned placement on the podium and the entire team compiled 107 points to finish 8th out of the 43 programs in the competition.

Placing for the Buccaneers were Caleb Ryman (157), Brody Taylor (106), Trenton Havenar (215), Henry Skaggs (126) an Weston Roth (138), while the additional six wrestlers put together great effort to increase their potential for future success.

Caleb Ryman, the Buccaneer senior who has qualified for state in all three previous years and placed fifth at state last year as a junior, won the 157 pound weight class at the very competitive Thunderbird Invitational. In the final match against Thor Etter from Paulding, a wrestler who placed third at state a year ago, Ryman recorded a takedown to build a 3-1 lead heading into the final period. He then recorded two more takedowns in the third period to close out a dominating 9-2 victory to put himself on the top spot of the podium.

To advance to the finals, Ryman captured four impressive wins in a 20 second pin over Parker Kimmel from Bluffton, a 46 second pin over Douglas Hattemer from Tinora, a 15-0 technical fall victory over Gavin Herrig from Woodmore and a 4-2 victory over Lane Lopez from Pike-Delta-York. The way Caleb Ryman is performing so far in his senior season is putting himself in position to hopefully earn his fourth trip at state and earn his second straight spot on the podium in Columbus.

Caleb Ryman was awarded the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the tournament as he defeated two state placers on his way to finish first in his weight class.

Brody Taylor finished second at 106 pounds as he advanced to the finals with three straight wins in a 15-0 tech fall victory over Jay Lewis from Williamsburg, a 41 second pin against Sean Nolan from Crestview and a 9-3 victory over Exzander Borstelman from Swanton. He came up short from winning the championship match against Branton Tapp from Waynedale in a 7-3 decision. Brody’s performance was outstanding as he showcased his toughness and competitive desire despite battling an unfortunate nagging injury he has had to fight through the entire season.

Trenton Havenar finished third at the 215 pound weight class by winning four out of his five matches throughout the tournament. Havenar opened up with a 29 second pin over Kaden Little from Columbus Grove and followed up with a 5-0 decision victory over Emilo Arroyo from Pike-Delta-York. He unfortunately lost a close match to Sam Bradford from West Liberty-Salem by the score of 9-6, but rebounded with a 3:55 pin over Bronson Rose from Crestview to advance to the consolation final in a rematch against Emilo Arroyo from Pike-Delta-York. In that final match both wrestlers recorded escapes for one point and Havenar was able to pull out the 4-1 victory over Arroyo with a takedown with 30 seconds left on the clcok.

Henry Skaggs and Weston Roth both finished 8th due to unfortunate situations that forced them to default down the stretch. Skaggs, at 126 pounds, won two critical matches with a 9-4 decision over Bobby Tyas from Crestview-Convoy and a 4:14 pin over Landon Shrader from Elgin. This set himself up to possibly finish third, but he suffered a painful hip situation in a narrow 4-0 loss in a rematch to Bobby Tyas. This forced him to default his final match to finish eighth.

Weston Roth, a freshman, put together a great performance as he won four out of his first five matches. Unfortunately, in his fourth win he was illegally slammed by his opponent for a disqualification and the injury suffered by Roth forced him to forfeit the next two matches. This is why he ended up finishing eighth in his 138 pound weight class instead of possibly ending up higher on the podium.

The Buccaneers wrestlers who came up short of placing competed well in this tough tournament. Liam Geeding and Jonny Miller were both one wins away from placing. Liam Geeding (150) finished 3-2 with 2 pins, Jonny Miller (132) went 2-2, and Eddie Deaton (120) went 1-2. Gavin Brown (144), Diego Lopez (165) and Gibson Leach (175) came up short from capturing a win, but the experience they received in this tournament will help them progress throughout the rest of the season.

Next up for the Buccaneers are the OHSWCA Regional Duals next Saturday at 10:00am at Versailles. Covington starts off in a dual against Preble Shawnee.

