Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
In addition to Garrison Weisner’s state championship performance, several other area wrestlers competed in Columbus.
Whaley, McNally also compete for Eagles
Carter Whaley and Gabe McNally also competed at the state tournament for Clay with each of them winning a match before exiting. Whaley won his first-round match at 190 by defeating Springboro’s Noah Sandlin in a 4-1 sudden victory before falling in the quarterfinal and first consolation rounds. McNally had a somewhat similar path, although he fell in his opening round match before defeating Hilliard Bradley’s Gauge Woods at 175 in the first consolation round. He dropped his next match.
Eastwood’s Brough, Meeker fall in state championship matches
Eastwood’s Gabe Brough and Hunter Meeker advanced all the way through the 106-pound and 113-pound brackets, respectively, before falling in title tilts on Sunday. They nearly became the program’s first state champs since 2008.
Their performances also helped Eastwood finish seventh as a team with 62 points.
Brough (38-8), who was defeated in the final by Milan Edison’s Cohen Reer via technical fall, knocked off Barnesville’s Easton Stephen in the first round, Waynedale’s Branton Tapp in the quarterfinal, and Trent Huber of Versailles in the semifinal. All three of those victories for Brough came via major decision.
Meeker (44-5) was defeated by Graham Local’s Cooper Breslin via pin. Just a freshman, though, Meeker earned his spot in the final with wins over Barnesville’s Hoyt Hartshorn in the first round via a pin at 43 seconds, Lake Catholic’s Chance Wuhr 3-2 in the quarterfinal, and Martins Ferry’s Jayce Nixcon 8-5 in the semifinal.
In addition to that duo, Eastwood’s Trace Johnson earned his way to a third-place finish in the 157-pound division. After opening with a victory, Johnson (44-9) fell in the quarterfinal round before reeling off four consecutive victories, including a pin at 2:11 over Graham Local’s Gabe Krieger in the third-place match.
Fuller, Abbey place while trio helps Genoa finish 15th in D-III
Genoa recorded the program’s third-straight top-15 finish as a team with 34 points. The Comets went 23-6 in dual meets, won the NBC duals, captured a fourth-consecutive NBC team championship, finished as sectional runners-up by 0.5 points, and placed top six at the districts among 56 teams.
After a tough loss in the 126-pound semifinal, Genoa’s Scotty Fuller (53-4) defeated Miami East’s Lucas Shore via technical fall to finish in third place. He capped off a decorated career with 206 victories, which is second-most all-time for Genoa. He was also a four-time state placer, finishing in the top three each year. On top of that, he is only the third Genoa athlete in any sport to earn All-Ohio recognition all four years, joining 2019 graduates Julian Sanchez and Dylan D’Emilio.
His teammate, Tyler Abbey (51-10), also finished on a strong note, defeating Lake Catholic’s Tommy Slack 7-6 in the 150-pound fifth-place match. Head coach Bob Bergman said Abbey competed in one of the state’s toughest weight classes, advancing to the semifinal round before falling to the returning state champion. He rallied for his fifth-place finish, scoring in the final moments with no time left on the clock to beat Slack.
After falling in the first round, Luke Clement (29-5) responded with a win over Garaway’s Colton Domer in the 165-pound consolation first round before falling in the next consolation round. Clement overcame a foot injury during football season, fighting his way back to compete the second half of the wrestling season. He concluded his career with 126 wins and two NBC championships.
Woodmore’s Jendrzejak finishes 5th at 215, Rich also competes
Woodmore’s Bailey Jendrzejak (49-3) defeated Union Local’s Kolten Snyder via major decision to earn fifth place in the Division III 215-pound class. In doing so, he becomes the school’s first state placer since Evan Ulinski in 2014. He was tripped up in the semifinal in his only loss.
Teammate Landon Rich (44-10) competed in the 175-pound class but dropped his lone two matches. It was his second-straight appearance at the state tournament.
As a team, the Wildcats finished tied for 39th with 14 points.
Northwood’s Springer makes quarterfinals
Northwood’s Joseph Springer (30-10) won his first-round match over Indian Lakes’ Keshawn Blackwell 9-7 in the 120-pound class. He then fell in the quarterfinal and consolation rounds.
Eastwood’s Rush finishes sixth on girls side
Eastwood’s Eliana Rush (42-9) suffered a loss to Jordan Mills of Gahanna Lincoln in the 170-pound fifth-place match. After losing her opening match, the freshman knocked off Hilliard Bradley’s Grace Glandorff 10-4, Fairfield’s Lillian Grogan 7-3, and Harrison’s Rylee Dearwester via pinfall to earn a spot in the fifth-place match.
It was the fourth year the girls tournament was sanctioned by the OHSAA.
With her performance, Rush helped the Eagles finish 73rd with eight points in the team standings.
Girls trio from Gibsonburg, Woodmore compete
Gibsonburg’s Lillian Kendel competed in the 110-pound class, while Allison Schroeder earned a spot in the 120-pound class. Both suffered defeats in their first two matches and didn’t place.
Woodmore’s Tinley Thieroff suffered a similar fate in the 105-pound class, falling in her first two matches.
