COLUMBUS – Graham earned its fourth consecutive Division II state team duals championship Sunday with a 62-4 victory over Wauseon in the finals. Mechanicsburg lost to Delta, 41-21, in the finals of Division III.
“We just gotta keep wrestling. We’ve had some great individual matches tonight. We’ve just got to go out and get on a roll,” Graham Coach Jeff Jordan said before the finals.
He was right – the Falcons did get on that roll.
Graham opened with 47 unanswered points, demoralizing Wauseon and cruising to victory.
“I’m real happy with how things went,” Jordan said. “We had a good day today. Once we got on a roll, I think we took the wind out of their sails. Dual meets – so much emotion plays into that.”
In the final for the Falcons, Mitch Moore (126 pounds), Brent Moore (138) and Alex Marinelli (170) each won by pin. Jeffrey Thomas (113), Justin Stickley (120) and Garrett Jordan (160) all earned technical falls.
Jordan Crace (106), Ryan Thomas (132), Rocky Jordan (145), Joey Sanchez (152) and Kavan Sarver each won contested matches, while Johnny Shafer (220) and Brandon Hays (285) won by forfeit.
Things didn’t go quite as smoothly for the Indians. The team found itself in a 17-3 hole going into the 138-pound class.
“We had some tight ones that didn’t go our way,” MHS Coach Cameron Doggett said. “We got down pretty early. Hat’s off to Delta. They showed up ready to go.”
The Indians fought back, with wins at 138, 145, 160 and 170 pounds.
“We got some spark back in us by Tanner Smith,” Doggett said. “Some of our guys battled tough and we were able to keep it in contention. But the last few just didn’t go our way. But it was a great team effort.”
Mechanicsburg pulled to within a 23-21 margin after 170 pounds before dropping the final four classes, including pins at 220 and 285 pounds.
Wade Smiddy (145) and Kaleb Romero each won via pin for the Indians. Tyler Wetzel (113), Tanner Smith (138) and Dustin Knapp (170) each won.
The Falcons advanced to the semifinals with a 69-6 victory over New Lexington.
Jordan Crace (106), Jeffrey Thomas (113), Mitch Moore (126), Brent Moore (138), Garrett Jordan (160), Alex Marinelli (170), Kavan Sarver (195) and Johnny Shafer (220) each won by pin.
Rocky Jordan (145) and Joey Sanchez (152) earned technical falls, while Justin Stickley (120), Ryan Thomas (132) and Gage Braun (182) also scored.
Mechanicsburg got into the final four with a 57-19 thrashing of Amanda-Clearcreek in the opener.
Alex Rhine (120), Sam Rozmus (126), Nick Miller (132), Tanner Smith (138), Wade Smiddy (145), Corey Bogan (152), Kaleb Romero (160) and Dylan Hartley (220) all won by pin for the Indians.
Tyler Wetzel (113) earned a technical fall, while Dustin Knapp (170) also scored.
“We’re wrestling really good. We’ve just got to fight a little bit more,” Doggett said following the quarterfinal.
In the semifinals, both squads were dominant.
The Indians were the first team to punch a ticket to the finals, beating Apple Creek Waynedale, 50-21.
Sam Rozmus (126), Tanner Smith (138), Dylan Hartley (220) and Dylan Hartman (285) each won via pin for the Indians.
Alex Rhine (120) and Wade Smiddy (145) each earned technical falls. Tyler Wetzel (113), Nick Miller (132), Kaleb Romero (160) each scored and Michael Knapp (195) won by forfeit.
Graham put a beat down on Lake Catholic, 57-6, in the semifinal.
Mitch Moore (126), Alex Marinelli (170), Johnny Shafer (220) and Brandon Hays (285) each won via pin.
Justin Stickley (120), Brent Moore (132), Rocky Jordan (145) and Garrett Jordan (160) earned technical falls. Jordan Crace (106), Jeffrey Thomas (113), Joey Sanchez (152) and Kavan Sarver (195) each scored as well.
“Now we start the individual thing,” Coach Jordan said. “The dual meet season is done. Hopefully we can stay healthy and keep training hard.”
