WNJ Sports
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YOUNGSTOWN — Wilmington’s Josiah Puller and Blanchester’s Laylia Sears both finished third Sunday in Ohio Athletic Commission Junior High State Wrestling Championship tournaments here at the Covelli Centre.
Puller was third in the co-ed junior high state tournament while Sears was third in the girls junior high state tournament.
Puller, an eighth grade at the Rodger O. Borror Middle School, had victories by scores of 7-3 and 8-4 to move to the quarterfinal round against Isaak Skelly. Puller was pinned in 3:12.
In the consolation bracket, Puller ran the table with four straight wins. His first was a pin in 25 seconds. He then won 6-2 and 3-2 to get to the consolation final where he blanked Maximus Childers 9-0 to finish third.
Sears, who finished 0-2 in the co-ed state at 84 pounds, then competed in the 86 pound division in the girls state tournament.
After an 8-2 win in the opening round, she was pinned in 3:55 and dropped to the consolation bracket. Sears then won by pin in 2:45 in the semifinal round then posted a 10-0 win in the consolation final for third place.
Kane Scott, an eighth grader from Blanchester, competed in the 249 pound division. After a loss, Scott won 5-3 and 8-5 in consolation matches. He then was put out of the tournament by forfeiting his final match, according to the OAC website.
Cory Kidd, a seventh grader from Blanchester, won his first match at 164 pounds by pin in 3:16 then lost two in a row by scores of 9-2 and 3-1.
Clinton-Massie and East Clinton had wrestlers qualify for the OHWAY state tournament this week in Marion. The EC wrestlesr are Landon Kaun and Austin Singer. The Massie wrestlers are Sie Paytes and Easton Wilson.
