Graham enjoys competition, sends eight to state

Graham wrestling coach Jeff Jordan was having fun at the Division II Goshen district wrestling tournament.

Sure, advancing eight to the state meet will lead to fun, but it was on the team side that he was having a good time.

The Falcons, who normally cruise to a three-digit lead after the semifinals, entered the finals with just a 52-point lead on Hamilton Ross in the team race.

“I am enjoying the competition,” Jordan said after advancing eight to state. “Ross has a really good team. (Coach) Rich (Dunn) has done a nice job.”

In the end, the Falcons were too much, going 7-0 in title matches in finishing with 231.5 points. Ross finished with 160.

“I thought we would get a minimum of seven out,” Jordan said. “I am happy with how we wrestled. We have a couple who were on the bubble that are hurting and have to wait eight months for another shot, but it is going to depend on what they do over those eight months; I’m glad to see them in a little bit of pain over not getting out.”

Eli Stickley and Eli Seipel squared off for the second consecutive week in what could end up being a state final preview.

Stickley handed Eaton’s Michael May a 4-0 loss at 106 while Seipel defeated Bellbrook’s defending state champ Cameron Kelly for the second consecutive week, 4-2.

Urbana’s Jack Harris (182) and Sam Harris (195) also advanced with Jack beating Northwestern’s Brandon Rogers 11-9 in the finals.

Kenton Ridge advanced four, including second-place finishes from Elijah Cochran (126) and Preston Bowshier (132).

Division I: Tecumseh's Chuck Buchanan battled back through the consolation bracket to finish third at 152.

Springfield’s Devin Nye claimed a 7-3 win over Butler’s Matt Martin in the consolation finals to advance at 220, but 285 Aaron Cosby wasn’t as fortunate.

After making it to the semis, Cosby went 0-2 to begin Saturday.

Division III: It will be a super Sunday at Trent Arena as the Division III district finishes up.

Entering day two, seven teams are within 15 points of each other. Troy Christian holds a 2.5-point lead over Dayton Christian and Covington. Carlisle (40) is fourth while Mechanicsburg (38) and Greeneview (37.5) are sixth and seventh.

Troy Christian and Dayton Christian advanced five to the semifinals while Carlisle has four and Covington, Mechanicsburg and Greeneview each have three.

Wrestling continues at 10 a.m. today with the finals tentatively slated for 4 p.m.

The top four in each weight class advance to the state tournament beginning Thursday at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.

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