Indian Valley wrestlers place second at Panther Classic

Indian Valley’s wrestling team continues to show it is one of the area’s stronger groups. The Braves had another solid showing on the mat, placing second in the 20-team Buckeye Local Panther Classic at Rayland Jan. 31.

The Braves totaled 203 points and trailed only Martins Ferry, which scored 220 to win, while edging third-place Steubenville’s 200.5.

Junior Bronko Braun won the 120-pound championship for Indian Valley. Braun pinned four opponents, two in less than 30 seconds, before finishing off his title with a 6-2 decision over Rayce Watson of Jonathan Alder.

Senior Arian Braun was runner-up at 157 pounds. He recorded a pair of pins in four bouts before falling in the final to Ian Starkey of Indian Creek.

Sophomore Bradley Barr finished second at 175. Barr notched three technical falls and a pin in his first four matches and wound up dropping a 12-5 decision in the final bout against Gauge Woods of Hilliard Davidson.

Also finding their way to the podium for Indian Valley were sophomore Brodie Raymond (fourth place, 113 pounds), sophomore Boston Braun (fifth, 138), senior Cadyn Riggs (fifth, 190), senior Brogan O’Connor (sixth, 165) and sophomore Cruz Gardner (sixth, 285).

In other action involving Tuscarawas County schools and teams:

New Philadelphia Swimming: The Quaker squads ran into a bit of a buzzsaw in a meet against Lexington Jan. 30. The girls team fell 102-19 to the Minutemen, while the boys team dropped a 107-44 decision.

Lexington’s boys were runners-up in the Ohio Cardinal Conference meet, with the Lady Minutemen finishing third last month, so this meet was going to be about chasing personal-bests and perhaps try out relay lineups with the postseason just a little way away.

For the New Philadelphia boys, winners included Jacob Haren in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke and Teagan Zimmerman in the 200 backstroke.

Girls results were not available.

This meet concluded the Quakers’ regular season. The Quakers, along with swimmers and divers from Dover, will be headed to postseason action beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 14 with Division I sectional competition at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton. District qualifiers are determined by automatic berths and at-large qualifiers, the former based on sectional finish position, the latter based on sectional times. Those who advance will move to the Cleveland State District meet at noon on Saturday, Feb. 21. Unlike in most sports, Dover and New Philadelphia will compete as part of the Northeast District in swimming and diving, due to the limited number of teams from like-sized schools in the area.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced postseason ticket prices for winter sports will be $5 for students and $10 for adults through the regional level. Flex passes are available for $85 and provide 10 admissions to tournament contests from sectionals through regionals for the remainder of the school year. Flex passes are not valid for swimming events. More information is available at ohsaa.org.