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Springfield High School 182-pound sophomore Joe Cochran had been looking for a signature tournament.
Something that would move him a bit more into the spotlight as the season hits the final grind before the postseason.
Tuesday at the Greater Miami Valley Wrestling Association Tournament, Cochran took that step.
Cochran, who was unseeded, advanced to the finals before falling 14-4 to top-seeded Tyler Wiederholt of Bellbrook.
“I have been wanting to get more recognition,” Cochran said. “But I’m not satisfied. I just want to move forward from here on out and win more matches.”
Cochran had to deal with advancing to the finals as well as facing a returning state placer when he got there.
“There was so much excitement (after semis),” Cochran said. “I had to get ready for finals and I knew I had to be perfect against him. This was a good experience for me.”
• Minutes after Graham senior Alex Marinelli claimed his fourth Holiday title, Urbana 195 senior Jack Harris followed suit.
Neither Harris nor Marinelli was challenged throughout the tournament.
“I was thinking about the fact it has been four long years at this thing while I was warming up,” Harris said. “The first one I won was pretty sentimental. But, when you win four of these, not many people can say they have won four.”
To top it off, the fourth title for Harris came on older brother — and drilling partner — Sam’s 21st birthday.
• Graham had the team title sewn up before the finals and went 8-2 in title matches to win with 333 points.
Dublin Coffman won the big school title with 180 points and was second overall.
Centerville was the highest-placing local big school, finishing fourth, while Covington was third in the small school.
• The GMVWA gave its proceeds from the 50-50 raffle throughout the tournament to the family of injured Fairmont wrestler Ahmad Doucet.
In all, the GMVWA collected $1,083 for the Doucet family to help cover medical expenses from a training accident as he prepared to compete for Team Ohio in a pair of national tournaments this summer.
• Marinelli won his second consecutive Most Outstanding Wrestler for the upper weights after claiming the title at 170, his fourth.
Dublin Coffman’s Dominick Demas won Most Outstanding for lower weight after winning the title at 145.
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