Erryl Will of Marysville has control over an opponent during last year’s Division I state wrestling tournament. Will placed fifth in the 165-pound weight class during this past weekend’s Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association tournament. It was Will’s first mat action of the season after an extended playoff run with the Monarch football team. (Journal-Tribune file photo by Tim Miller)
After a two-year absence, Marysville High School’s varsity boys wrestling team competed in the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association tournament in Harrison.
COVID-19 prevented MHS from competing in the event a year ago.
In 2019, MHS made a change to its schedule and went to a tournament in Austintown Fitch later in the year.
The 2021 event was held Saturday and Sunday.
MHS placed seventh in the team standings with 108.5 points.
Brecksville won the 40-plus team event with 221.5.
Ryle High School (Kentucky) was the second-place team with 185.
Rounding out the top five were Cincinnati LaSalle-184, Cincinnati Moeller-174.5 and Centerville-149.
Lebanon finished one spot ahead of Marysville with 133.5.
The Monarchs had five grapplers place among the top eight in their weight divisions.
The highest finish was Josh Melms, who took runner-up honors in the 157-pound weight class.
Melms won four of his five matches.
He dropped the title bout to Hank Williams of Bethel-Tate by a 5-2 verdict.
Fifth-place accolades went to a pair of Monarchs.
Jack Golla placed in that spot in the 150-pound weight division, while Erryl Will did the same at 165.
Golla beat Jake Taylor of Mt. Vernon, 4-0, in his final bout.
Will scored a 13-5 major decision over Aiden Rader of Edgwood for his fifth-place finish.
Both Monarch athletes won four of their six matches.
Gage Riley took seventh in the 113-pound division.
He finished the tournament with a 4-2 mark.
Lincoln Witt was eighth at 144 with a 3-3 record,
Other Monarchs who competed were as follows (with won-loss records):
-106: Ethan Heckel, 2-2;
-120: Joe Eley, 0-2;
-126: Boston Burkhardt, 1-2;
-132: Zach Pfarr, 2-2;
-138: Erik Nelson, 2-2;
-175: Brady Seger, 2-2;
-190: Ben Bickerstaff, 2-2;
“It was great to compete in a large two-day event and see where we are at this point in the season,” said Monarch head coach Shawn Andrews. “Josh Melms had a great tournament and was right there to win his finals match.
“Gage Riley wrestled really well,” said the coach. “To get himself on to the podium at this event is a big step for him as a sophomore.
“ It was nice to get Will, Seger and Bickerstaff back into the line-up (after football) even if it was at a bigger event then what their usual season starting event would be.”