Marysville’s Logan Painter has Jack Wilson of New Albany tied up in the top photo. Action came during the Central District Wrestling Coaches Association’s All-Star event at Worthington Kilbourne on Tuesday evening. Painter won the match, 2-1.
(Journal-Tribune photos by Tim Miller)
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Several local high school wrestlers got a leg up on the start of the 2018-19 season on Tuesday evening.
Athletes from Marysville, North Union and Jonathan Alder competed in matches during the Central District Wrestling Coaches Association All-Star tournament at Worthington Kilbourne High School.
Those competing included Logan Painter (195) from MHS, North Union 285-pounder Dylan Thompson and Reece Chapman (106) and Luke Stalnaker (182) from JA.
Walker Heard of Marysville was scheduled to compete at 152, but sat out the event with a minor skin issue, according to head coach Shawn Andrews. He will be ready for action next week when Marysville hosts its annual duals tournament on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Painter and Thompson won their matches. Painter scored a 2-1 verdict over Jack Wilson of New Albany, while Thompson put Dublin Scioto’s Donovan Hardin to the mat with 10 seconds left in the bout.
Chapman battled Northmor’s Dale Brocwell to a 1-1 stalemate, while Stalnaker dropped a 5-2 verdict to Jake Waldrop of Watkins Memorial.
Each match consisted of three, one-minute periods and no overtime sessions were conducted.
Painter’s bout with Wilson was deadlocked at 0-0 through the first two periods.
The Monarch senior scored a reversal to take a 2-0 edge in the third period.
Wilson scored his point on an escape.
“Logan’s best position to score is on the mat,” said Andrews. “We have to get him to open up on his feet, but overall I was happy with his performance.”
Thompson went into his match in a division that’s higher than the one he’s expected to compete in during the regular season.
“Dylan is used to wrestling at heavyweight and that’s what he will probably do the first few weeks of the season,” said NU coach Garrett Andrews. “He’ll get down to 220, where he will probably finish the season.”
Thompson, who went into the bout at 240 pounds, yielded 50 pounds to Hardin.
That, however, didn’t stop him from throwing the Irish grappler around like a rag doll.
Thompson piled up a 10-2 lead before pinning Donovan with 10 ticks on the timer.
“Dylan got a couple of nice takedowns and then got the pin toward the end of the match,” said Andrews.
Neither Chapman nor Brocwell could establish any clear dominance during their three-minute battle, resulting in the tie.
“I think Reece could have scored a couple more points, but he didn’t finish (some maneuvers),” said first-year Alder head coach Tony Watson. “Still, it was a good starting point for him.”
Watson said he was happy to see Stalnaker, who will eventually drop to the 170-pound division, go on the attack against his opponent.
“Luke had a great takedown and again, it was a good place for him to start the season,” he said. “Both Reece and Luke got something out of this mentally by wrestling in the All-Star tournament.”
Prior to the start of matches, the Central District Coaches Association recognized athletes and coaches for their performances during the 2017-18 season.
Marysville graduate Jake Marsh, who finished second in the Division I state tournament at 152 pounds, was named the division’s scholar athlete.
Marsh, who posted a 44-3 record a year ago, is currently wrestling in the 165-pound class at Princeton University.
JA grad Jacob Johnson was honored as the Division II wrestler of the year. He placed fifth at 120 pounds during last year’s state tournament.
Shawn Andrews was recognized as the Central District coach of the year for Division I, while Bunsold Middle School coach Kevin Franke was named the junior high coach of the year.
Ron Thomas Sr. of Jonathan Alder was recognized as a newly-retired coach.