By The Napoleon NW Signal
VIA AP EXCHANGE
ARCHBOLD - With the conference wrestling tournaments done, area wrestlers now focus on the “second season” in their quest for a trip to the state wrestling tournament in Columbus two weeks from now.
The initial step begins Friday, as the Division III sectional wrestling tournament takes place at Archbold High School.
With the majority of teams coming out of the Northwest Ohio Athletic League and Green Meadows Conference, it should make it an interesting sectional tournament.
The 11-team field has Archbold, Ayersville, Delta, Edgerton, Fairview, Hicksville, Liberty Center, Montpelier, Paulding, Tinora and Stryker competing.
Returning to defend their sectional titles this weekend are Seth Colvin of Delta, Cade Mansfield of Ayersville, Luke Kern of Delta, Cody Laney of Hicksville, Oliver Stuckey of Archbold, Jordan Cowell of Archbold and Marc Moser of Tinora
Liberty Center is the defending sectional champion, but the Tigers are coming off a fourth-place finish in the NWOAL tournament.
Leading the Tigers’ postseason contingent is a pair of league champions in Zach Niner (135) and Sam Elling (189).
Also expected to battle for sectional hardware for the Tigers are Caleb Smith (112), Ben Martinez (125), Mason Knipp (130), Logan Mack (140), Kyle Stacey (145), Jimmy Spieth (152), Bryan Hefflinger (215 and Justin Gillen (285).
Expected to give the Tigers a run for the sectional title are Archbold and Delta.
The Blue Streaks are coming off a runner-up performance in the NWOAL tournament and had a pair of league champions in Cowell and Austin Ripke (145).
Other top contenders for the Blue Streaks include Ben Eggers (103), Logan Day (119), T.J. Weirauch (125), Kenny Price (135), Cody Kovenesky (160), Tyler Rufenacht (171) and Brandon Dennie (285).
“It should be a competitive sectional tournament,” said Archbold coach Brian Becher. “Besides Archbold, Liberty Center and Delta, Ayersville and Edgerton both shared the GMC title last week and they have several top notch wrestlers. Hicksville is strong in the middleweights and Tinora has one of the area’s top 215-pounders in Marc Moser. It will be interesting when we get to the seeding meeting on Thursday night. You never know what is going to happen with the voting.”
Delta has a pair of league champions in freshman Kye Keller (103) and Jared Mattin (145), but the Panthers also have Andrew Keller (112), Zach Godsey (130), Tyler Farher (140) and Jarret Wolford (171) - all of whom have district qualifying potential.
While the NWOAL brings plenty of wrestling talent into the sectional meet, the GMC brings its own stable of talented grapplers.
Edgerton is coming off its first GMC title since 1990, as the Bulldogs crowned just one champion in Jared Van Vleet (125). The sophomore is looking to make another bid to state.
“We’re looking forward to the sectionals,” said Edgerton coach Kevin Van Vleet. “Our kids have to realize, like I have been telling them all year long, they can wrestle. After winning the GMC title, I’m hoping that it will give them some confidence going into the postseason with a lot of enthusiasm.”
Other contenders to watch for the Bulldogs include Skylar Muehlfeld (119), Sammy Santa-Rita (130), Corey Haury (135), Michael Sheets (140), Preston Knecht (145), Josiah Clifton (160) and Austin Herman (171).
Hicksville brings a wealth of talent and experience, especially in the lower to middleweights, led by defending sectional champ Cody Laney (130), who is 43-0 heading into the postseason and is seeking his second straight trip to Columbus after winning his third GMC title last weekend.
In addition to Cody Laney, the Aces also have Davis Reid (119), Austin Laney (135), Isaih Vega (140) and Jake Theil (152) - all with sectional title potential.
Ayersville is solid in the lower weights as well with Ryan Behringer (103), Frankie Alvarado (112) and Dylan Moore (125). Blake Clark (160) and Easton Lewis (189) are also tough in the middle and upper weights.
Behringer, Alvarado and Lewis won GMC titles last weekend in addition to Mansfield, who not only picked up his third straight conference crown, but is also undefeated at 36-0. Mansfield was also a state runner-up last year at 112 pounds.
Other top wrestlers in the Archbold sectional include Cody Lamberson (130) of Montpelier, Nolen Short (145) of Stryker, A.J. Mavis (140), Isaac Valle (145), Matt Meyer (152), Kyle Trent (160) and Zac Shininger (285) - all of Fairview - and Damien Marshall of Tinora (189).
Action gets underway at 5 p.m. Friday.