TROY – Troy Christian sent six wrestlers to the Division III District Wrestling Tournament this weekend at Hobart Arena in Troy. Four of those wrestlers advanced to next weekends state tournament in Columbus and a fifth wrestler will go as an alternate.
In all, the Eagles accumulated 106 team points, good for fifth in the team standings.
Leading the way for Troy Christian were junior 106 pounder Kyle Schroer (21-6) and junior 175 pounder Connor Havill (23-3) who both won district titles in their respective weight classes.
Schroer, who won his first two matches on Friday, defeated Kyan Hendricks of Greenview by the score of 6-4 in the semifinal. He then put together one of the most impressive championship match performances by recording a 13-3 major decision victory over Gage Murphy of Reading.
Havill was equally impressive at 175 pounds as he defeated Caleb Kaiser of Versailles by a 16-3 major decision in the semifinal round and then recorded a 17-1 technical fall victory over Mason Vonderwell of Delphos St. John’s in his championship match.
Joining Schroer and Havill at state are senior 138 pounder Troy Kennedy (32-5) and junior 132 pounder Jason Shaffer (11-2).
Kennedy advanced to the semifinal round with a pair of wins on Friday, but dropped his semifinal match to Arlie Benson of Greenon 11-4. Kennedy rebounded in the blood rounds with back-to-back wins to place third. First, he defeated Jacob Pinks of Allen East by technical fall 16-0 in the consolation semifinal and then pinned Miami East’s Layton Hughes in 2:17 of the consolation final.
At 132 pounds Jason Shaffer also advanced to the semifinal round with two wins on Friday and then dropped his semifinal match to Brayden Brown of Legacy Christian by the razor-thin margin of 7-5. Shaffer punched his ticket to state with a 5-2 decision victory over Payton Platfoot of Versailles in the consolation semifinal, but dropped his consolation final match to Trey Allen of Mechanicsburg 3-1.
Junior 190 pounder Lee Burkett came up short of ensuring his spot at state, but still has hope of wrestling at Columbus as a state alternate. Burkett, who fell into the consolation bracket on Friday, battled his way through the blood rounds with a 7-3 win over Dayton Christian’s Preston Sellers and a 9-2 victory over Caleb Robinson of Carlisle. In the consolation semifinal, where a state birth is secure for the winner, Burkett dropped a heartbreaking 3-2 decision to eventual third placer finisher Zane Hitchcock of Mechanicsburg. Burkett then earned alternate status with a victory over Miami East’s Drake Bennet by injury default.
At 150 pound senior David Stumpff saw his career come to an end with a narrow 10-9 defeat to Mason Starnes of Brookville. Stumpff ends his senior campaign with a 17-11 record.
1ST – 106 POUNDS
Semifinal: Kyle Schroer (Troy Christian) dec. Kyan Hendricks (Greeneview) – 6-4
Finals: Kyle Schroer (Troy Christian) maj. dec. Gage Murphy (Reading) – md13-3
1ST – 175 POUNDS
Semifinal: Connor Havill (Troy Christian) maj. dec. Caleb Kaiser (Versailles) – md16-3
Finals: Connor Havill (Troy Christian) tech. fall Mason Vonderwell (Del. St. John’s) – tf17-1
3RD – 138 POUNDS
Semifinal: Arlie Benson Jr. (Greenon) dec. Troy Kennedy (Troy Christian) – 11-4
Cons. Semi: Troy Kennedy (Troy Christian) tech. fall Jacob Pinks (Allen East) – tf16-0
Cons. Final: Troy Kennedy (Troy Christian) pin Layton Hughes (Miami East) – 2:17
4TH – 132 POUNDS
Semifinal: Brayden Brown (Legacy Christian) dec. Jason Shaffer (Troy Christian) – 7-5
Cons. Semi: Jason Shaffer (Troy Christian) dec. Payton Platfoot (Versailles) – 5-2
Cons. Final: Trey Allen (Mechanicsburg) dec. Jason Shaffer (Troy Christian) – 3-1
5TH – 190 POUNDS
2nd Cons.: Lee Burkett (Troy Christian) dec. Preston Sellers (Day. Christian) – 7-3
3rd Cons.: Lee Burkett (Troy Christian) dec. Caleb Robinson (Carlisle) – 9-2
Cons. Semi: Zane Hitchcock (Mechanicsburg) dec. Lee Burkett (Troy Christian) – 3-2
5th Place: Lee Burkett (Troy Christian) def. Drake Bennett (Miami East) – Injury Default
150 POUNDS
2nd Cons.: Mason Starnes (Brookville) dec. David Stumpff (Troy Christian) – 10-9
