By: Mike Reeves
DEFIANCE (February 24, 2024) – In Division II at Defiance, the Wauseon Indians will send 12 grapplers to Norwalk next Friday and Saturday for a shot to go to Columbus after scoring 265 points to take home a sectional title.
At 106, Carter Stuckey started the Indians going in the finals with a championship by pinning Zane Russell of Wapakoneta in 3:46 to take the gold.
Sophomore Joe Lugabihl (23-8) scored another first place finish at 113 for the Indians with a 6-0 decision over Harrison Bohls of Napoleon.
Zavian LaFountain would secure his spot in Norwalk District meet by placing 3rd at 120 and Antonio Torres took fourth at 132 after falling to Gavin Ridenour of Wapakoneta 6-5 in the third-place bout.
Jordan Cook represented the Indians at 138 and would advance to the championship match where he lost to Elida’s Skyler Kirk 10-4 to finish as runner-up at 138.
Wauseon’s next individual title came at 144 as senior Benicio Torres handled Zach Gerber (Celina) 7-0 to punch his ticket to districts.
The Indians run of placers continued with Kahle Albright at 150 pounds where he took third after defeating Napoleon’s Ignacio Coronado by technical fall (17-3) in his placement match.
Kale Waxler earned a title for Wauseon at 157 after edging Payton Saputo from Napoleon 4-3 and Ian Martin (165) followed Waxler with a championship after pinning Caleb Turner of St. Marys.
The 190-pound division would see senior Wauseon’s Austin Kovar step up and score first place points after getting a 7-3 decision over Henry Eggers from Napoleon.
Ben Tule took third at 215 to join his teammates in Norwalk this weekend and John Flores grabbed third place at 285 for Wauseon’s 12th and final district qualifier.
The Bryan Golden Bears will send two wrestlers to districts starting with Donnell Bush at 138 as he would finish third after knocking off Owen Beard from Napoleon with a pin.
Junior Dameon Wolfe at 175 would secure his spot in Norwalk by wrestling to a second-place finish after falling to George Eggers from Napoleon 10-4 in the championship match.
TEAM SCORES: 1. Wauseon 265.0 2. Napoleon 232.0; 3. Wapakoneta 166.0; 4. St. Marys Memorial 136.5; 5. Van Wert 109.5; 6. Celina 106.5; 7. Defiance 104.5; 8. Lima Shawnee 81.5; 9. Lima Bath 52.0; 10. Bryan 50.5; 11. Elida 43.0
FIRST PLACE MATCHES
AREA WRESTLERS: 106 – Carter Stuckey (Wauseon) d. Zane Russell (Wapakoneta) fall, 3:46; 113 – Joseph Lugabihl (Wauseon) d. Harrison Bohls (Napoleon), 6-0; 138 – Skyler Kirk (Elida) d. Jordan Cook (Wauseon), 10-4; 144 – Benicio Torres (Wauseon) d. Zach Gerber (Celina), 7-0; 157 – Kale Waxler (Wauseon) d. Payton Saputo (Napoleon), 4-3; 165 – Ian Martin (Wauseon) d. Caleb Turner (St. Marys), fall (3:46); 175 – George Eggers (Napoleon) d. Dameon Wolfe (Bryan), 10-4; 190 – Austin Kovar (Wauseon) d. Henry Eggers (Napoleon), 7-3
THIRD PLACE MATCHES
AREA WRESTLERS: 120 – Zavian LaFountain (Wauseon) d. Kael Dodson (Shawnee), fall (1:00); 132 – Gavin Ridenour (Wapakoneta) d. Antonio Torres (Wauseon), 6-5; 138 – Donnell Bush (Bryan) d. Owen Beard (Napoleon), fall (2:20); 150 – Kahle Albright (Wauseon) d. Ignacio Corona (Napoleon) TF, 17-2; 215 – Ben Tule (Wauseon) d. Carter Ly (Celina), fall (2:56); 285 – John Flores (Wauseon) d. Kyle Slaght (Bath), fall (0:39)