London Invitational

[OLDSCHOOL123]

As submitted to the Madison Press


A year ago the London High School wrestling team had 9
freshmen getting valuable experience, and only one
Senior on the squad. This year the Red Raiders are
hoping that the experience pays off with a
Championship at the Harry Steele Classic this Saturday
at 10AM.

London's only tournament Champion from a year ago,
Ronnie Colvin, is set to defend his title.
Last year Colvin won the 103 weight class but has
moved to 112 this year. Corey Johnson of Logan Elm
won the 112 title last year and is also set to defend.
The two have wrestled twice already this year, with
Colvin having the advantage. Last week Johnson led
the entire match, but with less than 30 seconds
remaining Colvin scored on a reversal and back points
and came away with a narrow 6-4 win. Colvin is now
13-1 on the season.

Experience has begun to show in a number of London
wrestlers. Josh McDaniels (10-3) finished 2nd at the
Logan Elm Invitational last weekend. Austin Bauer
(10-4) finished 3rd in the 171 class last week, and
his record has improved from 5 wins and 12 losses at
this time last year. James Johnson (10-5) at 119
pounds, and Shane Silvers (12-7) in the 189 class are
also showing great improvement from a year ago.
Jeremiah Jones at 152 and Adam Eades in the 160
weight class are both Seniors that are getting back
into the swing of things.

Getting the experience is the main thing for Freshmen
Dakota Jackson (11-6) and Brandon Vest . Kyle Malone
is a novice Senior in the 140 class, and has shown
marked improvement lately.

Last years Champions, the Logan Elm Braves, are set to
defend their team title. The Braves will be led by
145 pounder, Shane Gifford. Gifford currently has a
15-0 record after placing in the State meet last year.
Equally impressive is Thomas Bohrer's record of 16-0
in the 152 class. Both wrestlers won their divisions
at the Logan Elm Invite. The aforementioned Johnson
(8-4) finished 2nd, as did Dustin Gatwood (9-4) at 130
pounds. Both wrestlers have been District Qualifiers.
Brad Wolford (8-5) is also a District Qualifier, and
finished 3rd last week.

The Northeastern Jets make the short drive down US 40
in hopes of regaining the team crown. The Jets won
the tourney in 2006 before placing as runner up last
year. The Jets recently won the Oakwood Duals, and
bring an impressive lineup, that includes 6 District
Qualifers. Nate Marshall is a 2 time District
Qualifier, and will wrestle in the 152 class.
Heavyweight Ryan Krugh was the 2007 Harry Steele
Champ. Sean Howard (14-2) in the 135 class, Zach
Leonard (2-2) at the 171 weight, and Cody Shaw (8-1)
at 215 also qualified. Dylan Gross (11-0) at 145
pounds is one of a handful of undefeated wrestlers at
the tourney. Another Jet to watch take off is Emily
Fishbaugh at 119 pounds, who recently won a
tournament.

S.C.O.L. rival, Washington Court House, should also be
well represented. Blaine Bailey (18-5) is the only 2
time Harry Steele champion in the field. Bailey, a
state alternate, will wrestle in the 152 class.
Jamison Morris (16-6) at 135 pounds hopes to improve
upon last years 2nd place finish. Paul Gryniuk (16-4)
is an impressive freshman that finished 3rd at the
Midwest Classic.

Last years 119 Champ, Clark Graves (7-2) went on to
the State tournament and is looking to repeat at the
Classic. Other Paint Valley Bearcats that should
place are Jordan Ott (9-4) a district Qualifer last
year in the 130 class, Corey Lump (12-2) at 112 pounds
and Sean Staggs (6-2) in the 140 Class. Both Lump and
Staggs won the Granville Invitational earlier this
year.

There are also three Division 1 school in the field
for the first time ever. Columbus Whetstone and
Springfield South are returning schools, and
Worthington Kilbourne is attending for the first time.

Whetstone will be led by Seniors Dan Tuttle (10-7)in
the 130 class and Aaron Usselman (9-8) at 152 pounds.
Sophomore cousins Spencer Tuttle (12-10)at 103 pounds
and Joe Tuttle (11-6) at 135, each hope to place also.

Springfield South's Thomas Stickney (18-3) will again
battle for the Heavyweight title. Stickney was a
District Qualifer last year. Jason Wray (9-5) won
the Xenia tournament earlier this year. Wray will
wrestle in the 135 class.

The newest team in the field, the Worthington
Kilbourne Wolves, hope to make a splash. Josh Burton
was a Division 1 District Qualifier last year at 145
pounds. Tyler Blain finished 4th in the Midwest
Classic at 152 pounds.

The most hotly contested weight classes should be the
112, 145 and 152 classes. The 112 class features
Colvin, Johnson and Lump. Gross, Gryniuk and Burton
will all look to unseat Gifford in the 145 class.
Bailey will try to get his 3rd title, but will have to
fight off Bohrer, Marshall and Jones of London.

[OLDSCHOOL123]

112
1. Colvin L
2. Johnson LE
3. Lump PV
4.Doherty WK

119
1.Graves Pv
2.Fishbaugh NE
3. Johnson L
4. Noble LE

125
1. Reeder NE
2.Tennant PV
3.Jackson L
4. Justice WCH

130
1. Ott PV
2.Gatwood LE
3.Steward WK
4. Wilson WCH

135
1.Howard NE
2. Morris WCH
3.Tuttle Wh
4. Hershey WK

140
1.Hoffman WK
2.Staggs P.V
3. Fishbaugh NE
4. Castro SS

145
1.Gifford LE
2. Burton WK
3. Gross NE
4. Gryniuk WCH

152
1. Bohrer LE
2. Bailey WCH
3.Blaine WK
4.Marshall NE


160
1.Wolford LE
2.Darif WCH
3.Bott WK
4. Black PV

171
1.Baur L
2.Leonard NE
3.White PV
4.Muenchow WK

189
1.Johnson PV
2.Silvers L


215
1. Shaw NE
2. Mcdaniels L
3. Shaw WCH
4. Konkle LE

HWt
1. Stickney
2. Krugh NE




Teams
Worthington Kilbourne,
Washington Court House
Paint Valley
Whetstone
Northeastern
Springfield South
Logan Elm
London

[Tomahawk]

Wow! What a tournament! Nicely ran and very intense. The addition of another D1 school really added to the competition! The highly anticipated match between Colvin from London and Johnson from Logan Elm was awesome. Both are repeating champions from last year. Colvin moved from 103 to 112 and Johnson was the reigning 112 champion after winning the previous year at 103. Johnson walked away from this years tourney as a 3 time Harry Steele champion with a major decision over Colvin 15-6.
In all Logan Elm had 6 wrestlers in the finals wrestling for 1/2. We walked away with 5 tournament champions. Johnson(112), Gifford(145),Bohrer(152), Wolford(160) and Konkle(215). We also had our HWY Baker place 2nd.
Top 3 teams:
Worthington Kilbourne(D1)
Logan Elm(tie)
Springfield Northeastern(tie)
Paint Valley(I think)