{"id":12427,"date":"2024-01-25T12:15:53","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T17:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/?p=12427"},"modified":"2024-01-25T12:15:55","modified_gmt":"2024-01-25T17:15:55","slug":"pairings-set-for-22nd-edition-of-local-jay-county-sectional","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/2024\/01\/25\/pairings-set-for-22nd-edition-of-local-jay-county-sectional\/","title":{"rendered":"Pairings set for 22nd edition of local Jay County sectional"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The 2024 edition of the seeding meeting for the Jay County wrestling sectional was no doubt quite different from the very first one back in 2003, which was certainly not held online. Nevertheless, the same nine teams will battle for a sectional trophy Saturday for the 22nd consecutive season at Jay County High School. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Featuring all the high school wrestling teams in Adams, Wells, Blackford and Jay Counties, the tournament also tosses in Union City for a nine-team field, which will eventually meet up with the teams in the Delta sectional at the regional a week later. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Listen to WZBD’s upcoming Radio Auctions to purchase discounted gift cards for upcoming movies. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Bellmont Braves have won many of the editions, taking 17 of the previous 21 sectionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams Central and Jay County have two titles apiece in those two decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Adams Central head coach Tony Currie’s team won a sectional title at Jay County back in 2019. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Adams Central (2): 2013 & 2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jay County (2): 2018 & 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is a weight-by-weight preview of Saturday’s tournament, which will be broadcast alive on YouTube for the first round and on 92.7 FM in the subsequent rounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

106 pounds – 2023 Champion: Hunter Douglas – Norwell<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 106 pound bracket will likely look very similar to the ACAC bracket, with the top three wrestlers at Bluffton Friday taking the top three spots. Griffin Byrum is the top seed after pinning Myles Kaehr in the final. Titus Loshe is the three seed by virtue of his victory over Ben Mills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Griffin Byrum of Jay County (left) defeated Myles Kaehr in last week’s ACAC final at 106. (Photo by Kristen Kaehr)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bellmont’s Ben Mills will need to defeat Union City’s Jose Perez-Contreras if he wants to advance to regional as a freshman. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

113 pounds – 2023 Champion: Daniel Moore – Jay County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This weight class does not have the depth as 106, with several teams carrying forfeits here, but undefeated Levi Johns is undoubtedly the man to beat after winning last week’s ACAC title against Kale Beer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Adams’ Daniel Rupp will need to pull off an upset to advance after not being seeded in the top four, while Bellmont’s Ethan Curtis will hope to find a way into the finals with a rematch against Kale Beer of Adams Central in the semifinals, but that may prove difficult considering Beer was a 16-0 tech fall winner in December. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Kale Beer (AC) had his way with Ethan Curtis the first time they met. They could meet again at Saturday’s Jay County sectional. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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120 pounds – 2023 Champion: Taye Curtis – Jay County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This may be the most competitive weight with three different wrestlers feeling they have legitimate hopes at winning a title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top seed is Henry Faurote of Bellmont, who holds head-to-head victories over both Dakota Sprunger (SA) and Hunter Douglas of Norwell. Faurote beat Sprunger 6-5 earlier in the year and just beat out Douglas for third place at the NE8 Saturday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Henry Faurote’s victory over Hunter Douglas for third place Saturday won him the #1 seed at Wednesday’s seeding meeting. (Photo by Kris Everett)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Douglas should hold an edge in the semifinal at the bottom of the bracket with Sprunger after defeating him 13-2 last week in that exciting dual meet at the Stardome. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams Central’s Jackson Bingham, seeded fourth, is dangerous enough to pick off one of those three for a second or third-place finish, however. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

