Ross County HS wrestlers compete in district tournaments
CHILLICOTHE, Ohio — As the winter sports season winds down, several Ross County wrestlers will be battling as they compete in their respective divisional district tournaments to qualify for state. With some repeating faces and new faces, several area schools are being represented in districts and hope to be able to fulfill their state dreams.
Here’s a local rundown to catch up on current wrestling standings.
Adena – Division III
2022
113: Kayla Grooms – Sectionals Fourth Place; District Did Not Place
165: Isaac Gray – Sectionals First Place; District Third Place; State Fifth Place
2023
120: Logan Hughes – Sectionals Sixth Place
126: Zayne Lewellen – Sectionals Sixth Place
With state placer and local SVC powerhouse Isaac Gray graduating last year, Adena also lost 2023 senior Chase Knisley. Adena has many first-year kids. While not advancing to districts, however, Adena is hoping to make history as its only girl wrestler sophomore Kayla Grooms gets ready to participate in the girls’ regional tournament at Olentangy Orange High School on Sunday, March 5. If Grooms places in the top four, she will qualify for the inaugural girls wrestling state tournament that will be held alongside the boys state tournament at the Schottenstein Center at The Ohio State University.
“Our team this year was a young, fairly inexperienced team. A lot of first year kids. A growing year for us at Adena. Lots of improvement and lots of potential moving forward,” said head coach Dalton Moss.
“We had no senior level competitors so next season assuming everyone returns, we should have a solid lineup.”
Chillicothe – Division I (2022), Division II (2023)
2022
132: Mike Hicks – Sectionals First Place; Districts Did Not Place
138: Oscar Morgan – Sectionals Third Place; Districts Did Not Place
150: Evan Lake – Sectionals Fourth Place; Districts Did Not Place
285: Trevor Banks – Sectionals First Place; Districts Did Not Place
2023
113: Cannan Smith – Sectionals First Place; Districts Qualifier
144: Mike Hicks – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
150: Gage Miller – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
157: Wesley Scott – Sectionals Third Place; Districts Qualifier
215: Trent Wade – Sectionals Sixth Place
285: Trevor Banks – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
The oldest wrestling program in the area has seen many changes through the decades with the most recent being a change from DI to DII. However, this does not seem to deter the area’s senior program. There are still many high-level opponents according to assistant coach Josh Smith. The Cavaliers went from four qualifiers in 2022 to five in 2023 with two repeat district qualifiers in addition to having one of the most successful local freshman wrestlers in Canaan Smith, whose record is an impressive 43-1, to show it is still a local powerhouse.
Newcomer varsity freshman Cannan Smith has been wrestling for eleven years with almost all his years at Chillicothe. As a sectionals champion Smith’s goals are lofty to win the districts tournament and wants to bring Chillicothe its first state title. His dad placed third in 1998 and wants to surpass that.
“I have a passion for the sport and learning everything from it,” said Smith.
His dad has been coaching him from the beginning and wants him to love the sport. As a wrestling coach for over 20 years, Smith’s dad believes a state placing is attainable with a successful career before becoming a high school wrestler but also know the lessons are just as important.
“In the sport of wrestling you are going to lose and learning to overcome adversity is one of the biggest things you will learn,” said Smith’s dad. “The life’s lessons are some of the biggest.”
Coach Peck also thinks the team can send more than one to state.
“All five of our district qualifiers have been wrestling since the youth level. So they know the importance of this weekend. Three are seniors each with the goal of qualifying to next week’s state tournament so their careers aren’t over,” according to head coach Mike Peck.
“Trevor and Cannan are predicted to place high at the state tournament but must not overlook this weekend. We have watched film online of possible match ups and discussed with each of our kids their paths to move on. So hopefully it all works out and we have several Cavalier wrestlers at the state tournament next week.”
Huntington – Division III
2022
144: Ethan Crisp – Sectionals Fifth Place; Districts Did Not Place
150: Mavrick Smith – Sectionals Second Place; District Did Not Place
215: Jesse Lett – Sectionals Third Place; Districts Did Not Place
285: Connor Temple – Sectionals First Place; Districts Fourth Place; State Did Not Place
2023
150: Eli Ward – Sectional Fifth Place; Districts Alternate
157: Mavrick Smith – Sectionals First Place; Districts Qualifier
175: Morgan Breniser – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
215: Jesse Lett – Sectionals Fourth Place; Districts Qualifier
For Huntington, they have two returning district qualifiers from last year in wrestlers Mavrick Smith and Jesse Lett with newcomer to the program Morgan Breniser.
While Smith didn’t place last year, he is using that experience, the past season, and his eight years of wrestling to help build on it.
“I have worked hard in practice, and I have great teammates to accomplish my goals,” said Smith. “I have gotten stronger and have done CrossFit and cross-country to help with my wrestling goals. I already got 100 wins and winning sectionals, so making it to state is at the top of the list now.”
Newcomer to the program Morgan Breniser who has been wrestling is also building on his success this year. With a 40-1 record and wrestling for almost 14 years, he is hoping that will be enough to help propel him through districts.
“I got blessed with a great community and great coach,” said Breniser. “Playing football also really helped to prepare for wrestling. I want to place in the top eight at state this year.”
Coach DePugh recognizes that while his program is still young, it’s those little successes that have helped to build it. With having their first state qualifier Connor Temple last year, DePugh knows what it takes to help his athletes get better.
“Wrestling is life that teaches you how to persevere and handle failure when you fall,” said DePugh.
