Minerva boys wrestling optimistic with 11 lettermen back on mat 

The Minerva boys’ wrestling team only lost three letter winners from a lineup that went 5-7 in match play last season, including 3-2 in the Eastern Buckeye Conference, good for third place.

One of those losses will sting a bit more than the others as the Lions bid farewell to Hunter Dietrich, who – wrestling at 165 pounds – placed fifth at last year’s OHSAA Div. II state tourney. For his accomplishments, Dietrich earned Eastern Buckeye Conference Player of the Year recognition while also being simultaneously named first team. Also departing Minerva are Breck Miller and Talan Miller.

Minerva returns a host of letter winners, however, 11 in all. They are led by senior Hatcher Sabatin, who placed eighth last year at state at 285. He is joined by junior Jason Sivy, who placed fifth at the district meet wrestling at 144, senior Lincoln Wallace, a district qualifier at 150, junior Ethan Weaver, another district qualifier at 157, and sophomore Kolton Almasy, a district qualifier at 113.

Other returning letter winners include seniors Tyler Phillips, Enoch Brodzenski, and Aiden Reagan, as well as sophomores Timmy Kirkpatrick and Alex Wright. Sabatin and Wallace were both named to EBC’s second team, while Brodzenski and Weaver were given honorable mention status.

In addition to returning a plethora of matmen, the Lions also have four freshmen joining the ranks: Shaen Weaver, Cole Sivy, Draden Yost, and Kaidyn Miller.

Entering his second year at Minerva – and his 14th year overall as a wrestling coach – Kenny Beaumariage likes his team’s depth and flexibility

“We lost a couple of good seniors that had been with the program for four years,” he said. “This year, we add four or five freshman that will make an immediate impact in our lineup. This season, we will have good experience in every weight class.”

It will be critical to slot all the wrestlers in the weight classes that are right for them while being most beneficial for Minerva’s success. Beaumariage refers to it as his wrestlers’ “willingness to do what it takes to win matches for the team. Being flexible to create the right matchups against our EBC teams.”

Fortunately, the Lions’ schedule affords them some breathing room to get everything in order.

“We will move our lineup around as needed,” said Beaumariage. “We only have one dual against West Branch in December. After Christmas we should have everyone to the right weight.”

As for the EBC, Beaumariage acknowledges that Carrollton, which went undefeated in conference action last year, will again be a tough out.

“Carrollton remains the team to beat in the league,” he said. “They are well coached and have a deep talented roster with multiple state-ranked kids. In order for us to compete in the league, we will rely on consistency across all weight classes.”