Jonathan Alder’s Xavier Pierce (top) has control over an opponent in this file photo. Pierce is one of several JA grapplers who won Central Buckeye Conference championships this season. (Journal-Tribune photo Tim Miller)
Jonathan Alder grapplers recently won the Kenton Trail Division of the Central Buckeye Conference with a team score of 198 points.
The Pioneers took overall second place at the conference’s tournament, finishing behind Graham, which scored 228 points.
Graham was crowned as the CBC Mad River Division champion and was the overall tournament winner.
North Union, which is also in the CBC Mad River Division, took fifth place overall and third in the Mad River Division at the tournament with a team score of 83 points.
The Pioneers took the top spot in three weight classes.
Xavier Pierce won a 14-9 decision in the 106-weight class over Dustin Bradam of Kenton Ridge.
Josh Proper captured the 120-weight class with a pin fall over Farell Hall of Tecumseh in 2:35
Oliver Byerly brought home the gold in the 138-weight class with a 6-5 decision over Josiah Kennedy of London.
North Union had one wrestler make it to the championship round.
Gabe Hansen-Jackson took second place overall at 132 pounds when he fell to Nolan Gessler of Graham by pin fall in 1:28.
The following wrestlers finished in third place overall:
-170: Pryce Watson, Jonathan Alder, won by pin fall over Emery Wagner of Indian Lake;
-220: Dom Kroninger, Jonathan Alder, won by pin fall over Brody Wilson of North Union.
The following local wrestlers earned overall fourth place finishes:
-113: Trace Williams, North Union, lost by technical fall to Brady Fisher of London;
-126: Casey Clark, North Union, lost by pin fall to Jackson Young of Indian Lake;
-182: Josh Kaeser, Jonathan Alder, was pinned by Evan Hager of Northwestern;
-220: Wilson, North Union, lost by pin fall to Kroninger;
-285: Damon Hay, Jonathan Alder, lost by pin fall to Ethan Taylor of Tecumseh.
Earning fifth-place spots overall were:
-145: Caleb Isler, North Union, won by a 6-0 decision over Ryan Culp on Indian Lake;
-182: Liam Adams, North Union, claimed a 10-7 decision over Bo Arms of Graham;
-195: Tyler Cline, North Union, put Aidan Gross of Northwestern to the mat with a pin.
The following wrestlers finished sixth overall:
-120: Austin Cline, North Union, lost by pin fall to Devin Whaley of Bellefontaine;
-285:, Steven Palm, North Union, was pinned by Eli Hughes of Indian Lake.
Wrestlers will now move on to the post-season where they will start at the Central District Sectional Tournaments.
Jonathan Alder will wrestle in the Division II sectional at Licking Valley on Feb. 27-28. North Union will wrestle at the Division III sectional at Madison Plains on the same days.