The road to the individual wrestling state championships began last weekend as Western Brown hit the road to take part in thesectional tournaments at Batavia High School. Although the squad found itself without 2015 state placer Brandon Lucas, who was unable to make weight, several Broncos will continue on in the tournament.
Seth Taylor wrestled for Western Brown at the 113-pound class, defeating New Richmond’s Elijah Worley and Reading’s Dustin Robins before falling in the championship match to Ross sophomore Jake Gentry.
Jordan Hamblin won the 120-pound bracket, defeating Mt. Healthy’s Yusuf Dewees, Indian Hill’s Jaden Anderson and Ross’ Brayden Ploehs.
Freshman Tanner Donathan earned a spot in the tournament in the 126-pound class. Donathan advanced to the championship match, pinning Reading’s Dan Robins and earning decision victories over Brice Biggs and Lane Dees before falling to Norwood’s Casey Ragle by tech fall in the title bout.
Jacob Haggerty advanced to the semifinals of the 132-pound class after defeating Wyoming’s Ethan Tefs in the quarterfinals. Haggerty lost to Reading’s Issia Johnson via a 15-6 major decision, but earned a trip to the district meet by defeating McNicholas’ Rielly Dowell-Howko in the consolation bracket. Haggerty would finish fourth after losing via a tech fall (15-0) to Goshen’s Jacob Kube.
In the 138-pound class, freshman Derek Spears earned the three-seed and a bye to the quarterfinals. Spears pinned Norwood’s Toron Brown in 3:55 to advance to the semis, where he defeated Taylor’s Damian Walton. Spears would win the title in the weight class with a pin of Wyoming’s Yima Nyamor in 4:56.
Jake Henderson will be joining Spears in the district tournament. Henderson received a bye to the quarterfinals as well, where he defeated New Richmond freshman Gavin Clark via a pin in 2:45. In the semis, Henderson pinned Batavia’s Jordan Cahall, sending him to the championship match. A pin of Wyoming’s Noah Pitman in just 43 seconds gave Henderson the title.
Malachi Marlow gave Western Brown another title in the 152-pound class. Marlow defeated Reading’s Jackson Bish in the first round, then pinned Batavia’s Kobe Stepp in just 27 seconds in the quarterfinals. In the semis, Marlow again won by pin, defeating Goshen’s Trey Atwood in 3:45. A 15-0 tech fall victory over Norwood’s Trevon Ward in the championship advanced Marlow to the district tournament.
Eric Atlman will be joining him there. Altman defeated Badin’s Bryan Henson via a pin at 1:04 to advance to the quarterfinals, where he earned a 5-2 decision victory over Wyoming’s Justin Shields. In the semifinals, Altman won a 5-1 decision over Mt. Healthy’s Tobias Froehlich to qualify for the championship match, which he lost via a 10-2 major decision to top-seed Tyler Young from Ross.
Dylan Mosher lost in the first round of the 170-pound class to Mt. Healthy’s Robert Johnson. Davey Stamper advanced to the semifinals at 182 before falling to Reading’s Baden Pinson. Stamper would finish sixth overall after defaulting in his last two matches.
Top-seed Jacob Altman rolled through the 195-pound class for Western Brown, pinning his first opponent in 1:34 to advance to the semifinals. Another pin, this one in 2:27, sent Altman to the championship match, where he pinned Badin’s Nick Rose in 37 seconds to win the title.
Austin Terrill (220) and Zach Stacy (285) each lost their first-round match for Western Brown. The Broncos finished second in the sectional as a team, 13.5 points behind Ross. In all, nine Bronco wrestlers qualified for the Division II district tournament, which was held on Saturday at Wilmington High School.
