Must See Matches
Is it me or is there projected to be bigger semifinal matches this season than ever before.
I think the best two kids in the district in a lot of cases could be paired up in the semifinals at least that seems to me to be the case at the Division III district tournament at Owens Community College.
St. Mary’s Troy Opfer and Patrick Henry’s Alex Lopez at 112, Tiffin Calvert’s Kyle Kwiat and Western Reserve’s Eric Reer are two examples at Owens. Looking at the Kettering Fairmont Division III bracket, Bluffton’s Josh Falk will be paired with Troy Christian’s Zach Toal (who gave Falk his only loss of the season) in the semis at 140 if both win their first two matches Friday.
Anyone have any other examples of possible semifinal matches that should be finals?
I also have to chime in that the 135 pound weight class at Owens is weak. Only 3 wrestlers in the entire weight class have less than nine losses. That is truly amazing.
Here are my list of five must-see matches from Friday night at the Owens District.
112 -- Ryan Rayfield (Delta) Jr. 24-11 vs. Steven Butcher (Western Reserve) Soph. 6-2
Rayfield was third at Owens last year at 103 pounds while Butcher was sixth at the same weight. Having a pair of district placers meet in the first round is relatively rare. And Butcher has just come back in the past couple of weeks as he was recovering from a broken leg.
119 -- Payton Oney (South Central) Fr. 45-1 vs. Jordan Karnes (Edgerton) Jr. 40-0
OK this is a second round matchup so sue me. Both wrestlers shouldn’t have much trouble in the first round. Oney has been sensational suffering his first loss of the season last weekend to returning state champ Harrington in the Plymouth final. Karnes, a returning state qualifier, may have the edge because he’s been here before.
125 -- Warren Fleetwood (Margaretta) Sr. 23-7 vs. Dustin Carnahan (Paulding) Jr. 37-11
One of those No.1 vs. No.4 matchups to watch in the first round. Fleetwood won the Plymouth Sectional last week and was the Sandusky Bay Conference runner-up the previous week which is never an easy task. Carnahan, a returning state qualifier, fell victim to a very tough 125 pound field at Archbold last week.
152 -- Mitchell Lee (Elmwood) Jr. 35-8 vs. Mason True (Arcadia) Jr. 31-5
Another possible second round match up if both get through their first round matches. Lee has Ayersville’s Jarred Hageman (24-7) and True has Sandusky St. Mary’s Max Dahs (35-17). They have met two or three times this season with True winning all of them in close fashion but it’s been a real battle each time they’ve square off. If they match up keep your eyes on that mat.
160 -- Derrick Yant (Delta) Jr. 38-2 vs. Shane Lehman (Arcadia) Jr. 29-12
Again two more district placers wrestling in the first round. Yant, a returning state placer, is the obvious favorite after having to drop into the consolation bracket last week at the Archbold Sectional for an illegal slam. Lehman was a state alternate last season and I think will be a tough customer in the consolation bracket. Whoever wins this match will likely have another toughie in the quarterfinals where Sandusky St. Mary’s Ryan Wasylik will likely await them.
Anyone have any matches they are looking forward to watching…it’s time to share!
I think the best two kids in the district in a lot of cases could be paired up in the semifinals at least that seems to me to be the case at the Division III district tournament at Owens Community College.
St. Mary’s Troy Opfer and Patrick Henry’s Alex Lopez at 112, Tiffin Calvert’s Kyle Kwiat and Western Reserve’s Eric Reer are two examples at Owens. Looking at the Kettering Fairmont Division III bracket, Bluffton’s Josh Falk will be paired with Troy Christian’s Zach Toal (who gave Falk his only loss of the season) in the semis at 140 if both win their first two matches Friday.
Anyone have any other examples of possible semifinal matches that should be finals?
I also have to chime in that the 135 pound weight class at Owens is weak. Only 3 wrestlers in the entire weight class have less than nine losses. That is truly amazing.
Here are my list of five must-see matches from Friday night at the Owens District.
112 -- Ryan Rayfield (Delta) Jr. 24-11 vs. Steven Butcher (Western Reserve) Soph. 6-2
Rayfield was third at Owens last year at 103 pounds while Butcher was sixth at the same weight. Having a pair of district placers meet in the first round is relatively rare. And Butcher has just come back in the past couple of weeks as he was recovering from a broken leg.
119 -- Payton Oney (South Central) Fr. 45-1 vs. Jordan Karnes (Edgerton) Jr. 40-0
OK this is a second round matchup so sue me. Both wrestlers shouldn’t have much trouble in the first round. Oney has been sensational suffering his first loss of the season last weekend to returning state champ Harrington in the Plymouth final. Karnes, a returning state qualifier, may have the edge because he’s been here before.
125 -- Warren Fleetwood (Margaretta) Sr. 23-7 vs. Dustin Carnahan (Paulding) Jr. 37-11
One of those No.1 vs. No.4 matchups to watch in the first round. Fleetwood won the Plymouth Sectional last week and was the Sandusky Bay Conference runner-up the previous week which is never an easy task. Carnahan, a returning state qualifier, fell victim to a very tough 125 pound field at Archbold last week.
152 -- Mitchell Lee (Elmwood) Jr. 35-8 vs. Mason True (Arcadia) Jr. 31-5
Another possible second round match up if both get through their first round matches. Lee has Ayersville’s Jarred Hageman (24-7) and True has Sandusky St. Mary’s Max Dahs (35-17). They have met two or three times this season with True winning all of them in close fashion but it’s been a real battle each time they’ve square off. If they match up keep your eyes on that mat.
160 -- Derrick Yant (Delta) Jr. 38-2 vs. Shane Lehman (Arcadia) Jr. 29-12
Again two more district placers wrestling in the first round. Yant, a returning state placer, is the obvious favorite after having to drop into the consolation bracket last week at the Archbold Sectional for an illegal slam. Lehman was a state alternate last season and I think will be a tough customer in the consolation bracket. Whoever wins this match will likely have another toughie in the quarterfinals where Sandusky St. Mary’s Ryan Wasylik will likely await them.
Anyone have any matches they are looking forward to watching…it’s time to share!
Labels: Owens District
posted by --J-- at 1:12 PM
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