Wrestling: Versailles advances in state duals

The Versailles High School wrestling team is not going to relinquish their regional title without a fight.

The Tigers, who advanced to the final four of the Ohio High School Athletic Association state team tournament last season, took a big step toward defending their Division III, Region 23 crown with a come-from-behind 40-34 win over No. 2 Mechanicsburg on Wednesday night at Mechanicsburg.

Mechanicsburg built a 28-18 lead with five matches left, but the Tigers closed strong, winning four of the last five matches.

Grant Keller’s pin at 220 clinched the win for the Tigers, who recorded three pins and a major decision in taking a 40-28 lead into the final match of the evening.

Versailles will open the regional semis against host Covington on Wednesday. Dayton Christian and Brookville square off in the other semifinal with the winners meeting to advance to the state tournament.

Dayton Christian 55, Dixie 14: The Warriors tuned up for their second round match with Dixie with a 72-0 win over Milton Union before dominating the Greyhounds to advance to the regional semis.

The Warriors lost just three matches on the night, recording five pins, two technical falls and a decision in rolling to the win over Dixie.

Beavercreek 34, Sidney 33: The Beavers got a little revenge from last season in edging Sidney in the second round of the Division I tournament at Sidney High School.

Sidney eliminated the Beavers last year. On Wednesday, Beaverdcreek closed with a pin and a decision to pull out the win.

Beavercreek got pins from Colin Neuner (106), Austin Witt (132) and Keith Hayes (152) to take a 25-15 lead, but the Yellow Jackets came back to take a 33-25 lead heading into the final weight classes.

Ryan Penley got Sidney rolling with a pin at 160. Garrick Ginter’s pin at 182 gave Sidney a 30-25 lead and Noah Straman pushed the lead to 33-25 with two matches left after recording a decision at 195.

Beavercreek, however, got a pin by Thomas Baker at 220 to cut the lead to 33-31 and a decision from 285 Mike Berry to take the one point win,

Beavercreek travels to Marysville for the Region 6 semis.

Battle of Far Hills II: Centerville and Fairmont will square off for the second time this season after both advanced to the Region 7 semis.

Centerville won the first meeting 32-27 in front of a near-capacity home crowd earlier this season. The rematch also will be at Centerville.

The Elks, the defending regional champs, opened the tournament with a 78-0 win over West Carrollton before topping fourth seeded Miamisburg 51-12.

Fairmont opened with a 71-4 win over Wayne before taking out Northmont 47-20.

Carroll 72, Belmont 6: The Patriots, fresh off their best finish at the Catholic Invitational Tournament in a decade, moved into the Division II, Region 16 semis with for the second consecutive season at Belmont High School.

Carroll, the second seed, advanced with a 72-12 win over Meadowdale before taking a 72-0 lead over Belmont.

Carroll faces Eaton in the regional semis at Graham.

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