By: Kyle Spence
The final day of the OHSAA State Wrestling championships concluded with numerous local wrestlers bringing home hardware.
Benjamin Logan Senior Raegan Hites (170) built on her success from last season, to finish 4th in the 170-pound girls division.
She started her day in the consolation semi-finals against Caroline Klawon, of Eaton, where she found herself on the winning side of a pin in 3:34.
This win put her in the 3rd place match against Lydia Heinrich, Olentangy Orange.
Hites dropped the match via fall in 3:56, ending her Raider career with a 4th place finish; besting last season’s 5th place finish.
Area wrestlers in Division III found much of the same success as Indian Lake had three wrestlers for a state title, Owen Pummel (215), Christopher Timms (285), and Maddie Miller (235). Graham also had three wrestlers for a shot at the championship; Jake Landis (113), Blaine DeMarco (132), and Brogan Tucker (157).
Mechanicsburg’s Ronnie Thomas (190) and Triad’s Awesom Mitchell (175) each also wrestled for a state title.
The Lakers had a tough day, as all three fell in their championship bouts.
Senior Owen Pummel (215) lost to Danny Zmorowski of Lake Catholic via a 12-3 score.
Owen becomes a three-time state placer, the first in school history.
He also holds the career wins record for Indian Lake, at 159.
Teammate, Christopher Timms (285) lost in the finals, 7-3, to Collin Sullivan, Fairless.
Maddie Miller (235), in her second year of wrestling, fell in the finals to Deionna Borders of Berea-Midpark. All three finished as state runner-up.
Triad’s Awesom Mitchell (175) has a rematch of last year’s final against Luke James of Milan Edison.
For the second year in a row, James was victorious, 7-3.
Mitchell finishes his Cardinal career as a two-time runner-up.
Ronnie Thomas (190) was the lone area wrestler to win a state championship, as he bested Robert McCrork of Applecreek Waynedale, 8-5 in sudden victory overtime.
Thomas becomes the school’s 7th individual wrestling champion.
Thomas wasn’t Mechanicsburg’s only grappler to have success, as Nolan Fraley (126) took 6th place after dropping his final match.
For Urbana, Sophomore Libertie Nigh competed in her first state final, where she fell in a tight match, 7-6, to Mount Vernon’s Ashlynn Brokaw.
Graham was led by 4 time state Champion, Brogan Tucker (157).
Tucker won his 4th state championship with a dominating fall in 2:17.
Teammates Jake Landis and Blaine DeMarco also wrestled for the state championship.
Landis fell in his match, placing 2nd.
DeMarco came up short, as well, finishing 2nd.
Also placing for the Falcons: Braden Root (106) 4th, Cole Winemiller (144) 5th, Kyler Crooks (165) 4th, Jake Hoke (175) 3rd, Chet Mannier (190) 6th, Danny Hoke (215) 3rd, and Wyatt Kaemmerer (285) 7th.
The powerhouse Falcons continued their domination on the mat securing the Division III team championship, their 26th overall, and 24th in a row.
