Gibsonburg wrestlers primed for successful season

By: 
J. Patrick Eaken

In its first year in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division, Gibsonburg ran away with the league wrestling tournament.
        Gibsonburg scored 114 points, followed by Willard (76) and Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic (47). At last year’s league meet, the Bears won on depth, Gibsonburg had just one individual champion in 170-pounder Brad Mendoza, a district champion who has graduated and is now wrestling at Ohio University.
The Bears finished in seventh place overall — the SBC also has the bigger school Lake and Bay divisions — and Gibsonburg placed ahead of such distinguished programs as Oak Harbor, which was eighth, and 10th-place Clyde.
        The Golden Bears are already showing that they are in good position to repeat this year, and are already taking down larger schools in dual meets.
        “We should repeat as SBC River champs if everyone stays healthy and is wrestling well,” coach Greg Spoores said. “Overall the SBC is probably the toughest league in Northwest Ohio. Some of the weights will be as tough, or tougher, than the district tournament with teams representing all three divisions in the league.
        “Our strengths this year are balance and senior leadership. Our seniors have big goals and are looking to leave their mark not just as individuals but as a team also.”
        Gibsonburg also won its own Golden Bear Invitational as returning state qualifier Hunter Smith and Connor Smith were named the High Weight Class and Low Weight Class Most Valuable Wrestlers. Smith finished last year 27-10, qualifying at 220 pounds at the Division III state meet, which was won by Genoa for the second straight year.
        “We have a very strong senior class leading the way and they all have strong goals both for the season and postseason,” sixth-year coach Greg Spoores said. “We are a balanced team as far as class size, with some very talented freshmen coming in this year.” 
        Spoores, who previously coached Lakota and Van Buren, is 64-24 in his first five years at the helm, having already won four league titles, and that does not include one season when Gibsonburg did not have a league to wrestle in. there have been 11 state qualifiers and eight state placers.
        Last year, the team not only won the league title, but went 12-0 in dual meets for the program’s first undefeated season. Spoores has 13 returning lettermen from last year’s team.
        Among them are seniors Hunter Smith (220), Jarett Spoores (182), Jesse Arriaga (170), Jon Auld (160), David Garcia (138), and junior Tayven Halbisen (285). Arriaga was a D-III sectional champion a year ago wrestling at 182.
        “Senior Jon Auld coming back from injury and freshman Connor Smith should make a big impact this year. Both are exceptionally hard workers,” coach Spoores said.
        In addition, Spoores says “Lance Novotny and Lucas Zamudio looking to make some waves as juniors.”
        In the first two duals of the season, the Golden Bears took down St. Francis, 48-21, and Woodward, 66-9. In another tri-meet with larger schools, Gibsonburg defeated Springfield 56-12 and Sylvania Southview, 51-15. Against the Blue Devils and Cougars, 10 Gibsonburg wrestlers went 2-0.
        In addition, the Golden Bears won the 2019 Mohawk Dual Tournament championship, defeating the host team, Mohawk, 39-30 in the championship. In Gibsonburg’s second and third rounds, they defeated Margaretta 78-6 and Riverdale 78-0. During that tournament, Jarrett Spoores got his 100th career win.
 

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