BUCCANEER RESULTS

106 – BRODY TAYLOR (2ND PLACE)
Brody Taylor (Covington) win by 15-0 tech fall over Jay Lewis (Williamsburg)
Brody Taylor (Covington) win by 0:41 pin over Sean Nolan (Crestview)
Brody Taylor (Covington) win by 9-3 decision over Exzander Borstelman (Swanton)
Branton Tapp (Waynedale) win by 7-3 decision over Brody Taylor (Covington)

120 – EDDIE DEATON
Landon Abt (Blanchester) win by 12-1 major decision over Eddie Deaton (Covington)
Eddie Deaton (Covington) win by 3-2 decision over Adney Pasma (Elgin)
Braxton Pennington (Pike-Delta-York) win by 2-0 decision over Eddie Deaton (Covington)

126 – HENRY SKAGGS (8TH PLACE)
Henry Skaggs (Covington) win by 9-4 decision over Bobby Tyas (Crestview-Convoy)
Tyler Barnes (Pike-Delta-York) win by 1:01 pin over Henry Skaggs (Covington)
Henry Skaggs (Covington) win by 4:14 default over Landon Shrader (Elgin)
Bobby Tyas (Crestview-Convoy) win by 4-0 decision over Henry Skaggs (Covington)
Aiden Cordy (Woodmore) win by Default over Henry Skaggs (Covington)

132 – JONNY MILLER
Colton Ray (Woodmore) win by 8-2 decision over Jonny Miller (Covington)
Jonny Miller (Covington) win by 2:51 pin over Andrew Brodman (Bluffton)
Jonny Miller (Covington) win by 9-3 decision over Mike Gregg (Triad)
Aiden Daniel (Williamsburg) win 9-7 over Jonny Miller (Covington)

138 – WESTON ROTH (8TH PLACE)
Weston Roth (Covington) win by 3:14 pin over Seth Rosswurm (Wayne Trace)
Wyatt Smith (Triad) win 12-9 decision over Weston Roth (Covington)
Weston Roth (Covington) win by 1:50 pin over Stryker Stockstill (Spencerville)
Weston Roth (Covington) win by MFFL over Brandon Gill (Tinora)
Weston Roth (Covington) win by Disqualification over Kyler Langhardt (West Liberty-Salem)
Wyatt Smith (Triad) win by Medical Forfeit over Weston Roth (Covington)
Blake Opichka (Madeira) win by Medical Forfeit over Weston Roth (Covington)

144 – GAVIN BROWN
Caden Otto (Madeira) win by 0:38 pin over Gavin Brown (Covington)
Hephaestion Weyer (Bluffton) win by 19-2 tech fall over Gavin Brown (Covington)

150 – LIAM GEEDING
Liam Geeding (Covington) win by 6-5 decision over Grant Cansky (Pike-Delta-York)
Brody Gallagher (McComb) win by 1:34 pin over Liam Geeding (Covington)
Liam Geeding (Covington) win by 1:15 pin over Kaden Clark (Montpelier)
Liam Geeding (Covington) win by 1:43 pin over Noah Richards (Newark Catholic)
Zac Salas (Antwerp) win by 14-12 decision over Liam Geeding (Covington)

157 – CALEB RYMAN (1ST PLACE)
Caleb Ryman (Covington) win by 0:20 pin over Parker Kimmel (Bluffton)
Caleb Ryman (Covington) win by 0:46 pin over Douglas Hattemer (Tinora)
Caleb Ryman (Covington) win by 15-0 tech fall over Gavin Herrig (Woodmore)
Caleb Ryman (Covington) win by 4-2 decision over Lane Lopez (Pike-Delta-York)
Caleb Ryman (Covington) win by 9-2 decision over Thor Etter (Paulding)

165 – DIEGO LOPEZ
Maddox Kidd (Waynedale) win by 1:16 pin over Diego Lopez (Covington)
Colton Hibner (Coldwater) win by 2:43 pin over Diego Lopez (Covington)

175 – GIBSON LEACH
Jack Stephens (Crestview) win by 0:53 pin over Gibson Leach (Covington)
Connor Hesitant (Spencerville) win by 0:33 pin over Gibson Leach (Covington)

215 – TRENTON HAVENAR (3RD PLACE)
Trenton Havenar (Covington) win by 0:29 pin over Kaden Little (Columbus Grove)
Trenton Havenar (Covington) win by 5-0 decision over Emilo Arroyo (Pike-Delta-York)
Sam Bradford (West Liberty-Salem) win 9-6 decision over Trenton Havenar (Covington)
Trenton Havenar (Covington) win by 3:55 pin over Bronson Rose (Crestview)
Trenton Havenar (Covington) win by 4-1 decision over Emilo Arroyo (Pike-Delta-York)