PHOTOS BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
113 POUNDS … Wauseon’s Kendell Pontious (red) takes on Dylan Melson of Lima Shawnee in an opening round match. Pontious would get the win by major decision (10-1) and go on to place runner-up at 113 to qualify for districts. VIEW PHOTOS OF THIS CONTEST FOR FREE AT WWW.THEVILLAGEREPORTER.COM
190 POUNDS … Bryan’s Alex Lopez (left) locks up with Zach Kreider of Lima Shawnee in a quarterfinal bout at the Division II sectionals in Defiance.
By: John Fryman
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
john@thevillagereporter.com
DEFIANCE (February 28, 2026) – Coming off a disappointing fourth place finish in the Northwest Ohio Athletic League, Wauseon put together one of its best performances of the season in the Division II sectional wrestling tournament held Saturday, February 28 at Defiance High School.
The Indians are definitely peaking at the right time following a strong runner-up finish behind sectional champion Wapakoneta in the 12-team sectional.
Coach Mike Ritter’s squad advanced nine of its wrestlers to this weekend’s district tournament to be held at Norwalk High School along with a pair of sectional champions.
Wapakoneta edged out Wauseon, 212-206 ½, to claim the sectional title. Defiance was third with 192 ½ points followed by Celina (180 ½), Napoleon (171 ½), St. Marys (113), Van Wert (105 ½), Elida (64), Lima Shawnee (62), Ottawa-Glandorf (57 ½), Bryan (46 ½) and Lima Bath (25).
Carter Stuckey was one of two sectional champs for Wauseon. Stuckey (38-8) pinned Evan Klosterman of St. Marys in 41 seconds and posted a 10-0 major decision over John Haury of Bryan in the semifinals.
In the finals, Stuckey faced Payton Staugler of Celina and the Indians’ senior pinned Staugler in 1:19 for the sectional title.
AZ Hicks (37-13) was the other sectional champion for Wauseon. The junior who was the No. 1 seed at 157 pounds, posted an 11-2 major decision over Noah Bruce of St. Marys followed by a narrow 11-8 decision over Cole Brickner of Lima Shawnee in the semifinals.
In the finals, Hicks faced No. 2 seed Briggs Wallace of Van Wert and emerged as sectional champ with an 11-1 major decision.
Wauseon’s Kendell Pontious also reached the finals but fell short, dropping a 17-6 major decision to Westen Mast of Defiance at 113 pounds. Pontious outlasted No. 1 seed Crue Shaner of Wapakoneta, 14-9, in the semifinals.
Two other Wauseon wrestlers, Joseph Lugabihl (138) and Kahle Albright (175) placed third. Lugabihl won by medical forfeit over Jax Van Gundy of St. Marys. Albright, a returning state qualifier posted a 16-0 technical fall over Wes Graber of Celina.
Placing fourth for Wauseon were Brian Camacho (106) who fell to Cayden McCullough of St. Marys, 6-1. Albert Balderas (120) dropped a 7-0 decision to Brody Sherrick of Elida. Jett Smith (126) was pinned by Ty Stockman of Defiance in 2:47. Parker Wilson (165) lost to Mathias Eicher of Celina in a 10-0 major decision.
Also advancing to districts was Bryan’s John Haury. The freshman was defeated by Romeo Simmons of Defiance in a 19-3 technical fall at 132 pounds.
First Place Matches
106- Zane Russell (Wapakoneta) major dec Owen Bates (Van Wert), 16-2. 113- Westen Mast (Defiance) major dec Kendell Pontious (Wauseon), 17-6. 120- Darrian Steinbrunner (Wapakoneta) major dec Ethan Saneholtz (Napoleon), 12-3. 126- Kieden McMahon (Napoleon) pinned Urijah Cordray (Wapakoneta), :32. 132- Carter Stuckey (Wauseon) pinned Payten Staugler (Celina), 1:19. 138- Aaren King (Celina) tech fall Carson Pummell (Wapakoneta) 16-1. 144- Sam Mast (Defiance) dec. Dyllan Fink (St. Marys) 7-0. 150- Ignacio Corona (Napoleon) dec. Noah Russell (Celina) 12-10. 157- AZ Hicks (Wauseon) major dec Briggs Wallace (Van Wert) 11-1. 165- Keyno Mendez (Wapakoneta) dec. Abel Paxton (Defiance) 15-10. 175- Hayden Groll (Napoleon) dec. Wyatt Buell (Wapakoneta) 3-2. 190- Channing Miller (Wapakoneta) dec. Evan Rosengarten (Ottawa-Glandorf) 7-0. 215- George Eggers (Napoleon) pinned Tyler Doeden-Kiessling (Defiance) 5:11. 285- Cash Patrick (Celina) tech fall Alex Hinojosa (Defiance) 17-1.
For more local news, see High School Sports Schedule For Thursday, March 26, 2026 (WEATHER PERMITTING).