“I think the intensity of practice and the competition has been good with great workout partners. Coaches will tell you are only going to be as good as your wrestling room and their partners have been a large part of their success.”
Paint Valley – Division III
2022
285: Hunter Freeman – Sectionals Third Place; Districts Did Not place
2023
126: Evan Blazer – Sectionals Sixth Place
157: Logan Hamlon – Sectionals Sixth Place
215: Hunter Freeman – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
285: Dakota Tennant – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
Paint Valley, while only sending one wrestler to districts last year, will now be sending two wrestlers. Hunter Freeman will be returning but will go from the 285-weight class to the 215-weight class. To fill the 285 class, Dakota Tennant will be taking on that class this year.
*Paint Valley coach was contacted for comment, but none received by deadline.
Southeastern – Division III
2022
165: Wesley Stewart – Sectionals Second Place; District Did Not Place.
2023
190: Gabriel Davis – Sectionals Fifth Place; District Alternate
Southeastern continues to struggle to make numbers as they continue to dwindle from five wrestlers in the 2022 SCV tournament to three in the 2023 SVC tournament. 2022 district qualifier Wesley Stewart graduated in 2022 with others transferring to other school districts.
However current senior Gabriel Davis has continued to improve. He has not wrestled in a district tournament during his high school career and while not immediately qualifying for districts, he will be an alternate if someone does not wrestle.
“Gabe was a great leader for a young team all season, and really grew into himself as an athlete and wrestler,” said head coach Brandon Grigsby.
“Couldn’t be more proud of the career he had here. Next season we hope to grow both the boys and girls teams, while continuing to compete and represent Southeastern the best we can.”
Unioto – Division II
2022
106: Layton Vennon – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Sixth Place
126: Marciellos Coste – Sectionals Third Place; Districts Did Not Place
144: Griffin Sams – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Did Not Place
157: Ethan Summar – Sectionals Third Place; Districts Did Not Place
175: Matt Griffin – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Did Not Place
2023
106: Layton Vennon – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
113: Jayce Zickafoose – Sectionals Sixth Place
132: Marciellos Coste – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
138: Luke Howard – Sectionals Sixth Place
150: Griffin Sams – Sectionals Fourth Place; District Qualifier
190: Matt Griffin – Sectionals Third Place; District Qualifier
Unioto is having an impressive repeat season with four out of five wrestlers returning to the district mat this year.
Senior team captain Layton Vennon is the senior of the group who has been wrestling for 11 years. He has wrestled in the 106-pound weight class all four years, although he only weighed 85 pounds his freshman year. Vennon is a four-time district qualifier who placed sixth in 2022.
“It’s the same thing as last year,” said Layton. “You just got to wrestle whoever you go against. With Adam I have learned the basic stuff and with Kyle I learned more of a hard nose and do what you have to do to win along with technique.”
While Lawson has only been with the Unioto program for a short period of time, he is looking forward to districts and seeing one of his guys be his first to make it to state this year.
“With wrestling anything can happen at any second,” said head coach Kyle Lawson. “Once we get to the tournament, we can look at the matches. We wrestle how we know how to wrestle. We have a certain style and don’t deviate from it too much. I want to see them go out there and compete and kind of see where we are at. I think we are making steps in the right direction every year. I would like to see somebody punch their ticket to the state tournament which is possible for a couple of our guys.”
Zane Trace
2022
120: Zane Pickerrell – Sectionals First Place; Districts Fifth Place, State Alternate
2023
113: Jourdan Enman – Sectionals Fifth Place, Districts Alternate
120: Eion Dunaway – Sectionals Second Place; Districts Qualifier
126: Zane Pickerrell – Sectionals First Place; Districts Qualifier
144: Ethan Tackett – Sectionals Sixth Place
175: Keith Russell – Sectionals Fifth Place; Districts Alternate
285: J.T. Jenkins – Sectionals Fourth Place; Districts Qualifier
Zane Trace this year has had the most improvement in its district showing compared to all the other Ross County Schools. Along with returning sectional champion Zane Pickerrell, JT Jenkins and Eion Dunaway will join him along with two alternates with a possible chance.
Pickerrell, who got his third sectional tournament win this year, is hungry for a state showing. Wrestling for about 12 years and being an alternate last year for state, Pickerrell has tried to specialize in wrestling.
“This has been my best season,” said Pickerrell. “I am happy, but I am not satisfied yet. I have tried to train smarter and have been in the weight room early on. We have tried to focus on my strengths and weaknesses and capitalize on them and fix my weaknesses.”
Joining Pickerrell is junior Eion Dunaway. Dunaway has been wrestling on and off since second grade and due to multiple moves has had to take some periods off. He has wrestled for Zane Trace his seventh and eighth grade years and some his sophomore year. With this being his first district tournament, he just wants to see how it goes.
“I know it is going to be really tough but just looking forward to the experience and hoping to make it to the second day,” said Dunaway. “I have the best partner (Zane Pickerell) and we just train, train, train.”
His plans are to drop football and take it to a higher level his senior year.
Zane Trace heavyweight J. T. Jenkins has been wrestling only three years, but has enjoyed every moment of it.
“I didn’t expect to make it to districts,” said J.T. “I feel as though I have gotten better as the season has gone on and more confident in myself.”
Head coach Bob Hoselton thinks the group has done well for being so young and inexperienced and has at times been proud they have exceeded his expectations.
“Districts are rough going into,” said Hoselton. “I hope to get a few out to state. That is always the goal, but I know it’s a tough goal. Being there is a great accomplishment as well and winning matches is great as well. I try and get the guys to focus on themselves and what they need to do.”
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