Carrollton sends 10 wrestlers to Division II district tournament

The Warriors, coming off an excellent regular season that included a fifth consecutive Eastern Buckeye Conference title, turned their attention to the postseason and delivered a strong performance at the Division II sectional tournament Feb. 28 at Claymont High School.

In a competitive field that included EBC rival Minerva, Carrollton finished third as a team with 161.5 points. Host Claymont won the title with 235.0 points, followed by Minerva with 191.0.

More important than team placement, however, was advancing wrestlers to the district tournament, set for March 6-7 at Gallia Academy High School.

By that measure, Carrollton was successful, qualifying 10 wrestlers for districts with a berth in the state tournament at stake.

Leading the way were three sectional runners-up. Junior Cohen Little placed second at 106 pounds, falling 12-5 in the finals. Junior Cael Lowdermilk finished second at 138 and reached the 100-win milestone during the tournament. At 144, John Childs, 35-10, also placed second.

Three Warriors earned third-place finishes. Sawyer Broadwater, 34-7, won the consolation final at 113 pounds by pin in 2:21. Ozzy Roybal claimed third at 132 with a 2-1 decision. Brody Gonda placed third at 165 with a 9-4 decision.

Four more Carrollton wrestlers advanced with fourth-place finishes: Jayden Sutton, 35-13, at 150; Ja’waye Richardson, 34-14, at 157; Wyatt Ridzon at 285; and Luke Motz at 120.

Girls wrestling

Carrollton girls place seventh at sectional

Carrollton’s girls wrestling team competed in the East District sectional tournament March 1 at Claymont High School, finishing seventh with 89.0 points. Maysville won the team title with 131.0 points.

Four Lady Warriors advanced to the district tournament, which will be held March 8 at Mentor High School.

Riley Alborn led the way with a sectional championship performance. Alborn, 37-4, pinned New Philadelphia’s Isabelle Ramirez, 37-7, in 1:26 in the finals.

Juliaunna Miller placed second at 130 to qualify for districts. Freshman Kristen Hawkins, 39-15, secured a district berth with a pin in 0:53 in her third-place match. Jere Palas added a fourth-place finish at 140 to round out Carrollton’s district qualifiers.