West Holmes wrestlers gain valuable experience at Brecksville, shine across levels

The West Holmes varsity wrestling team survived the Brecksville Holiday Invitational Tournament, placing 24th out of 44 teams in the grueling tournament held Dec. 29-30 at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School.

“Brecksville continues to be one of the toughest tournaments, not only in the state, but in the country,” Knights wrestling coach Scott Vaughn said. “As a coaching staff, we decided to bring the whole team and add two extras that the tournament allows. We felt it would be beneficial for the team to experience the tournament. We knew it would be tough but good for them to see this level of wrestling.”

Louden Dixon (senior, 157 pounds) was the lone West Holmes wrestler to make the podium, finishing the tournament in sixth place. Dixon also reached a personal milestone, scoring his 150th career win in his opening-round match with a fall win at 2:00.

After his 150th career win, Dixon posted another fall win (3:20) and an extremely tight 1-0 decision victory over two-time state champion Dallas Korponic (senior, Hartland, Michigan) to reach the semifinals.

Dixon (3-3, two falls) faced top seed Blake Cosby (senior, Dundee, Michigan), a two-time Brecksville champion and ranked seventh in the country. In a match that could have gone either way, Dixon dropped a hard-fought 4-1 decision loss to Cosby, the eventual three-time Brecksville champion.

Set to face familiar foe Jake Hughes (sophomore, Beaver Local) in the consolation semifinals, the WH coaching staff, along with Dixon, opted to forfeit the match to Hughes as well as the fifth-place match.

“Louden got a little dinged up,” Vaughn said of the decision to forfeit the final two matches after the loss to Cosby.

Junior varsity

West Holmes sent nine to the Iron Boy Match Ups Jan. 5 at Marlington High School and came away with a 14-11 record in dual matches.

Wade Miller (sophomore, 150) finished with a 2-0 mark with one fall, and Logan Leyda (freshman, 157) was 2-0 with one fall and a tech fall. Finnigan McClintock (freshman, 165) ended 3-1 with two falls, and Kaden Markley (sophomore, 190) also was 3-1 but with three falls, and Lane Burgett (freshman, 190) finished with a 2-1 record with two falls.

Finishing 1-1 with one fall was Grady Hawkins (senior, 215), with Ashton Cornwell (sophomore, 106) ending 1-2 with one fall.

Middle school

West Holmes started the new year with a stellar performance, capturing the team championship at the Doan Ford Junior High Invitational Tournament Jan. 3 at Barnesville High School.

Highlighting the team title were individual champions Jackson Vaughn (seventh grade, 98 pounds) and Grantham Lovell (eighth, 205). West Holmes also saw nine wrestlers place in the top six: Rowand Mathie (eighth, 104, runner-up), Clint Burgett (eighth, 128, third), Mason Dye (seventh, 92, fourth), Bronson Snyder (eighth, heavyweight, fourth), Gavin Hoover (eighth, 134, fifth), Jake Lennington (eighth, 142, fifth), Jett Justice (eighth, 172, fifth), Kolston Wagers (seventh, 205, fifth) and Hudson Ross (seventh, 150, sixth).

The 11 total placers powered West Holmes past Point Pleasant, West Virginia 227-213.5 for the team title.

“There are some days that are tough days as a coach, and there are some days that remind me why I love this sport so much,” West Holmes coach Justin Wilcox said. “Man, did today remind me of why I love what I do. We had a great day today. I told the team this tournament was going to be another tough tournament.”

Vaughn (5-0, three falls) capped off his championship by pinning Camden Abella (eighth grade, Maysville) in 54 seconds in the gold medal match. Lovell (5-0), who entered the tournament as an extra at 205, earned his championship in dramatic fashion, pinning Gabe Kovalick (eighth grade, Barnesville) in sudden victory (5:26) for his fifth fall win.

“Jackson and Grantham obviously both had a phenomenal day,” Wilcox said. “Anyone that was at the tournament knows that it wasn’t exactly smooth sailing for Jackson. He kept his head on a swivel the whole time, wrestled fundamentally sound and brought home the gold. Awesome job to him today. I am proud of him for not getting worked up and for doing his thing regardless of the distractions.

“Grantham had a hiccup earlier in the year, learned his lesson, and has come back better, more focused and more coachable than ever. He was a completely different wrestler than he was at the beginning of the year already. Great job to him today.”

Mathie finished 5-1 with five falls, Burgett 3-1 with one, Dye 3-2 with one, Snyder 3-2 with three, Hoover 4-1 with three, Lennington 4-1 with three, Justice 5-1 with five, Wagers 4-1 with four and Ross 3-2 with three.

West Holmes posted a fifth-place finish at the 36-team Bobcats Junior High Invitational Tournament Dec. 29 at Cambridge High School, placing five wrestlers on the podium.

Wagers led the way for the Knights, finishing 3-1 with three falls and bringing home runner-up honors. Vaughn (4-2, three) and Snyder (3-2, two) both placed fourth. Earning sixth-place finishes were Carter Kick (eighth grade, 116, 3-3, two) and Burgett (3-3, one).

Wilcox named Justice as the Knights Middle School Wrestler of the Week and handed out an honorable mention to Greyson Hart.

Attack Team

The Holmes Area Wrestling Club Elementary Attack Team saw its dual meet win streak end Jan. 4 after suffering a 72-45 loss to Norwayne in the second of three Ohio Youth Wrestling Association Mid-Ohio Division duals at Norwayne High School. The loss stopped the Attack Team’s dual meet win streak at 50 straight wins, dating back to Jan. 9, 2022. The Attack Team downed New London 99-18 and Ashland 81-33 in its other duals, now sporting an 8-1 mark this season in dual meets.

“As the adage goes, all good things must come to an end,” Attack Team coach Jarret Mathie said. “The dual meet streak stops at 50, I believe. Doing a little reflection over the past three seasons, what our wrestlers have accomplished is nothing short of amazing. As always, in my opinion, it is a true testament to the hard work our wrestlers have put in — not only the amount, but the consistency at which they have in this time. Although we have experienced a bump in the road, I am confident we won't let this determine our future.”

Mathie named Brody Shriver the Attack Team Varsity Wrestler of the Week.

Picking up the Attack Team All-Star Wrestler of the Week was Weston Trail.