Youth wrestlers send 14 to districts under new Harrison Central coaches

Two coaches with deep ties to the sport are helping build the Harrison Central wrestling program at the youth level.

Derek Sefsick and Cody Kaiser co-coach the Ohio Youth Wrestling team.

“This is our second year in the Ohio Youth Wrestling Association. In the league you wrestle five dual weeks, then they have a varsity tournament and all-star tournament,” Sefsick said. “The varsity tournament is the starters in the 22 weight classes, then there are the sectionals, districts and state just like the high school. Last year we went to districts, and we had two state qualifiers and two fifth placers. This year we just took 14 to sectionals and got all 14 going to districts. This weekend is districts and they have to place in the top five to advance to state.”

Sefsick said he has been coaching for about five years. The season started with 50 wrestlers. The 22 starters compete at the varsity level, and younger wrestlers make up the all-star group.

The team includes wrestlers from kindergarten through sixth grade. Sefsick said a recent tournament hosted locally drew about 400 participants. There are 10 teams in the Dover district.

“All 14 will advance out to districts, that is a good direction for our program,” Sefsick said. “We had 17 kids wrestling at one point on varsity.”

The youth season begins Nov. 1 and concludes Feb. 15.

Kaiser wrestled for Harrison Central from 2006 to 2010 and later assisted with wrestling and football coaching from 2011 to 2013.

Sefsick wrestled for Harrison Central from 2000 to 2003 under Coach Jim Rocchi and later coached with Todd Dunlap and Bill Bryant.

Both coaches have sons on the team and said their children were introduced to wrestling around age 2.

The coaches also credited mentor John Stephenson, saying he frequently stops in to offer advice.

The top five finishers in each weight class advance to the district competition at Canton GlenOak. The Harrison Central wrestlers advancing to districts are:

49 pounds, Carter Bethel, third; 52, Heath Sefsick, first; 56, Colton Kaiser, second; 60, Finn Sefsick, third; 64, Logan Lowry, second; 67, Brydon McAfee, third; 70, Malaki Kreptowski, fifth; 86, Uziah McAfee, fifth; 90, Riot Moreland, third; 100, Keegan Mallernee, second; 105, Leland Moorehead, third; 120, Brasen Bryant, fourth; 150, Jesse Boyer, first; 205, Vontae Robinson, first.