YOUNGSTOWN: March 8, 2014 – Judging by the results of the Ohio Athletic Committee State Wrestling Tournament, the Wauseon Indians’ Varsity Wrestling Team will not be rebuilding in the future…they will be reloading. For the second time in as many years, a Wauseon Indian has taken home a State Wrestling Championship.
In 2013, Zane Krall brought home a championship in the Varsity 220 pound class. This year the gold went to Wauseon Junior High grappler Sandro Ramirez, who took out Colt Yinger of Nelsonville York by technical fall to win the 120 pound weight class.
As Wauseon Varsity Head Coach Mike Ritter reported, “8th grader, Sandro Ramirez (120 lbs) became Wauseon’s first Junior High State Wrestling Champion…at the 16th annual Ohio Athletic Committee (OAC) State Wrestling Tournament at the Covelli Center on the campus of Youngstown State University. Unlike the High School State Tournament, the OAC State Wrestling Tournament is one Division. It is not separated by school size into the 3 Division like High School. In addition, the OAC Junior High Tournament uses a 64-man bracket compared to a 16-man bracket at the High School Tournament. Coming in as a District Champion, Ramirez scored a technical fall and a fall to advance to the quarterfinals. Ramirez defeated Jake Thompson of Cincinnati Moeller to advance to the semi-finals against Jake Marsh from Marysville. In a hard fought battle, Ramirez controlled the match and advanced to the finals to wrestle Nelsonville York’s Colt Yinger. Ramirez dominated the finals match, defeating Yinger by technical fall to win the State Title.”
Ramirez was not the only Wauseon wrestler making positive inroads at the State level though. Coach Ritter continued, “8th grader Hunter Yackee (132 lbs) became Wauseon’s second 3rd place finisher by wrestling an outstanding tournament in his own right. Like Ramirez, Yackee also advanced to the quarterfinals with 2 impressive wins, then advanced to the semi-finals after defeating Connor Beard of Lakewood St. Edward. Yackee’s title run ended with a semi-final loss to Ryan Thomas of St. Paris Graham, who was the eventual champion of the weight class. Yackee bounced back well in the consolation semi-final match with a win to put him in the consolation finals for 3rd and 4th. In the consolation finals, he was again matched up with Connor Beard of St. Ed’s and scored a late takedown to win the match and secure 3rd place.”
“8th grader Alex Sosa (249 lbs) placed 8th at the tournament,” Coach Ritter said. “Alex won his first round match, but lost his next match before the quarterfinals. He then put together 3 consecutive wins to put himself in the placement round. He lost a tight match in the consolation quarterfinals to put him in the 7th and 8th place match. Again, it was a tight battle, but Alex came up just short but still came away with an 8th place finish.”
Coach Ritter concluded, saying, “Six other Wauseon Junior High Wrestlers wresters also qualified and competed over the weekend. 7th graders, Tristan Barajas, Gavin Ritter, and Xavier Torres along with 8th graders, Alex Slattman, Mauricio Barajas, and Colton Blanton. All wrestled very well and won matches, just not quite enough matches to earn placement. The group of 7th graders will make another run at it next year, while the group of 8th graders will advance to the high school to make a run at qualification and placement at the High School State Tournament. This group of wrestlers, along with the current group at the high school will be very fun to watch over the next several years.”