Carrollton wrestling reloads for another EBC championship chase

Joe McGee has a dynasty of sorts at Carrollton after five years in charge of the program. The Warriors posted an impressive match record of 15-2 and went a perfect 5-0 in the Eastern Buckeye Conference. In the postseason, Carrollton won its second consecutive Claymont Div. II Sectional Tournament in February, defeating the host Mustangs 206-183.5.

At the Div. II Steubenville District tourney, the Warriors placed eighth and sent two grapplers to state in Cael Lowdermilk (113 pounds) and Sawyer Broadwater (106). This kind of performance earned McGee – who’s compiled an overall mark of 74-20 and 26-1 in the EBC – Coach of the Year honors from the conference.

Virtually every year, Carrollton says goodbye to several important cogs in its well-oiled machine, and this year is no different.

“We lost several seniors that played a big role in the overall success and unity of the team,” said McGee. “They will all be missed and hard to replace.”

Two of the more notable losses were John Byler (126) and Josh Rhiel (215), both named first-team EBC.

That being said, Carrollton welcomes back a host of letter winners, 14 in all. Leading them are first-team EBC juniors Lowdermilk – who placed fifth at state last year – and Broadwater. John Childs (138), who won honorable mention accolades from the EBC, leads a contingent of seniors that includes Darrion DePalmo (175) and Jamesen Powell (190).

Other returning juniors are Brody Gonda (157), Cash Robinson (215), and second-team EBC honorees Cohen Little (106) and Jaden Sutton (144). A strong returning sophomore class is spearheaded by Andrew Childs (132), who was an EBC second-team selection, EBC honorable mention recipient Ja’Wayne Richardson (157), Wyatt Ridzon (285), and Easton Russell (150).

There is a large group of newcomers that may be able to contribute right away while soaking up the experience and examples set by the letter winners. They include juniors Zander Spilker, Ozzy Roybal, and sophomores Blake Herman, Lucus Mitchell, Mason Motz, Kolby Seevers, Leo Shafer, and Micheal Ullman.

The freshman group is comprised of Landon Barna, Paul Childs, Isaac Day, Kasen Farnsworth, Benson Grapp, Kayden Hamilton, Diesel Long, Owen Mabry, Carson Murphy, Kaden Orr, Briar Stealey, Jaxon Sutton, Tripp Tetoff, and Gavin Godfrey.

Add it all up, and McGee has a lot of wrestlers to work with as the Warriors strive for another successful season.

“They will all play a major role in the success of our team this year,” he said. “They work hard in the wrestling room as well as the classroom.”

Carrollton and Minerva, who weren’t too far apart at the sectional and district tourneys last season, could once again collide for primacy in the EBC. Count on McGee to have his team ready.

“We have a very competitive league with a lot of talent,” McGee said. “There are several quality teams that will make this year’s competition very exciting and fun to watch. 

"We believe that we have a group of young men that can contend for the league title.”