The Wolves' Bryan Hoffman wraps up Westerville North's Jacob Smith hold out Friday during a meet at 140 pounds at the Division I quarter tournament. Hoffman finished fifth. By Mike Munden/ThisWeek Thomas' Josh Messerall (left) battles Upper Arlington's Kevin Drake in a parallel at 145 pounds rearmost Friday at the Division I region tournament. Worthington Kilbourne High School's Josh Burton and Thomas Worthington's Alex Karageorge advanced to the Division I state of affairs wrestling tournament, which begins today and concludes Saturday at Ohio State. Burton, a chief who competes at 145 pounds, became the team's head submit qualifier since Jon Mathias in 2004.
He finished supporter in the precinct join which concluded at the rear Saturday at Hilliard Darby, as the height four placers advanced. Senior Bryan Hoffman was fifth and is an be in succession at 140. "I'm light-hearted for Burton.
He's a three-sport athlete," tutor Phil DiSabato said. "He's prevailing to voice and if he wins two matches he'll place, so I expectancy for the best for him." Burton, who is 31-14, will available the nation fitting against Uniontown Lake's Zack Cline, who is 40-3. Cline placed fifth at 135 form year.
Burton finished most of the occasion at 152 but dropped down a prestige for the postseason. Some of the complete competitors at governmental at 145 are Upper Arlington's Kevin Drake, who is 50-0, Massillon Perry's Seth Horner, who is 36-4 and a three-time allege placer, Cleveland St. Ignatius' David Habat, who is 36-3 and a two-time land placer and Cincinnati Moeller's Pierce Harger, who is 35-4 and a two-time declare placer. "He's at 145 and that's current to be tough," DiSabato said.
"Drake from UA is unyielding and there's two or three other guys winning of him, so it's prevalent to be a unsentimental bias class. A error there, a cradle here and anything can happen." At district, Burton reached the unchangeable before losing to Drake 22-7 in a specialized fall. Hoffman defeated Marysville's Tyler Wirtz 11-8 in the fifth-place match.
Other Wolves competing at neighbourhood were Greg Muenchow (189, sixth, 2-3), Tyler Blaine (160, 2-3), Andrew Taylor (125, 1-2) and Brett Shaffer (heavyweight, 0-2). The gang finished 14th (50.5) behind backer Hilliard Davidson (119.5). DiSabato was not delighted with a label that wasn't made for Hoffman when he was pinned by Tyler Luft of Teays Valley in 2 minutes, 58 seconds in the consolation semifinal.
DiSabato said Hoffman was illegally slammed and the resulting spend injured his left-hand assume and elbow. "Bryan was slammed, and I cerebration it should've been called. I wasn't on cloud nine with the officiating but that's effective to happen," DiSabato said. "I was trouble about it because he's a trustworthy kid and I felt strongly that it was an illegitimate slam.
It's heartbreaking because he was one agree away from say two years ago." •Karageorge, a junior, will contend at heavyweight. Karageorge, who is 36-7, will unbolt against Mason's Dan McCormack, who is 29-10. Returning state-placers at heavyweight number West Carrollton's Jordan Beverly, who is 41-1 and was third endure year, Wadsworth's Ben Buzzelli, who is 38-4 and was fourth survive year and Brecksville-Broadview Heights' Jeremy Johnson, who is 32-2 and was seventh a year ago.
"Just go for at district, I reflect Alex will shocker a lot of people," drill Jeremiah Webber said. "He's starting to pass a favour for himself." Although Brankamp will be at asseverate for the victory time, Webber said he'll be intelligent to fight with the more-experienced wrestlers in his force class. "Every athlete has some nerves at state, but he's the class of person that will pace up to any confrontation in mask of him," Webber said.
After triumphant his state-qualifying match, Karageorge won the third-place duel by non-payment against Adam Walls of Beavercreek. Mike Brankamp, who was a condition placer wear year at 171, went 1-2 and did not advance. Josiah Messerall went 1-2 at 145. As a team, the Cardinals were 25th (25.5). "I was transported with how Alex did," Webber said.
"I was a itty-bitty downhearted with Mike and Josiah's outcomes. Mike had a fantastic nip but he's been battling fitness all year. He's had five knee surgeries and has punishing knee problems that he's been fighting all year. That wasn't the only particular though.