Lions roar at Claymont Sectionals

They may not have won, but the Minerva boys wrestling team put on an impressive performance at the Division II sectional tournament Feb. 28 at Claymont High School.

Host Claymont won the team title with 235.0 points, but the Lions finished second with 193.0, edging Eastern Buckeye Conference rival Carrollton.

More importantly, Minerva advanced 11 wrestlers to the Division II East District tournament, set for March 6-7 at Gallia Academy High School.

At 150 pounds, Jason Sivy claimed a sectional title with an 8-0 major decision over Claymont’s Luke Henry. The win improved Sivy’s record to 34-9.

Minerva crowned five runners-up. Timmy Kirkpatrick finished second at 190 after falling to state-ranked Gibson Swartz of Philo. Other second-place finishers were Lincoln Wallace at 157, Kolton Almasy at 126, Ethan Weaver at 165 and Aiden Reagan at 285.

Shawn Weaver at 120 and Cole Sivy at 138 each posted 10-1 major decisions in their third-place matches to advance. Alex Wright also placed third at 106, edging Claymont’s Lukas Patterson 8-7.

Colton Godsey at 144 and Enoch Brodzenski at 175 each finished fourth in their respective weight classes. Tyler Phillips placed fifth at 113 and will serve as an alternate at districts.

Lady Lions send 3 to district tournament

The Minerva girls competed March 1 in the sectional tournament at Claymont High School and advanced three wrestlers to the East District tournament March 8 at Mentor High School.

Senior Rachel Weaver earned a sectional championship at 130 pounds with an 11-2 major decision over Carrollton’s Juliaunna Miller. Bailey Hilliard placed second at 110, and Ellie Kuttie secured a district berth at 115 with a pin of Steubenville’s Gianna Berkey in 3:33.

Beaver Local tops Minerva in Division IV sectional final

Minerva entered the OHSAA Division IV East 1 District tournament as the No. 8 seed and opened play against No. 4 seed Lisbon Beaver Local on Feb. 27.

Beaver Local defended its home court with a 59-36 victory over the Lions.

The Beavers built a 14-5 lead after the first quarter and extended it to 32-15 at halftime by outscoring Minerva 18-10 in the second period.

Beaver Local widened the margin in the third quarter, holding the Lions scoreless to take a 45-15 lead into the final period.

Minerva scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, but the deficit was too much to overcome.

Rowen Hoffee led Minerva, 12-11, with 11 points, including three 3-pointers. Skylar Lab added eight points. Owen Hill scored 19 to lead Beaver Local, 17-6, and four additional players scored eight points each for the Beavers.