SAINT PARIS — Mark Silvers felt his team could send as many as 11 wrestlers or as few as three to the district tournament.
What the veteran Eaton coach got was something in between as the Eagles qualified eight to this weekend’s Division II tournament at Wilmington High School.
As a team, the Eagles finished second at the Graham II sectional with 172 1/2 points. Valley View won the title with 197.
“We set a goal to close the gap between Valley View and ourselves after the league tournament and the guys responded,” Silvers said. “Going into the sectional I realized that we could get 11 guys to the district or we could get three or four. So getting eight out was a good tournament. We aim to peak the guys at the district tournament. You can usually hold a peak for two maybe three weeks, that way we are at a peak at the state tournament.”
Eaton was led by a trio of sectional champions.
Wade Monebrake, at 132 pounds, was the champion, with two pins, a technical fall 16-0 and a 4-2 decision over Ayyoub Muhammed of Thurgood Marshall in the finals.
“Wade is on a roll and really works to improve every week,” Silvers said.
At 160, Seth Hodapp was the champion pinning Jack Forschner of Alter in the last match.
“Seth had a great tournament. He is ready for the district tournament,” Silver said.
At 285, Seth Bowman, the No. 3 seed, avenged his finals loss at league by beating top-seeded Trent Wilson of Valley View 3-1 in the championship match.
“When Seth goes all out and keeps his focus he is tough to beat,” Silvers said.
At 106, Owen Hewitt continues to improve. Coming into the sectional unseeded, he lost to the the sectional champion in the first round. Then rolled off three wins to place third.
“He improves every match,” Silvers said.
At 152, Zac Schmidt stepped up his game coming in unseeded and winning four matches in the consolations to place third beating Noah Yoesting of Bellfontaine in the finals, according to Silvers.
“He is just beginning to figure out how good he can be,” Silvers said.
At, 182 Spencer Reynolds had a great tournament and lost in overtime to place second.
“We entered the tournament season knowing that we just need to be in the top four at the sectional or district in order to advance,” Silvers said. “Spencer is ready and will do well at the district.”
At 195, Christian Michael placed third pinning Tytan Grote of Greenville in the finals. His only loss was to last year’s state runner-up, Stone Day of Valley View.
“Christian is wrestling very well,” Silvers said.
At 220, Tyler Schmidt placed third pinning Perry Gardiner of Valley View in the finals.
“Tyler continues to up his intensity and had a good tournament,” Silvers said.
At 138, Cameron Schmidt was 6th.
“With a good off season I really look forward to his senior season,” Silvers said.
Also competing, but coming up a little short were freshmen 120 and 126 pounders Nate Wysong and Kameron Sandifer, according to Silvers. Both finishing their first season with the program.
Sophomore Logan Chapin (145) finished not where he wanted, but knows what he needs to do in order to keep improving, according to Silvers.
Junior Skylar Straszheim (170) also finished his first year with the program
“I look forward to working with him next season,” Silvers said.
Eaton will compete on Friday and Saturday, March 2-3, at the Wilmington district.
“This should be a fun tournament with lots of great competition,” Silvers said. “I am really looking forward to taking these eight guys to the district meet.”
