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East Liverpool wins second annual Bobby Douglas Wrestling Tournament

Photo by Kim North Union Local’s Gunnar Gossett looks for a pin against St. Clairsville’s Preston Apostolec during the finals match at 144 pounds Saturday during the second annual Bobby Douglas Wrestling Tournament inside the John J. Havlicek Gymnasium at Bridgeport High School. Gossett was voted the Most Outstanding Wrestler by tournament coaches.

BRIDGEPORT — East Liverpool, with three individual champions, won the second annual Bobby Douglas Wrestling Tournament Saturday night inside the John J. Havlicek Gymnasium at Bridgeport High School.

The Potters finished with 202.5 points, which was 28 points better than Union Local, which had two titlists. St. Clairsville was a distant third with 154.5 and a champ.

“We wrestled really well today and came together as a team,” East Liverpool head coach Jeremy Shaw said. “I’m proud of the effort all the kids put forth today.”

Only two individuals repeated titles from the inaugural event, those being East Liverpool’s Kyle Ingram (106) and Union Local’s Gunnar Gossett (144). Gossett, by virtue of his day-long performance was the Most Outstanding Wrestler by tournament coaches.

Ingram posted a 7-2 decision over Buckeye Local’s Nathan Dentz.

Ten different teams claimed a champion as Tristan Eckles (120) and Damon Stansbury (165) joined Ingram as Potters who stood on the top step of the awards podium. Gossett was joined by younger brother, Gamble, in the champions circle.

Eckles won by a 13-2 major decision over Bridgeport’s Robert Weekley. Stansbury pinned Monroe Central’s Owen Howard in 1:15.

“Kyle and Tristan started the ball rolling there in the finals,” Shaw explained. “That got us off to a good start.”

Gunnar Gossett scored a 17-2 technical fall over St. Clairsville’s Preston Apostolec, while Gamble also claimed a technical fall, 16-1, over West Muskingum’s Wyatt Bare.

The younger Gossett was competing unattached as Gavin Bolock was Union Local’s representative in the weight class.

“We wrestled well. I’m happy with our performance,” Union Local head coach Nate Starkey said. “We had a couple of kids that didn’t wrestle, including Brody Perzanowski, and Gamble wrestled up a weight class today.

“Our kids work hard and deserve to win tournaments like this,” Starkey continued. “I’m always proud of them.”

Meadowbrook had two champions in Brayden Jensen (113) and Kolten Snyder (190).

Other local wrestlers taking home crowns included Bridgeport’s Ax’Zavior Santana (132); John Marshall’s Zander Ward (138); Bellaire’s Braylon Leiffer (150); St. Clairsville’s Luke Marling (175); Wellsville’s Leland Monte (215) and Toronto’s Heath Thomas (285).

The lone non-OVAC winner was Johnstown Northridge’s Treven Angus (157).

Santana defeated Steubenville Catholic’s Chris Hermann 9-2; Ward pinned Steubenville’s Charlie Abbott in 3:55; Leiffer posted an 8-6 decision over Toronto’s Caden McGrath; Marling took down East Liverpool’s Xavier Lara in 1:17; Snyder major decisioned East Liverpool’s Peyton Shaw, 14-1; Monte pinned Bridgeport’s Logan Baker in 2:45; and Thomas outlasted Meadowbrook’s Ethan Heady, 4-3, in overtime.

“Luke is a tough kid,” St. Clairsville head coach Bobby Richmond said. “He’s a hard worker and never gives up. He works really hard in practice. He had improved a lot from last year even though he was a district qualifier.”

Marling pinned his way through his four matches, with all four ending in the first period.

“Ax’Zavior is having a great year,” Bridgeport head coach Matt McFarland said. “He’s really turned the page this season. Last year he was rough and a little nervous, but this year he has turned it up and is putting it all together at the right time.”

John Marshall assistant head coach Joel Sansone was proud of the way Ward competed.

“That was a big win for Zander as far as the OVAC seed meeting,” he noted. “I think Abbott was one spot ahead of Zander. He won the Cameron Tournament last week and followed it up with another title today.”

Angus blanked East Liverpool’s Jayden Shaw, 16-0, for a technical fall.

Five teams canceled due to adverse weather conditions. They included Claymont, Conotton Valley, Dover, Garaway and Wooster Triway.

Winners Choice Tournament

Cameron Places Fifth

FAIRMONT — The Dragons took fifth-place in the highly competitive Winners Choice Tournament on Saturday. They finished with 327.5 points and had four individuals in the top 4 of their respective weight classes.

Slayton Pettit (150) took second, while Talen Brown (144) and Eli Tedrow (157) both finished third. Klypsan Wallace (175) was fourth.

Beckley Woodrow Wilsdon won the 15-team tournament with 547 points. Parkersburg was second at 473, followed by Cabell Midland (403) and George Washington (353).

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