That’s what the Allen East wrestling program accomplished at this weekend’s Division III sectional tournament at Lima Central Catholic, which ran Friday and Saturday.
Allen East filled 13 of the 14 weight classes for the sectional tournament, and all 13 of those wrestlers qualified for next weekend’s Division III district tournament at Troy.
The top four placers in each weight class at the sectional tournament advance to the district tournament, which will be held at Troy’s Hobart Arena this Friday and Saturday.
Then, the top four placers in each weight class at Troy, will qualify for the state tournament at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center, which runs from March 13-15.
Out of the 13 district qualifiers for Allen East, four of them won sectional titles Saturday.
Kade Wireman (138-pound weight class, record of 40-7), Chase Miller (152, 42-4), Blake Hershberger (160, 44-6) and Garrett Neth (195, 40-1) all won titles Saturday for Allen East.
With its stellar performance Saturday, Allen East ran away with the team championship. Second-place Wayne Trace was 98 points behind Allen East in the final team standings, 251-153.
Coldwater finished third (143.5), while Parkway (124) and Spencerville (108.5) rounded out the top five squads in the 14-team field.
“We got all 13 out (to districts),” longtime Allen East coach Mike Abbey said. “We didn’t have a 113-pounder this year. So, I filled 13 weight classes all season, and now we got all 13 going to districts.
“What a day. … What a weekend. This is the first time ever (getting 13 wrestlers out). We’ve had 10 (advance) a couple times, but to get all 13 out today was great. Just a solid tournament, up and down the line for us. I couldn’t be prouder of the team. Like I tell the guys, ‘We have one of the toughest (wrestling) rooms in the state.’ And it showed today.”
Wireman, a freshman, avenged an earlier-season loss (at the regional duals) to Parkway’s Abe Meyer on Saturday, as he recorded a 5-2 decision against Meyer (16-1).
The last time he faced Meyer, Wireman said he was feeling under the weather.
“I faced him (Meyer) at the team duals, and he ended up beating me,” Wireman said. “But I wasn’t fully functional. Now that I’m fully functional, I took back what I deserved.”
Even though it’s his first year in high school, Wireman has set some lofty goals.
“It’s really cool,” Wireman said about qualifying for the district tournament. “It’s been one of my dreams since I’ve been in biddies and in junior high. I’m still working to be the best. Now, I have to win districts, and then I will have another title to chase after that.”
At Lima Central Catholic, going to the district tournament has become an expectation for the Caprella brothers.
On Saturday, sophomore Gavin Caprella and senior Chase Caprella won sectional titles in their respective weight classes.
Gavin Caprella (30-1) pinned Allen East’s Hunter Sidle (18-16) early in the second period in the championship match at 106 pounds.
Last season, Gavin Caprella made it to districts, finished fifth and was a state alternate. He finished second at last year’s sectional tournament.
“I just go out there, push the pace, dominate and score points,” Gavin Caprella said.
Chase Caprella (31-2), a three-time state-qualifier, pinned Coldwater’s Kobe Boggs (35-8) early in the second period in the title match at 132.
“We’ve been off since the (LCC) Thunderbird (Invitational). So, it’s been about a month (since the last competition),” Chase Caprella said. “(We’ve had) just a lot of practice. … We’ve done a lot of growing, and been working on a lot of technique.”
Bath senior Zachary Simpson (23-3) won in dramatic fashion in his title match against Coldwater’s Caleb Stammen (24-13) in the 182-pound weight class Saturday.
Simpson won in sudden-victory overtime against Stammen, 7-3.
“I came up, and I saw that he gave me the under-over. So, I took him to his back and got my two (points),” Simpson said with a smile.
In the heavyweight division (285), Columbus Grove’s Jeff Meyer (38-4) put Bath’s Carter Butler (19-5) to the mat and pinned him early in the second period.
Meyer, a two-time sectional champion and two-time state-qualifier, is aiming to get back to Columbus in a couple weeks.
Last year, Meyer placed sixth at the Division III state tournament at Ohio State.
“I want to be on top of the podium,” Meyer said with a smile.
Other sectional champions Saturday included Chase Martin from Delphos St. John’s (170, 35-4), Kenton’s Noah Eikenbary (220, 27-4), Wayne Trace’s Jarrett Hornish (113, 35-1), Gabe Sutton (120, 34-7), Hunter Long (126, 39-1) and Seth Meggison (145, 19-4).
Division I
OREGON — Lima Senior’s Aaron Bowsher (145 pounds) advanced to districts with a fourth-place finish at Clay High School.
Division II
DEFIANCE — St. Marys (165 points) finished third behind Wauseon (265.5) and Napoleon (189.5) at Defiance High School. Celina (152) and Wapakoneta (129) were fourth and fifth respectively.
Wapakoneta’s Colin Mellott (106 pounds), Van Wert’s Gabe Steyer (138) and Shawnee’s Howie Perkins (170) won individual titles.
St. Marys’ Tyler Hisey (106), Trevor Hisey (113), Tommy Mabry (160), Mason Saeler (170), Stashu Patterson (182) and Carter Sharpe (195), Celina’s Landon Engle (120), Shawnee’s Trent Fairburn (145) and Wapak’s Evan Kaeck (220) each finished second.
Celina’s Derrick Slater (113), Jackob Poor (145), Ethan Ly (160) and Alex Stachler (182), Shawnee’s Cory Beach (126), St. Marys’ Garret Donovan (132) and Wapakoneta’s Jacob Schlesselman (152) each finished third.
Also earning district spots with fourth place finishes were Wapak’s Keaton Elling (120) and Gavin Hall (126), Elida’s Dalton Swickrath (145) and Tarez Russel (220), Celina’s Tyler Carlin (170), Shawnee’s Joey Hale (195) and Van Wert’s Eli Kline (285).
Division III
VAN BUREN — Bluffton (146) finished second behind Carey (178.5). Cory-Rawson (50.5) was 1oth.
Bluffton’s Tayton Kleman (113) and Kaden Basil (138) and Cory-Rawson’s Deontae` Davis (170) won individual titles.
Bluffton’s Jeremy Sturgeon (120) and Landen Luginbuhl (195) were each second.
Bluffton’s Thayne Klemen (106) was third. Also qualifying for districts with a fourth-place finish was C-R’s Justin Gibson (152).
Allen East’s Garrett Neth, top, gets the advantage against Coldwater’s Patrick Cupp during Saturday’s Division lll sectional at Lima Central Catholic.
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2020/02/web1_Wrestling-Sectiona-LCC-DS8-1.jpgAllen East’s Garrett Neth, top, gets the advantage against Coldwater’s Patrick Cupp during Saturday’s Division lll sectional at Lima Central Catholic. Don Speck | The Lima News
Delphos Jefferson’s Kane Plescher, left, competes against Parkway’s Kaine Younker during Saturday’s Division lll sectional at Lima Central Catholic.
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2020/02/web1_Wrestling-Sectiona-LCC-DS9-1.jpgDelphos Jefferson’s Kane Plescher, left, competes against Parkway’s Kaine Younker during Saturday’s Division lll sectional at Lima Central Catholic. Don Speck | The Lima News
Columbus Grove’s Landen Schroeder, right, competes against Coldwater’s Kobe Boggs during Saturday’s Division lll sectional at Lima Central Catholic.
https://www.limaohio.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/54/2020/02/web1_Wrestling-Sectiona-LCC-DS6-1.jpgColumbus Grove’s Landen Schroeder, right, competes against Coldwater’s Kobe Boggs during Saturday’s Division lll sectional at Lima Central Catholic. Don Speck | The Lima News