Team scores:
1. Valley View 197.0; 2. Eaton 172.5; 3. Bellefontaine 122.0; 4. Spr. Northwestern 120.0; Oakwood 120.0; 6. Urbana 109.5; 7. Ben. Logan 94.5; 8. Greenville 88.0; 9. Kenton Ridge 84.0; 10. Alter 66.0; 11. Thurgood Marshall 62.5; 12. Tippecanoe 42.0; 13. Fenwick 22.5;
First Place
106: Ethan Mayo (Valley View) dec. Andrew Stachler (Greenville) 6-1;
113: Joey Dima (Valley View) maj. dec. Jayden Sturgell (Urbana) md12-1;
120: Bryce Davis (Kenton Ridge) pin Gaige Reeves (Bellefontaine) 1:15;
126: Gavyn Grim (Urbana) pin A.J. Lewandowski (Oakwood) 0:18;
132: Wade Monebrake (Eaton) dec. Ayyoub Muhammed (Thurgood Marshall) 4-2;
138: Cole Houser (Ben. Logan) maj. dec. Jacob Lees (Spr. Northwestern) md9-1;
145: Caleb Blake (Tippecanoe) pin Steele Boysel (Ben. Logan) 0:20;
152: Carston King (Oakwood) dec. Damion Williams (Urbana) 8-3;
160: Seth Hodapp (Eaton) pin Jack Forschner (Alter) 5:20;
170: Hunter Ernst (Valley View) dec. Dawson Miller (Bellefontaine) 3-1;
182: Nathan Snyder (Spr. Northwestern) dec. Spencer Reynolds (Eaton) 2-1;
195: Stone Day (Valley View) tech. fall C.J. Cook (Bellefontaine) tf20-5;
220: Bruno Pattison (Bellefontaine) dec. Nathaniel Armstrong (Alter) 2-0 SV;
285: Seth Bowman (Eaton) dec. Trent Wilson (Valley View) 3-1;
Third Place
106: Owen Hewitt (Eaton) dec. Saa`lih Muhammed (Thurgood Marshall) 8-2;
113: Drayk Kallenberger (Greenville) tech. fall William Bailey (Spr. Northwestern) tf17-2;
120: Justin Mills (Valley View) dec. Blake Ballard (Tippecanoe) 8-3;
126: Kyson Cook (Kenton Ridge) dec. Evan Davis (Spr. Northwestern) 5-2;
132: Bryce Stamps (Kenton Ridge) dec. Dean Hurd (Greenville) 6-0;
138: Jacob Mikesell (Greenville) pin Dalton Mathews (Valley View) 1:36;
145: Kole Deel (Valley View) dec. Evan Hager (Spr. Northwestern) 5-4;
152: Zac Schmidt (Eaton) dec. Noah Yoesting (Bellefontaine) 5-1;
160: Trey Williams (Urbana) pin Austin Monroe (Spr. Northwestern) 1:41;
170: Noah Clark (Ben. Logan) dec. Luis Ramirez (Urbana) 8-4;
182: Garrett Gross (Bellefontaine) pin Christian Meyers (Valley View) 1:28;
195: Christian Michael (Eaton) pin Tytan Grote (Greenville) 2:18;
220: Tyler Schmidt (Eaton) pin Perry Gardiner (Valley View) 3:22;
285: Braden Jacobs (Bellefontaine) pin Sam Homan (Alter) 2:27;
Fifth Place
106: Jourdian Mckeen (Ben. Logan) pin Bryant Campos (Kenton Ridge) 0:24;
113: Zach McBlane (Kenton Ridge) pin Andrew Adam (Fenwick) 2:10;
120: Devin Lucas (Oakwood) pin Lucas Chess (Urbana) 1:23;
126: Connor Rushing (Alter) pin Zachary Baxter (Fenwick) 3:37;
132: Joel Abbott (Ben. Logan) dec. Robert Hochwalt (Oakwood) 7-1;
138: Jake Burgard (Oakwood) dec. Cameron Schmidt (Eaton) 2-0;
145: Jack Henry (Oakwood) dec. Drew Gray (Kenton Ridge) 8-2;
152: Nathan Dewey (Spr. Northwestern) forfeit Jenisus Thompson (Thurgood Marshall) Forfeit;
160: Austin Napier (Valley View) dec. Xodus Thompson (Thurgood Marshall) 7-6;
170: Nick Cockayne (Oakwood) pin Brendan Hartsell (Spr. Northwestern) 2:51;
182: Matthew Cunningham (Oakwood) pin Garrett Henry (Ben. Logan) 3:42;
195: Jake Heflin (Fenwick) tech. fall Timothy Reed (Oakwood) tf15-0;
220: Carter Winch (Oakwood) pin Cadmen Roose (Ben. Logan) 0:35;
285: Greg Snyder (Spr. Northwestern) dec. Drake Miller (Oakwood) 3-0;
