LEAGUE WRESTLING MEETS
Greater Western Ohio Conference
Where: Butler High School
When: Fri., 5:30 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.
Who: Centerville, Fairmont, Wayne, Beavercreek, Springfield, Northmont, Piqua, Troy, Sidney, Greenville, Trotwood, Butler, Miamisburg, Springboro, Fairborn, Lebanon, Xenia, West Carrollton.
Southwestern Buckeye League
Where: Brookville High School
When: Fri., 6 p.m.; Sat., 11 a.m.
Who: Bellbrook, Brookville, Carlisle, Dixie, Eaton, Franklin, Madison, Milton, Monroe, Northridge, Oakwood, Preble Shawnee, Valley View, Waynesville
Central Buckeye Conference
Where: Ben Logan High School
When: Sat., 10 a.m.
Who: Bellefontaine, Ben Logan, Graham, Greenon, Indian Lake, Kenton Ridge, Northwestern, Shawnee, Stebbins, Tecumseh, Tipp City, Urbana
Greater Catholic League
Where: Purcell Marian High School
When: Sat., 11 a.m.
Who: Alter, Badin, Carroll, Chaminade Julienne, Elder, Fenwick, LaSalle, McNicholas, Moeller, Purcell Marian, Roger Bacon, St. Xavier.
Greater Miami Conference
Where: Lakota East High School
When: Sat., 10 a.m.
Who: Colerain, Fairfield, Hamilton, Lakota East, Lakota West, Middletown, Mason, Oak Hills, Princeton, Sycamore
Southwestern Ohio Conference
Where: Ross High School
When: Sat., 9:30 a.m.
Who: Edgewood, Harrison, Little Miami, Mt. Healthy, Northwest, Ross, Talawanda, Wilmington
Ohio Heritage Conference
Where: Mechanicsburg High School
When: Sat., 9 a.m.
Who: Catholic Central, Greeneview, Mechanicsburg, Northeastern, Southeastern, Triad, West Liberty-Salem.
It has been five years since a team repeated as champion of the Greater Western Ohio Conference wrestling tournament and Centerville coach Alan Bair thinks he knows why.
“Everything goes in cycles,” Bair said. “You have to have a couple of good classes in a row with good seniors and depth. Plus, there are a lot of good coaches in the GWOC doing the right things.”
Bair’s Elks will enter the GWOC tournament Friday at Butler High School as the favorite to be the first team to repeat since Miamisburg did it in 2008.
Sidney, Springboro, Fairmont and Miamisburg all look to also be in a race that could come down to the points lower placers and non-placers can put on the board.
“Regardless of repeating, just to win it you have to have some kids in the finals one through six,” Bair said. “But you need a supporting cast to get some wins along the way and bonus points are huge.”
Making strides: Monroe has had a breakthrough season.
The squad has claimed titles at Franklin and Madison and advanced to the regional semis in the state team tournament.
But, coach Jim Williams knows that it will be a whole new level at the Southwestern Buckeye League tournament, which begins today, at Brookville.
“Our league is one of the toughest leagues in Dayton,” Williams said. “I could go on for days with the quality of the teams and kids in the league. I have told the kids it will be one of the toughest tournaments we will wrestle all year.”
OHC showdown: The Ohio Heritage Conference race should be interesting with two state-ranked teams in the field at Mechanicsburg.
Mechanicsburg and Greeneview both enter ranked in the state, but both have some holes to work around.
Greeneview led 36-12 in matches wrestled of their regional semis loss to Blanchester, getting pins from Mason Gallagher (113), Logan LaCure (120), Andew Hoskins (126), Armani Robinson (182), Adrian Harding (195) and Wyatt Hovan (285).
Solid Rams look for first title: Ross is enjoying first time events so far this season.
The Rams have marched into the Region 15 finals of the first OHSAA state team tournament and on Saturday will host the first Southwest Ohio Conference tournament.
“We have a lot of seniors coming back and we are spread out with talent,” Ross coach Rich Dunn said. “It is nice to have that.”
Seven titles on the line: The SWBL and GWOC are the only two league tournaments to begin today.
The Central Buckeye Conference begins Saturday at Ben Logan with a race to see who finishes behind Graham, Purcell Marian hosts the Greater Catholic League and Lakota East will be the scene for the Greater Miami Conference.
About the Author