ORRVILLE – 13 equaled seven on Saturday for the Lexington High School wrestling team.
That’s because all 13 wrestlers placed as the Minutemen rolled to their seventh consecutive Ohio Cardinal Conference championship at Orrville High School. Eleven of the Minutemen wrestled for championships.
“Our effort today shows the overall commitment by all the boys to get better and push for the betterment of the team,” Lexington coach Brent Rastetter said.
Lexington scored 247.5 points to easily claim the team title. Ashland was second with 189.5 and West Holmes was third with 131.5. Rounding out the conference field were Madison (125.5), Mansfield Senior (82), Clear Fork (78), Orrville (50) and Wooster (21).
Seven Lexington wrestlers earned individual titles, including unbeaten junior Bailey Faust (44-0), who moved up to the 220-pound class from his normal 195. Bailey, who pinned all three opponents in just over combined seven minutes of wrestling, was named the OCC Wrestler of the Year.
Two of his seniors had Rastetter smiling afterward.
“The best part about today was seniors Jonah Schropp and Jordan Dalton winning tournament titles because it was their first-ever varsity tournament wins,” he said.
“Each year, (winning the OCC) gets tougher because everyone wants to knock you from the top rung. So our boys keep pushing. I am extremely proud,” Rastetter said.
In addition to Bailey, wrestlers winning individual titles for Lexington were Schropp (113 pounds, 30-12 record), Brandon Leynaud (132, 38-6), Chuck Mikelait (145, 35-8), A.J. Parr (152, 24-10), Dalton (160, 29-13) and Drew Kasper (195, 41-4).
Other individual winners from Richland County schools were Madison freshman LeConte Merrell (126, 23-8), Clear Fork junior Drew Kinzel (138, 27-8), Mansfield Senior junior Jesse Palser (170, 33-0) and Mansfield Senior senior Traevon Dickerson (182, 33-3).
Team scores: 1. Lexington 247.5; 2. Ashland 189.5; 3. West Holmes 131.5; 4. Madison 125.5; 5. Mansfield Senior 82; 5. Clear Fork 78; 6. Orrville 50; 7. Wooster 21.
106 pounds
1st/2nd – Dalton Eagle (Ash) def. Mike Baumberger, 8-0
3rd/4th – Cody Woods (WH) dec. Avory Winnans (Woo), 15-4
113 pounds
1st/2nd – Jonah Schropp (Lex) dec. Matt Taylor (Ash), 8-3 (OT)
3rd/4th – Dann Wallo (Orr) pin Carson Speelman (Mad), 0:29
120 pounds
1st/2nd – Cole Woods (WH) dec. Jesse Todd (CF), 10-3
3rd/4th – Trea Coopwood (Mad) dec. Max Baker (Lex), 4-0
126 pounds
1st/2nd – LeConte Merrell (Mad) dec. Dakota Steagall (MS), 6-0
3rd/4th – Josiah Allison (WH) dec. Jacob Dalton (Lex), 4-2 (OT)
132 pounds
1st/2nd – Brandon Leynaud (Lex) pin Zane Speelman (Mad), 3:33
3rd/4th – Jed Hendershott (WH) pin Rickey Maffett (ASH), 3:15
138 pounds
1st/2nd – Drew Kinzel (CF) dec. Jon Watkins (Lex), 6-1
3rd/4th – Sid Ohl (Ash) dec. Chase Campbell, 13-2
145 pounds
1st/2nd – Chuck Mikelait (Lex) dec. Tyler Wilson (Ash), 18-11
3rd/4th – Amir Evans (Mad) dec. Chris Thompson (CF), 8-4
152 pounds
1st/2nd – A.J. Parr (Lex) pin Caleb Cox (WH), 1:15
3rd/4th – Kyler Briggs (ASH) dec. Tyson Dancy (MS), 10-3
160 pounds
1st/2nd – Jordan Dalton (Lex) pin Joey Beaver (Ash), 2:46
3rd/4th – Austin Kinzel (CF) dec. Harlen Markley (Mad), 5-2
170 pounds
1st/2nd – Jesse Palser (MS) dec. Gabe Benjamin (Lex), 12-3
3rd/4th – Trent Newlan (Ash) pin Logan Matson (CF), 4:59
182 pounds
1st/2nd – Traevon Dickerson (MS) dec. Kendall Kuhn (Lex), 3-0
3rd/4th – Johnny Jackson (Ash) pin Zach Mullet, 0:50
195 pounds
1st/2nd – Drew Kasper (Lex) dec. Grayson Miller (WH), 14-5
3rd/4th – Tristin Weirich (Ash) dec. Caleb Carsey, 6-1
220 pounds
1st/2nd – Bailey Faust (Lex) pin Kyle Conkle (Ash), 2:17
3rd/4th – Connor Davis (Orr) dec. Brandon Myers (MS), 13-10
285 pounds
1st/2nd – Zac Benner (Ash) pin Nate Temple (Lex), 0:53
3rd/4th – Mike Holzworth (Mad) dec. Jacob Zimmerman (Orr), 1-0