BUCYRUS — Nate Zehring secured an emotional win to end the 35th Bucyrus Wrestling Invitational Saturday afternoon.
Zehring, the 285-pound Redmen, won a 7-3 decision over Peyton Barnhart of Monroeville.
“I just wanted it more. I know the mistakes I made last year. For a year I’ve been working hard for it. Coach K told me I needed to go out there and win.”
The junior lost to Barnhart via pin last year after leading the match, Redmen head coach Shane Kokensparger said.
Zehring says his improved performance on the mat this year is due to several factors.
“I lost 50 pounds and a got a little faster,” he said. “I’m better on my feet and a lot better overall.”
He has his sights set on the post-season, even though the regular season has just begun. “I want to go to state and place,” Zehring said.
Sixteen teams took part at Alex Kish Memorial Gymnasium, with Monroeville edging Celina for top team honors by 3.5 points.
Bucyrus was third and Upper Sandusky fifth. Galion’s B team placed 13th.
Kokensparger was pleased with his squad’s showing.
“Nate closed the match out tonight, and did a good job,” he said.
Grant Dowell also took home first-place honors at 145, via a pin. He beat Kenton’s Aaron Modd in 3:10.
“Grant’s a solid kid for us. We had multiple second-place finishers in Dalton Barker (126), Mason Gebhardt (138). Mason wasn’t seeded and he made it to the finals. Tough wrestler,” Kokensparger said.
Barker lost to a stellar wrestler in Trace Williams of North Union via pin in 42 seconds. Williams is undefeated at 7-0.
Gebhardt dropped a 4-1 decision to Monroeville’s Ian Patchen in the championship match.
Sawyer Cooper finished fourth at 132, dropping a 15-2 major decision to Sam Evans of Galion.
Grady Weber took third at 113, losing to Ayden Laubender of Findlay 4-1. Cody Zufluh was fourth at 150, losing by pin to Noah Fent of Ashland in 1:26.
“We have a nice group of kids this year, a really complete team,” Kokensparger said. “It ran really smoothly. I was happy with our effort today. I was happy with the discipline of our student-athletes. The way they handled themselves with maturity in tough losses and in great wins.”
Bucyrus has a number of veterans returning to the mat, including seniors Barker, Kiyran Elsby-Kershner, Dylan Lanker, Riley Parker, and juniors Cooper and Zehring.
Elsby-Kershner pinned Kannon Alvarado of North Union in 2:14 to capture third at 120 pounds.
Andy Case was sixth at 157, Parker placed eighth, Ashtin Clevenger ninth at 175, Don Fox 10th at 285 and Lanker 12th at 190.
Harper Boggs, a girl competing against the boys, finished eighth at 106.
“It’s exciting to watch their growth from where we came the past two years. Andy Case. He is overlooked a lot. One of the hardest workers we have in the room. Grady, a freshman, taking third,” Kokensparger said.
“Sawyer taking fourth and Mason Gebhardt. He was outmatched in his final match. But in order to get to the finals he had to knock off two kids who were seeded higher than him. He wrestled smart and is becoming a student of the game and that will lead him to great things.”
Parker is a first-year wrestler.
“He got a big win for us at heavyweight. He will be down to 215 in about two weeks to solidify that weight class. Just a solid wrestler,” he said.
“Lanker also had a couple tough matches, but he’s growing and understanding what it takes to be competitive in a one-one-one approach to wrestling,” Kokensparger said.
Galion coach Brent Tyrrell brought a group of 10 wrestlers.
“Most of them are freshmen and sophomores, some back-ups getting exposure at a varsity tournament,” he said.
In addition to Evans’ third place, Trey Fricke was 7th, Camden Kuehlman was 8th at 144, Braden Drake 12th at 144, Sam Estep 9th at 157, Brennan Worthington 6th at 190 and Michael Drake 8th at 215.
Tyrrell said he looks for a couple of things in early season meets.
“Effort, that and for the kids to show the techniques that we teach them in practice. I’m very happy with the way these young guys are developing. They give great effort; they work hard and don’t have a lot of quit in them.”
The Tigers have four seniors and a good group of juniors on the roster, Tyrrell said.
“We have some good freshmen and sophomores; a good mix of younger and older kids.”
Upper Sandusky coach Noah Blankenship received a solid effort from his club.
“Our upper classmen performed like we expect them to. They’ve been in the system for four years. Pretty excited from our freshmen and sophomores showing us positioning and technique,” he said.
Abraham Baldwin got things started at 106 by winning a 6-1 decision over Celina’s Josiah King in the finals. Caleb Clary (132) scored a 21-6 win over Findlay’s Elijah Gonyer to also secure first place for the Rams.
Karson Alban fell to Tyler Carlin of Celina in the 190 title match by pinfall in 47 seconds.
Carson Barrows (138) topped Lakota’s Bryler Wedge in 28 seconds to capture third place. Ethan Lewis (144) took third, Blake Rowland (150) placed 10th as did Mason Shaffer and Blake Compton at 165.
“Some kids stepped up beyond their years. We had good competition today and the kids fought hard,” Blankenship said. “We’re just excited about the future.”
The top two placing teams have solid programs. At various points throughout the tournament Monroeville, Celina, and Bucyrus each held the lead.
“Monroeville is a well-coached team. They’re a very disciplined team and fundamentally sound. We’ll see them again at sectionals. Celina is a good team and Upper is solid,” Kokensparger said. Complete results can be found online at https://www.trackwrestling.com/Login.jsp
TEAM STANDINGS
1. Monroeville 191
2. Celina 188.5
3. Bucyrus 159.5
4. Ashland 121
5. Upper Sandusky 105
6. Findlay 94
7. North Union 93
8. Kenton 63.5
9. McComb 62
10. Western Reserve 52
11. Lakota 42
12. Calvert 40
13. Galion 35.5
14. Cardington-Lincoln 33
15. Northwood 18
16. Woodward 6.5