Nine Clermont County wrestlers began the final leg of their quest toward a state championship at the Schottenstein Center on Thursday, March 8.
Wrestlers representing Batavia, Bethel-Tate, CNE, Goshen and West Clermont competed on the first day of the OHSAA Individual Wrestling State Tournament.
Bethel-Tate’s Trey Sander started the day for the Clermont Wrestlers in the 120-pound class in Division III. Sander trailed 2-0 after one period and 3-0 after two en route to a 10-1 loss to Coshocton’s Austin Guthrie.
That loss dropped Sander to the consolation bracket, where he faced off against Andover Pymatuning Valley’s Jake Edelman.
Edelman defeated Sander 6-1 in the consolation bout, ending his season. The Tiger senior finished the year with a record of 37-10 overall.
CNE’s Sam Patterson also wrestled in the Division III tournament. Patterson drew Gallion Northmor’s Nico Christo in the first round, with the latter picking up a 9-3 win over Patterson.
With the loss, Patterson moved to the consolation bracket, where he drew Archbold’s Brennan Short.
Patterson dropped an 11-4 decision to Short, ending his season at 37-8 overall for the Rockets.
The county’s first wrestler in Division II to take the mat was Batavia’s Brandon Sauter. Sauter faced off against Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Kenneth Crosby in the bout, which ended with the Bulldog suffering a 7-3 defeat.
In his consolation match, Sauter overcame a near fall in the second period to escape with an 8-6 win over Albany Alexander’s Griffin Chmiel.
The next championship match in Clermont County involved Goshen’s Chase Huff, but his bout didn’t last long. Huff’s championship opener was cut short due to a shoulder injury suffered by the Warrior wrestler, forcing him to default.
He would also default out of the consolation bracket, ending his season. Though the team’s first wrestler was forced out of the tournament due to injury, Goshen’s next two matches went much better.
Junior Josh Dunn won his opening-round bout in the 120-pound class 8-2, earning a spot in the quarterfinals against Jefferson Area’s Jason Mayes.
Senior Zach Dunn also won his opening-round match for Goshen, turning a late 1-1 tie into a 5-1 lead before pinning Tiffin Columbian’s Kaedan Hatlay in 5:35 to win the match.
Dunn will face Carrolton senior Ben Pasiuk in the quarterfinals Friday morning. Pasiuk has placed second in three different weight classes in the last three seasons.
West Clermont got in on the action in the Division I tournament. Matt Lewis started things off for the Wolves with an 18-3 loss to defending state champion Carson Kharchla in the first round.
That defeat sent Lewis to the consolation bracket, where he drew Oregon Clay’s Jacob Meek. Lewis dropped the consolation bout to Meek 5-2, finishing the season 32-9 overall.
In the Wolves’ second match, Mitch Gibson picked up a 9-2 win in the 195-pound class. Gibson advances to the quarterfinals, where he will face Brecksville-Broadview Heights’ Ethan Hatcher.
West Clermont’s third and final wrestler of the tournament also moved to the quarterfinals. Joe Wahl defeated Kilbourne’s Jay Thompson 9-5 to earn a spot the next round. He’ll face Lakewood St. Edward’s Seamus O`Malley on Friday, March 8.
The second session of wrestling is scheduled to begin on Friday, March 8 at 10 a.m. Those matches will consist of the championship quarterfinals and the second round of the consolation bracket.