126 pounds – 2023 Champion: Cody Rowles – Jay County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The defending champion Rowles returns as the top seed in a very deep weight class. Considering that the very talented SA freshman Will Patterson is seeded fifth and not favored to advance, it’s hard to argue the strength of the field at 126. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The extra wrench thrown into the mix is 29-1 Bradin Daniels of Union City, who is seeded second. He will provide a tough semifinal for the winner of the match between #3 Dylan Ogg of Adams Central and #6 Will Franze of Bellmont. When those two wrestled in the dual in front of a big crowd, it was Ogg who won 4-0. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Bellmont coaching staff will be looking for ways to turn Will Franze’s loss early in the year to Dylan Ogg (4-0) around in the opening round Saturday. (Photo by Kris Everett)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The quarterfinal match between #4 Jason Prough of Norwell and #5 Patterson will be just as competitive. Prough beat Patterson last week 6-2. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

132 pounds – 2023 Champion: Ethan Reiley – Jay County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Adams Central freshman Brason Schortgen is a heavy favorite to win this title after dominating local 132s all season long. Bellmont’s Keven Loshe is in the bottom half of the bracket and will hope to leverage his senior experience into a spot in the finals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bellmont senior Keven Loshe will put his career on the line at Saturday’s Jay County sectional. (Photo by Kris Everett)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Just three wrestlers in this field have winning records, with Jay County’s AJ Heskett set to meet Loshe in the semis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

138 pounds – 2023 Champion: Tony Wood – Jay County<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This weight class will be seeded just like the wrestlers finished at the ACAC, with undefeated Tony Wood in the top spot. Mav Dubach of AC will hope for second if he can get by Jarin Frauhiger of Southern Wells in the semifinals. The two were on opposite sides of the bracket at Bluffton last week but Dubach beat him 9-0 back at the ACAC Duals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Saturday could see a rematch of last week’s ACAC finals at 138 between Tony Wood (top) and Mav Dubach. <\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bellmont does not have an eligible wrestler at 138 and will forfeit this weight. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Wyatt Mann (SA) wins the #4 seed here after beating Norwell’s Chace Behning in last week’s dual. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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144 pounds – 2023 Champion: Cameron Clark – Jay County (145)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately Cameron Clark will not have a chance to win a sectional title after being injured much of the year. That leaves the door open for someone else at 144 and 150. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Colt Bollenbacher has scored several big victories in his career at the Jay County sectional. He hopes to win a title as a senior for the Starfires. (Photo by Kristen Kaehr)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

This weight looks to be set up for a highly-anticipated rematch between senior Colt Bollenbacher of South Adams and Bellmont’s sophomore, Sam Wolpert. When the two met at the Stardome in December, it was Bollenbacher who handed Wolpert his first loss of the year by fall. The two have lost just six matches combined since then and both have hopes of reaching Evansville. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With Kolten Rhonemus (Delta) and Wyatt Hoppes (Yorktown) both appearing to be favorites at the regional, it will be essential for Bollenbacher and Wolpert to finish in the top two to avoid an early exit, something both wrestlers experienced in 2023. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

150 pounds – 2023 Champion: Gavin Davis – Bellmont (152)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Clark’s absence leaves the door open for several wrestlers to move up a slot at 150 pounds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jay County’s Jacob Robinson tried his hand at 144 but lost in the finals to Bollenbacher last week, so he will try his luck at 150 instead this week and enjoy the top seed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That knocks Bellmont senior Blake Luginbill down to the #2 seed, where he seems to have a good path to the finals. Austin Roth of Union City (21-7) was runner-up in the TEC and will be on the same half of the bracket. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Blake Luginbill is seeded second at 150 for Saturday for the Bellmont Braves. (Photo by Kris Everett)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Max Byerly of Adams Central does not get much love for his ACAC title Friday. He will have to settle for the #4 seed and will have to wrestle Nathan Plattner (SA) in the opening round. They wrestled in the finals Friday, with Byerly winning 7-6. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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157 pounds – 2023 Champion: Silas Loshe – South Adams (160)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gavin Davis of Bellmont is undefeated on the season and a defending champ and a heavy favorite to win Saturday. His main competition should be South Adams’ Isaiah Meyer, who has just two losses all season and won the ACAC last week. Davis beat Meyer 9-4 at the Stardome in December. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Gavin Davis is unbeated in his junior season and has hopes of reaching the medal stand in Evansville in February. (Photo by Kris Everett)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

