Handell Champion; Blevins and Hunt Runner-Up at Triad Invite

Junior, Matthew Handell, claimed the 215 lb title at the Triad Invitational this past weekend.  Isaac Blevins and Anthony Hunt placed second as the team placed eigth out of sixteen teams with eighty-seven team points.

Handell entered the tournament as the three seed, but defeated both the top two seeds to earn first place.  After a bye in the first round, Handell quickly pinned Maverick Reames of West Liberty to advance to the semi-finals.  There, Handell outscored the second seed, Braiden Langston of Northwestern, by a score of 8-3.  In the finals, Handell faced top seed Ayden Cordle from West Jefferson.

The bout started with intense hand fighting by both wrestlers looking for an advantage and takedown opportunity.  With about a minute left, Handell was able to score the first takedown and two additional near fall points off a sprawl and counter attack on Cordle.  Cordle, however, was able to get a two point reversal before the first period ended taking the match to 4-2 into the second where he chose to start on the bottom position. This time, though, Handell was able to keep Cordle down the entire second period. 

Handell chose to start the third period in the nuetral position still leading by two points.  With a double overs tie-up; Handell managed to throw Cordle to his back again on the edge of the mat to score another takedown and three more near fall points before being called out of bounds and resetting.  Cordle managed to score another reversal, but Handell escaped the control and held on to win the match 10-4 to earn the top of podium for the weight class.

Isaac Blevins and Anthony Hunt were able to reach the podium as runner-ups at 165 and 157 lbs.  Blevins pinned three opponents in route to the finals, but lost a high scoring 16-12 match to Wyatt Denney of Cardington-Lincoln.  Hunt had a bye in the first round; pinned his next two opponents; but then suffered his first loss of the season to Kolton Gustin of Miami East in the finals by a score of 4-3.  

Junior, Karson Davis, lost his first match ot top seeded Jacob Griffith of West Liberty; but was able to pin his next two opponents before dropping his consolation semi-finals match against Tyler Legge of Northwestern. Davis rebounded in the fifth place match by defeating Archer Johnston of Elgin 9-5.

The Wildcat grapplers take on the Bulldogs Thursday evening, Jan. 18th, at Defiance.

Individual Results:

120 – Vansky (0-2)

126 – Brien (0-2)

132 – Davis (2-3); 5th Place

157 – Hunt (2-1); 2nd Place

165 – Blevins (3-1); 2nd Place

175 – Elliott (2-2)

175 – Poland (0-2)

215 – Handell (3-0); 1st Place

Brackets: https://www.baumspage.com/wr/triad/2023/2024%20Brackets.htm

Results: https://www.baumspage.com/wr/triad/2023/2024%20Results.htm