Friday, January 6th, 2023

Picking up a big win

Celina wrestlers beat Kenton to go to 3-1 in WBL

By Gary R. Rasberry
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Celina's Zach Greber picks up Kenton's Anthony Hunt for a takedown attempt during Thursday's 150-pound bout at Celina High School. Greber got the 5-1 decision to help Celina defeat Kenton 67-12 in Western Buckeye League wrestling action.

CELINA - Celina wrestling coach James Miracle joked that he should have held a practice after Thursday's dual match with Kenton.
Not for punishment, just to get some work in for the wrestlers who didn't get a chance to compete.
The Bulldogs lost just two bouts on the night and improved to 3-1 in Western Buckeye League action with a 67-12 win over the Wildcats at the high school gym in Celina.
Kenton voided out of six weight classes on the night, meaning just eight varsity matches and one exhibition match were on the program.
"You don't like nights where there's (six) voids. Nothing against (Kenton), but we have so many kids (26) and only nine wrestled tonight," said Celina coach James Miracle. "It is what it is."
Two matches that were highly anticipated came at 144 and 150 pounds. At 144, Celina's Andrew Hines looked to avenge an earlier loss to Aaron Modd by one point at the Bucyrus Invitational. After a scoreless first period, Modd got a reversal and scored a pin in 3:50 to give Kenton its second win of the night.
At 150, Zach Greber, ranked fourth in the Lima-area coaches poll, took on top-ranked Anthony Hunt. The first period was scoreless, but after Hunt escaped to start the second period, Greber got the takedown to take a 2-1 lead into the final period. Greber chose the down position and quickly got the escape for a point to make it 3-1, then scored a late takedown and rode his way to a 5-1 decision.
"We knew (Kenton) had one kid (Hunt) we didn't think we could beat, so when we win that match, you want to feel good about it," said Miracle. "We dropped two matches - we didn't have starters in there - but still thought we could win. You have to wrestle whomever they send out there and kids still have to work."
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Celina's BJ Tare goes for a takedown on Kenton's Harrison Brien during the pair's 120-pound wrestling bout.

The night started with a void win for Celina at 113 pounds. At 120, Bulldog BJ Tare managed a late takedown on Harrison Brien to pick a 14-5 major decision to score four team points for Celina. At 126, Kenton's Karson Davis won on a pin with 13 seconds remaining in the second period to get the win over Tony Chavez. After Celina won via void at 132 and 138 and the 144 and 150 bouts, the Bulldogs' Carver Harris got the first of four straight pinfall wins in contested bouts by pinning Jared Manns in 3:39. Wes Greber followed at 165 with a pin on Kenton's Gavin Manns in 3:36. After Kenton voided out 175, Tyler Carlin made it 49-12 Celina by pinning Jace Perkins in 80 seconds at 190. The final contested bout of the night came at 215 with Rece Rutledge pinning Matthew Handell in 92 seconds. Voids at 285 and 106 gave Celina its final 12 points.
Celina travels to Logan Elm High School near Circleville for an invitational on Saturday.
Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Celina's Wes Greber headlocks Kenton's Gavin Manns in their 165-pound wrestling bout at the Celina High School gymnasium.

Additional online story on this date
CELINA - A Rockford dairy has been referred to state agriculture and environmental agencies for allegedly discharging leachate that contaminated over 5 miles of and killed fish in the Little Black Creek. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Eaglebrooke gets temp stone drive
CELINA - RCS Construction has laid down a stone drive connecting Eaglebrooke Parkway to Staeger Road to allow for emergency vehicles to reach homes in the Eaglebrooke subdivision from the east.
MINSTER-A battle bots club will be started at Minster High School after school board members approved its creation at their regular meeting Thursday night.
CELINA - Mercer County Engineer Jim Wiechart plans to close a section of St. Johns Road in Marion Township on Monday for a culvert replacement.
Wie
WAPAKONETA - A nearly two hour-long standoff at a mobile home park in Wapakoneta resulted in a peaceful surrender for a medical evaluation on Thursday.
MONTEZUMA - Village councilors approved the 2023 budget and re-elected Monica Springer as council president during a special organizational meeting on Thursday night.
MINSTER - St. Henry scored on its first two possessions, then fell into a lull, and Minster was poised to take advantage.
The Wildcats scored the n
ST. MARYS - St. Marys coach Jon Burke couldn't fault the effort against Ottawa-Glandorf Thursday night.
"Morgan Hesse was sick all day," Burke said
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Kenton outscored Celina 21-16 in the third quarter to break a halftime tie and then pulled away in the fourth quarter to pick up a 56-47 win to keep the Bulldogs winless in Western Buckeye League girls basketball action in Hardin County.