COLUMBUS — Jaxin Stancombe’s 100th career victory couldn’t have come at a better time.
Madison’s junior heavyweight, Stancombe pinned Canton South’s DeAngelo Spear in the second period of their opening-round match at the Division II state tournament Friday afternoon inside Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
The milestone victory sends Stancombe (43-4) into Saturday’s quarterfinals against Greenville’s Andrew Winner.
“It feels really good to get that first one out of the way. It’s also nice that my 100th career win was a pin,” said Stancombe, a first-time state qualifier. “It’s a great way to start off the weekend.”
Stancombe’s teammate, sophomore Aiden Proctor, was every bit as impressive in his opener. The 165-pound sophomore powered his way to a 20-4 tech fall over Steubenville’s Ethan Llewellyn.
“I expected to win, but I wasn’t expecting a tech fall,” Proctor said. “It’s nice to have (Friday) night off.”
Wrestlers who won their opening-round matches only had to wrestle once Friday.
“That was an awesome,” Madison coach Bryan Mosier said. “The last time we had two wins on opening day was probably the COVID year (2020). It feels great.”
Six of the 12 area wrestlers in action in the Division II tournament won their openers Friday. Projected state champs Aiden Ohl of Ontario (113) and Gradey Harding on Galion (126) dominated their opening rounds. Ohl pinned Bloom-Carroll’s Ethan Moore in the second period, while Harding cruised to a 10-1 victory over Kenston’s Brady Baran.
“I feel pretty solid,” Harding said. “I’m always looking to score a few more points, but in these matches points are hard to come by.”
Clear Fork’s Colton Wenger (113) and Anthony Oscar (138) both opened with wins. Wenger earned a 5-2 decision over Highland’s Konner Blaney, while Oscar cruised to a 19-4 tech fall over DreVonn Searcy of Claymont.
“Being a freshman and having high expectations, I can’t let the pressure bother me,” Oscar said. “Not allowing the pressure to get to me is probably the biggest factor in this tournament.”
Galion’s Carter Trukovich (132) and Ryder Alberty (138), Ontario’s Gavin Miller (138) and Landon Sowards (190) and Clear Fork’s Blake Schlosser (175) all advanced with consolation bracket victories after dropping their opening round matches.