Carrollton, Malvern, Minerva crown wrestling champions

By Carol McIntire

Editor

Carrollton won the Division II East District sectional wrestling title Feb. 24 at Claymont, crowned three champions and will send nearly the entire team to the district tournament next weekend at Gallia. 

The Warriors won the team title with 212 points. Minerva finished a distant second with 184 and New Philadelphia third at 167 in the 10-team field. 

Seniors Landon Jenkins (106 lbs.), Kail Snair (113) and Josh Carman won sectional titles. Jenkins scored a technical fall over Vince Coleman of Zanesville 17-0, Snair pinned Daniel McGarr of Claymont (3:15) and Carman won by default over Tyler Ulmer of New Philadelphia. 

Senior Levi Pidgeon suffered only his fourth loss of the season in the title bout, falling 6-4 to Danny Waite of Maysville. 

John Childs (132), Dalton Naylor (190), Owen Spilker (215) and Aidan Shaw (HWT) all placed third and qualified for the district tournament. 

Childs decisioned Braylon Leiffer of St. Clairsville 7-6, Naylor pinned Jackson Korns of New Philadelphia in 30 seconds; Spilker pinned Damien Robbins of New Philadelphia in 1:48 and Shaw earned a 5-2 decision over Hatcher Sabatin of Minerva. 

Jayden Sutton (144), Dalton Sweeney (157), Jamasen Powell (165) and Gavin Slutz (175), placed fourth to earn a district berth. 

Minerva

Four Lions claimed championships: Mark Mueller (120), Joey Brocklehurst (132) Lincoln Wallace (144) and Hunter Dietrich (170).

Mueller posted a 14-11 decision over Carter Abella of Maysville, Brocklehurst (132) pinned DreVonn Searcy of Claymont (5:04), Wallace earned a 7-2 decision over Caleb Monlux of Maysville and Dietrich (175) shook the hand of Noah McFee of Zanesville, took him down and recorded a pin in 44 seconds. 

Connor Norris (126) and Ethan Weaver (150) both placed third and will advance to the district tournament. 

Norris pinned Noah Keen of Cambridge (2:10) and Weaver won a close match 7-6 over Trinten Cole of Claymont. 

The top four placers in each weight class next weekend will advance to the state tournament March 8-10 in Columbus.

DIVISION II TOURNEY AT SANDY VALLEY.

 Malvern, Sandy Valley and Edison all participated in the Division II East District sectional at Sandy Valley the same day in a field of 18 teams. 

Garaway won the team title with 174 points. Malvern finished fifth with 118.5, Edison sixth 111.5 and Sandy Valley seventh 107.

Malvern junior Tyson Clear (165) claimed his third sectional championship when Hunter Bittinger of Harrison Central forfeited the title match. 

Teammate Zach Babiczuk (215) placed second, suffering a 10-2 major decision to Lucas Thomas of Harrison Central. Thomas also denied Babiczuk the championship in 2023.

Jordan Burrows punched his ticket to the district tournament with a third-place finish. The senior pinned Chris Hermann of Steubenville Central Catholic in (1:59).

Sandy Valley earned two championships and one second place.

Asher Crissey (113) recorded a 14-second pin of Silas Simpson of Martins Ferry and Evan Natale (120) pinned Grant Vasey of Bellaire in 36 seconds.

Cardinal Aidan Douglas (106) placed second. 

Ricky Sinsel (144) of Edison advanced with a 4-2 decision over Kanden Basham of Reed Eastern to place third. 

The top four wrestlers in each weight class will compete in the Division III District tournament March 1 and 2 at Heath High School.