The Kenton Middle School wrestling team sent three wrestlers to compete in the Jr. High Ohio Athletic Committee (OAC) District Qualifier tournament at Olentangy High School Sunday, Feb. 12th. Carter Bays and Noah Thibaut placed and qualified to compete at the 2017 Jr. High OAC State Tournament in Youngstown, Ohio March 18-19.
Thibaut, 8th grader wrestling in the 176 lb class, started quickly in the 2nd round after a bye with a fall over Ian Price in 0:13. Thibaut was then defeated by Stephen Baldridge of West Holmes in the semi-finals, but claimed victories in the consolation brackets over Gary Call by fall 0:35, and Noah Coker of Mount Vernon by fall 0:53 to place 3rd at the tournament.
Wrestling in the 138 lb weight class, eighth grader Carter Bays bounced back after a tough first round lost to Braden Welch of Ashland, and won his next four matches to make it to the consolation semi-finals. He defeated Johnathan Martin of London by fall 0:26, Tommy Robbins of OOP by fall 2:47, Robert Tayler of Heath by major decision 10-0, and Samuel Speakman of Teays Valley by decision 3-1. Bays then lost to Andy Willliamson of Mt. Gilead and Parker Finley of Olentangy to place 6th and qualify for the state tournament.
7th grader Zachary Hart also made the trip to the district meet wrestling in the 126 lb weight class, but fell short of qualifying with a record of 1-2. Hart won his first round match versus Bryce Mihm of Willshire by major decision 11-2, but then fell to Lincoln Heard of Marysville and then Dakota Clarkson of Covington by decision 2-7.