-Jaret Smith came agonizingly close to reaching the finals last week and could have another chance to knock off Bluffton’s Brody Lewis in the third-place match Saturday if the seeds hold. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

165 pounds – 2023 Champion: Duke Myers – Bellmont (170)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Myers returns as a three-time sectional champion and is a heavy favorite to become a four-timer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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ACAC champ Matt Heiser (AC) will be the three seed after avenging his earlier loss to Wes Summersett. The South Adams freshman will be on the same side as Myers as the #4 seed. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

175 pounds – 2023 Champion: Mavrick Summersett – South Adams (182)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Xavior Palacios won his second conference title last week at the NE8 and he will attempt to add a sectional title to his accomplishments as the #1 seed. He may need to repeat victories over Max Kaehr (AC) and Eli Behning of Norwell to win a title, though. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bellmont sophomore Xavior Palacios hopes to stand on the top spot of the podium for a second consecutive week. (Photo by Kris Everett)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Kaehr will be a potential semifinal opponent for Palacios as the #4 seed, while Luke Bauman’s fifth-place finish at the ACAC has him seeded sixth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

190 pounds – 2023 Champion: Henry Kukelhan – Bellmont (195)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cole Mendez of Bellmont will attempt to throw a wrench in the plans of ACAC fans hoping for a rematch between AC’s Trevor Currie and Bryce Wenk (JC). Currie beat Wenk on a last-second reversal to win the ACAC title and hand the Jay senior his first loss. Mendez is seeded third with a 24-7 record. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Trevor Currie (left) handed Bryce Wenk his first loss of the season in last week’s 190 final at the ACAC. The two could meet again in Saturday’s sectional final. (Photo by Kristen Kaehr)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

AJ Thompson won the varsity spot for the Starfires last week and will wrestle 190 for South Adams. He finished fourth at conference last Friday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

215 pounds – 2023 Champion: Keagan Martin – Bellmont (220)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martin will likely face a rematch against AC’s Keegan Bluhm in the finals. Bluhm needed just 14 seconds of the second period to pin #4 seeded Lukas Gehrett of Bluffton to take the ACAC crown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Keagan Martin won his second NE8 title Saturday at Huntington North. (Photo by Kris Everett)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Ethan Michael of Norwell will be seeded third after being pinned by Martin in just 66 seconds last week in the semis. Michael will face Bryan Roll in the opening round. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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285 pounds – 2023 Champion: Juan Cruz – Bluffton<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another rematch that everyone who attended and listened to the ACAC in Bluffton Friday will want to see is at heavyweight. Trailing 1-0, Zac Wurm chose neutral to start the third and eventually fell 3-0. Those two are the top two seeds again, with Southern Wells’ Peyton Long seeded third. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Local wrestling fans will no doubt stay in their seats until the final bout Saturday to see a rematch between Zac Wurm and Juan Cruz at heavyweight. (Photo by Kristen Kaehr)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Grady Baker will need to win twice to advance to the regional and one of those wins will likely have to come against Jay County senior Conner Specht. Baker is the fourth seed in a field of eight heavyweights. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Adams’ Phoenix Boxell will be seeded sixth and will face Long in the opening round. Looking at the Delta sectional, the third-place match will be very important at Jay Saturday, with the winner likely avoiding Isaac Moss of Delta in the opening round. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The 2024 edition of the seeding meeting for the Jay County wrestling sectional was no doubt quite different<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":12458,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[29,13,52,15,49,46,28,53,26,12],"class_list":["post-12427","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-adamscentral","tag-bellmont","tag-bluffton","tag-featured","tag-jaycounty","tag-norwell","tag-southadams","tag-southernwells","tag-sports","tag-wrestling"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/wzbd.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/8I7A6494-scaled.jpeg?fit=2560%2C2111&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12427","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12427"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12427\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/12458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12427"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12427"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wzbd.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12427"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}