Picking up a big win

CELINA - Celina wrestling coach James Miracle joked that he should have held a practice after Thursday's dual match with Kenton.

Not for punishment, just to get some work in for the wrestlers who didn't get a chance to compete.

The Bulldogs lost just two bouts on the night and improved to 3-1 in Western Buckeye League action with a 67-12 win over the Wildcats at the high school gym in Celina.

Kenton voided out of six weight classes on the night, meaning just eight varsity matches and one exhibition match were on the program.

"You don't like nights where there's (six) voids. Nothing against (Kenton), but we have so many kids (26) and only nine wrestled tonight," said Celina coach James Miracle. "It is what it is."

Two matches that were highly anticipated came at 144 and 150 pounds. At 144, Celina's Andrew Hines looked to avenge an earlier loss to Aaron Modd by one point at the Bucyrus Invitational. After a scoreless first period, Modd got a reversal and scored a pin in 3:50 to give Kenton its second win of the night.

At 150, Zach Greber, ranked fourth in the Lima-area coaches poll, took on top-ranked Anthony Hunt. The first period was scoreless, but after Hunt escaped to start the second period, Greber got the takedown to take a 2-1 lead into the final period. Greber chose the down position and quickly got the escape for a point to make it 3-1, then scored a late takedown and rode his way to a 5-1 decision.

"We knew (Kenton) had one kid (Hunt) we didn't think we could beat, so when we win that match, you want to feel good about it," said Miracle. "We dropped two matches - we didn't have starters in there - but still thought we could win. You have to wrestle whomever they send out there and kids still have to work."

The night started with a void win for Celina at 113 pounds. At 120, Bulldog BJ Tare managed a late takedown on Harrison Brien to pick a 14-5 major decision to score four team points for Celina. At 126, Kenton's Karson Davis won on a pin with 13 seconds remaining in the second period to get the win over Tony Chavez. After Celina won via void at 132 and 138 and the 144 and 150 bouts, the Bulldogs' Carver Harris got the first of four straight pinfall wins in contested bouts by pinning Jared Manns in 3:39. Wes Greber followed at 165 with a pin on Kenton's Gavin Manns in 3:36. After Kenton voided out 175, Tyler Carlin made it 49-12 Celina by pinning Jace Perkins in 80 seconds at 190. The final contested bout of the night came at 215 with Rece Rutledge pinning Matthew Handell in 92 seconds. Voids at 285 and 106 gave Celina its final 12 points.

Celina travels to Logan Elm High School near Circleville for an invitational on Saturday.