Norwalk wins Carroll Invitational
Jan. 23—CLYDE — The Norwalk wrestling team scored 191 points to edge out Monroeville (183.5) and host Clyde (183) on Saturday to win the 16-team Dale Carroll Invitational.
Austin Ware went 5-0 at 113 pounds to finish as the lone individual champion for the Truckers. He won three matches in the pool format, a pin in 29 seconds, a 14-2 major decision, and a 17-2 technical fall. In the semifinals, Ware advanced on an injury default, then won a 7-2 decision over Elida's Skyler Kirk in the finals.
At 132, Jesse Cole finished 4-1 to place second. Cole won three matches by pin in 1:39, 3:58 and 47 seconds, then advanced to the finals with a 4-2 decision over Huron's Hunter Drury. In the finals, he lost by major decision (9-0) to Oak Harbor's Ethan DeTray.
Finishing in third for Norwalk included Mason Irwin (106) and Ryan Fox (175). Kaleb Ruhl (120) and Ryan Ritzenthaler each placed fourth, Mason Canolas (157) and Jesse Harris (165) took fifth, while Jackson James (126), David Garcia (150) and Brock Clark (285) placed sixth.
"As a team, it is definitely the best we have wrestled this season," Norwalk head coach Todd Fox said. "We rested a few guys last meet and been having great practices.
"I love this group buying into the process and improving. Wrestling is a grueling marathon, and not for everyone."
Monroeville finished with eight placers, led by 157-pound champion Brencyn Evans. He opened with three pins by 2:45, 4:53 and 3:55, then also pinned Sandusky's Braden Sartor in 1:28 in the finals.
Landin Hershiser won four matches, three by pin (1:28, 3:26, :39) and a 12-4 major decision. He took second after a loss in 2:35 to Clyde's Cade Carroll. Ian Patchen also placed second at 144. He won two decisions (9-2, 4-3), a pin (:47) and a 16-2 major decision before falling in the finals in 5:02 to Oak Harbor's Cade Petersen.
Placing third for the Eagles was Mickolas Takacs (126), Landen Roeder (138) and Ben Seitz (150). Braden Barman (106) and Peyton Barnhart (285) placed fourth.
