TROY – The Miami East Vikings qualified nine wrestlers to the district meet and all nine remain in contention after the first day of action at Troy’s Hobart Arena.
Cooper Shore (24-0), who finished state runner-up a year ago at 113 pounds, rolled through his first two matches with consecutive pins. First he pinned Joey Morris of Williamsburg in 1:28 and followed with a 1:26 pin of Carlisle’s Kyler Walsh. Shore will wrestle Khadyn Jacobs of Brookville in the semifinals tomorrow.
Cooper’s older brother Max Shore (23-0), who won a state championship last season at 120 pounds, was equally dominant as he recorded a 16-4 major decision win over Ashton Biser of Reading and followed with a 1:09 pin of Ada’s Clayton McClain in the quarterfinals. Next up for Max is s semifinal match against Jesse Stroud of Mechanicsburg.
At 132 pounds freshman Aaron Mills (18-16) dropped his opening match to Jason Shaffer of Troy Christian, but rebounded in the consolation bracket with a 12-6 win over T.J. Dick of Reading. Mills wrestles Payton Platfoot of Versailles in his next consolation match.
Sophomore Layton Hughes (25-9) won his opening match at districts 17-16 over Jacob Pinks of Allen East, but dropped his quarterfinal match to Troy Kennedy of Troy Christian. Hughes takes on Thomas Schmiedebusch of Indian Lake in the consolation rounds tomorrow morning.
At 144 pounds Viking senior Chance Rust (24-13) opened with a 6-5 decision win over Parkway’s Parker Mihm, but topped his next match to returning state placer Pierce Taylor of McNicholas. Rust will open the second day of the district tournament against Anthony Bodine of Delphos Jefferson.
Daniel Martin (27-14), a sophomore, advanced to the semifinal round at 150 pounds with consecutive wins. He opened with a 13-3 major decision win over Owen Fagen of Greenon and followed with a 13-8 victory over Mason Starnes of Brookville, who was the champion out of the Covington Sectional. Martin faces Kade Wireman of Allen East in the semifinals.
Returning state placer David Davis (38-1) also advanced to the semifinal with two consecutive wins at 157 pounds. He opened with a 1:34 pin of Triad’s Reid Toddhunter and followed with a 10-1 major decision win over Lucas Valley of Green. Davis wrestles Dickie Engel of Reading in tomorrow’s semifinal.
Sophomore Hunter Randall (27-12) dropped his opening match at 165 pounds, but rebounded with a :51 pin of Brookville’s Talon Williamson. Randell will face Matthew Beikman of Ben Logan in the morning session tomorrow.
Drake Bennett (16-8) had a huge first day at districts as the sophomore opened the tournament with a 3:08 pin of Reading’s Jaycob Sales and he followed with a 7-5 in over highly ranked Caleb Stammen of Coldwater. Next up for Bennett is a semifinal match against Ashton Simison of Greenon.
