Oak Harbor wins fifth straight league wrestling title

This past weekend, the Oak Harbor wrestling team came through and won their fifth consecutive Sandusky Bay Conference tournament by outscoring the competition by almost 50 points.

With two weight classes not filled and a rash of illness hovering over the team, those who came to wrestle outperformed the competition.

Nine wrestlers would reach the finals and six would come away with individual SBC titles.  At 152 pounds, Ian Miller won his fourth title in as many years. Miller pinned his way through the tournament, capping things off with a fall in the finals in the first period. 

Jake Cramer won his third SBC title by downing all three of his opponents, including a 12-0 major decision in the finals. Senior Konner Witt won another SBC title at 160 with a fall in the finals as well. Tyler Hackworth, another senior, held off his opponent from Port Clinton to take his second SBC title. At 189, the last senior, Sean McGee, would need overtime to win his first title after coming up short last year. In the 140 class, Alex Bergman redeemed himself with a victory over a Perkins grappler, after losing to the same wrestler in the SBC Duals. That was Bergman’s second title in three years.

Genoa wrestler Felipe Martinez throws down an opponent. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton /HEHphotos.lifepics.com)

Genoa wrestler Jake Sheehy con- trols an opponent. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/HEHphotos. lifepics.com)

Genoa wrestler Seth Morrison throws down an opponent. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/HEHphotos.lifepics. com)

Three other wrestlers came one spot away from claiming titles. Alec Bowlick 112, Luke Cramer 130, and Hunter Gresh 135, all sophomores, will return next year with the chance to capture individual titles.

Other finishes by the Rockets were Kyle Mincheff, third at 152, Kamron McDaniel, fourth at 103, and Brock Evans, fourth, at 119.

At the Suburban Lakes League meet, Genoa wrestlers Felipe Martinez (160) and Jake Sheehy (189) both won first place. Comets Max Reeder (119) and Adam Klavinger (112) did not wrestle for first place due to injuries.

Elmwood won the title with 193 points to defeat runner-up Genoa (180½). Elmwood got its 11th title, which ties Oak Harbor for the most SLL titles all-time. Oak Harbor left the SLL for the SBC in 1986.

In third place was Eastwood (170½), followed by Gibsonburg (83), Woodmore (72½), Lake (71), and Otsego (41).

Woodmore’s Evan Ulinski took first place in the 103 pound weight class. Eastwood champions were Randy Caris (140), Casey Horn (152), Kyle Patterson (171), and Joe Nauman (285).

Local runner-up finishes included (Genoa) Seth Morrison (103), Adam Klavinger (112), Max Reeder (119), Shawn Gantka (125), Nathan Breuer (140), Jacob Fejes (145); (Gibsonburg) Joe Angelone (130), Ryan Widmer (135), Andrew Helle (215); (Woodmore) Gavin Beard (152); (Eastwood) Jacob Welch (160) and Bobby Brooks (189).

Finishing third were (Eastwood) Johnny Shumay (103), Chase Beam (145); (Lake) Ryan Smith (119), Wes Socie (160), Zach Sharpe (171), Carl Brown (215); (Gibsonburg) Jacob Kissell (125), Damen Escobedo (140), Jake Auld (189); (Woodmore) Emch (130); (Genoa) Drew Keenan (135) and Dustin Reeder (285).

Fourth were (Eastwood) Victor Kern (112), Kyle Klatt (119), Tyler Bourdo (130), Brad Radabaugh (135); (Lake) Casey Conine (125); (Genoa) Ryan Szymanski (152), Michael Snider (171), Nick Keller (215); (Woodmore) Cody Lockart (160) and Spencer Linke (189). 

In the Ohio Wrestling League, Northwood finished fourth with 92½ points and Cardinal Stritch was sixth with 59 points. Arcadia (149) was the champion followed by McComb (148) and Cory-Rawson (111½). Van Buren (62) was fifth and Stryker (16) seventh.

Northwood had three league champions, including sophomore Brandon Kretz (26-7), who at 119 won his second OWL title. Junior Tyler Mack (25-5) won the title at 135 and sophomore Daniel Prothero (31-7) won at 171. Senior Nick Lang (22-9) was runner-up at 112 and junior Matt Slicher (21-16) finished second at 125.

Stritch senior David Szymanski won a championship at 189 pounds and Cardinal grapplers Zach Denomy (135) and Christian Peters (171) were runners-up. Stritch senior Allen Thompson was third at 285, and Shawn O’Neil (125) and Nick Fuller (145) were fourth.

Sports Announcements
A meeting will be held on Tuesday in the cafeteria at Oak Harbor High School for anyone interested in playing high school soccer next year. Anyone in grades 9-12 next year interested should attend; parents are also welcome. The team’s new head coach will be introduced and there will be a discussion concerning the team’s summer activities. Call Drew Grahl at 419-898-6216.

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Lake Township will have t-ball sign-ups on Feb. 26 at the Lake Township Fire Station on Ayers Road from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. A $45 registration fee will be collected. Boys and girls living in or attending the Lake School District are eligible. Player’s birth date must be on or before Oct. 1, 2002 and Sept. 30, 2005. Call Bill Sutter at 419-836-5077.

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The Woodmore Memorial Day 12 and 14 and under baseball tournaments will be May 25-30 in Woodville. Teams interested should contact Mike Sorg at 419-836-9826 or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

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