MHS’ Emilio Guerrero, right, works to fight off a single-leg takedown attempt in this file photo. The Monarchs split their matches during Saturday’s D-I state duals at Lakewood St. Ed. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Marysville High School’s boys wrestling squad broke even during Saturday’s Division I state duals at Lakewood St. Ed.
MHS, the No. 8 seed, fell to the top-seeded host school, 58-13, during the opening round.
The Monarchs rebounded for a 46-29 verdict over No. 5 Elyria.
“It was great to see our guys respond the way they did,” said MHS coach Shawn Andrews. “I felt like we had a similar situation earlier in the season when we wrestled Brecksville and Olentangy Liberty in back-to-back matches.
“I didn’t feel like we wrestled our best at that time,” he said. “This weekend, I felt our guys put their best selves out there.
“We won a couple tight matches and were able to pick up several bonus point wins.”
MHS victories against Lakewood St. Ed were as follows:
-138: Lincold Heard beat Dan Tome by a 14-5 major decision;
-152: Erryl Will downed Evan Bennett by a 19-3 technical fall;
-285: Zach McMinn edged Chance Robinson, 1-0.
Monarch wins against Elyria were as follows:
-106: Ethan Skiles put Alex Green to the mat in 1:16;
-120: Emilio Guerrero scored a 22-5 technical fall over Ryan Scott;
-126: Nathan Thompson won by a 4-2 sudden victory over Connor Holm;
-138: Heard pinned Izzak Pedrazza, 2:18;
-152: Will edged Erich Trinski, 3-2;
-170: Colton Powers notched a 15-0 technical fall over Jo Norwood;
-195: Ben Bickerstaff flattened Gage Steffe’s shoulders in 2:28;
-220: Parker Reese pinned Steven Witherspoon, 2:52;
-285: McMinn needed just 1:27 to notch a pinfall over Tyler Thompson.
“I can’t speak for the team, but going into the event I felt we were better than the eighth seed,” said Andrews. “I was glad to see our team competed with that same belief. “
The Monarchs will close out the regular season at home on Thursday against Olentangy.