Knights wrestling beats NP, falls to Dalton on Senior Night

The West Holmes varsity wrestling team closed out the dual meet portion of its schedule with a 1-1 split by downing New Philadelphia 38-34 and losing 34-33 to Dalton on Senior Night at West Holmes High School on Feb. 7.

The Knights, 8-5 in duals this season, did see their two seniors, Grady Toye (126 pounds) and Grant Miller (215), close out their final home appearances with two wins each — both by fall. For Miller, his first win of the night also was his 100th career victory and 75th career win by fall.

“I want to start by thanking Grady Toye and Grant Miller,” Knights coach Scott Vaughn said. “We got to celebrate them as seniors wrestling their last time in The Dungeon. They are excellent kids, hard-working members of the team that have had a big part in the success here with West Holmes wrestling. I am very appreciative of them, and it’s been a pleasure coaching them. On top of all that, Grant earned his 100th career win. That was very exciting for him.”

The Knights jumped out to a 17-4 lead over New Philadelphia, thanks to a Peyton Martin (sophomore, 113) 17-0 tech fall win and fall wins from Toye and AAJ Roberts (junior, 132). The Quakers got right back into the meet by receiving two forfeit wins at 138 and 144, plus decision wins at 157 and 165 to take a 22-20 lead. WH’s only win during that stretch was a tough 4-0 decision win for Hunter McCluggage (junior, 150) over Ezekiel Williams in a battle between state-ranked wrestlers.

The Knights then got three straight fall wins from Cole Porter (junior, 175), Dylan Sours (sophomore, 190) and Miller. That sewed up the win.

The dual against Dalton started well for the Knights, who jumped out to an 18-0 lead after a Gabe Umstead (sophomore, 120) forfeit win and fall wins from Toye and Roberts. After a double forfeit at 138, Dalton got on the board, receiving a forfeit win at 144, followed by a 10-3 decision victory for McCluggage, giving West Holmes a 21-6 lead.

The Bulldogs came back in a big way with a fall win at 157, a tech fall win at 165, a decision win at 175 and a major decision win at 190 to take a 24-21 lead. Miller stopped Dalton’s win streak with a fall win to put WHHS back in front at 27-24, but that was the last time the Knights had the lead in the dual. Dalton won heavyweight by fall to retake the lead at 30-27 before winning the crucial 106 bout by a major decision to sew up the team win. Martin’s forfeit win at 113 ended the dual.

Three junior varsity matches were held between the Knights and Quakers, with West Holmes’ Ian Daugherty and Royce Milam both winning via fall.

JV quartet fares
well at tourney

Four West Holmes wrestlers competed at the Cougars Junior Varsity Invitational Tournament at Crestview High School on Feb. 10. Sophomores Milam (165) and Grady Hawkins (heavyweight) came away with championships while freshmen Daugherty (120) and Jordan Gerber (157) brought home runner-up finishes.

Milam (5-0) posted three fall wins and a 4-2 decision win during the pool rounds, moving him into the championship match, which he won 7-6.

Recording a 3-0 day with a lone fall win, Hawkins scored his only pool round match with a dominant 12-1 major decision win. That moved Hawkins straight into the championship semifinals, where he posted a 10-0 major decision win to move to the title match, which he won via fall at 3:31.

Daugherty and Gerber both wrestled in pool matches only, coming away with 4-1 records with four falls.