Bellefontaine’s wrestling team had its best performance of the season Saturday after placing third at the Miamisburg Invitational.
The Chieftains crowned three individual champions and had all 11 wrestlers finish in the top six.
Simon Kenton of Kentucky won the 10-team meet with 304 points, Valley View was runner-up with 230.5 points and Bellefontaine was third with 185.5 points.
“Coming into this tournament, I wasn’t happy with the team’s overall grit and fight in their matches,” said BHS head coach Brady Hiatt. “We weren’t being aggressive enough. We weren’t being physical enough. We weren’t being explosive enough. All week we challenged them in these areas, and while we are still not at the level we can be at, we made definite steps in the right direction.”
Bellefontaine was led by individual champions in Noah Yoesting (152), Zayne Reed (170) and Garrett Gross (195). It was the second consecutive tournament win for Yoesting, who went 3-0 with three tech falls. Reed also went 5-0 with five pins and Gross went 5-0 with five pins in 1:24 or less.
“Those three seniors led the team on the mat in their aggressive approach and off the mat in their focus,” said Hiatt. “They also led with their excitement to compete and in their support for their teammates.”
Placing fourth for the Chiefs were Makayla Young (106), Chelsea Horsley (113), Devin Whaley (120) and Tucker Newland (138).
Finishing fifth were Blayden Hurley (145), Ryan Stuhlemmer (182) and Josh Steiner (220), while Josh Lasyone (220) added a sixth-place finish.
“Josh Lasyone is making big improvements and competed with a lot of intensity,” said Hiatt. “Both Makayla and Chelsea competed hard despite giving up some size.”
Bellefontaine is back on the mat Saturday at the Western Brown Hammer and Anvil Invitational.
Triad takes runner-up at Tri-County North tourney
Triad’s wrestling team finished second at the Tri-County North Invitational on Saturday and placed seven of eight wrestlers, including four individual champions.
National Trail won the eight-team meet with 203 points, Triad was runner-up with 184 points and host Tri-County North was third with 160 points. The last time the Cardinals placed that high in a tournament was 2013.
Winning individual titles for Triad were Drue Instine (113), Blake Boldman (152), Dalton Overfield (160) and Isaiah Leasure (170). Placing second were Coleman Hauck (145) and Thomas Ford (182).
Adding a third-place finish was John Downey (195).
Triad travels to the Southeastern Invitational on Saturday.