Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
Mark Huber | News Journal
WILMINGTON — Clinton-Massie senior Elijah Groh and Wilmington freshman Josiah Puller are Clinton County’s lone state wrestling qualifiers.
The two ended district championship droughts for their teams by winning titles Saturday afternoon in the Division II Southwest District Wrestling Championship at a jam-packed and raucous Rodger O. Borror Middle School gym.
But their district championship matches couldn’t have been more different.
Puller won a gruelling, emotional battle with Joe Curry of Columbus Bishop Watterson 10-7. Curry is the defending state champion in Division II at 120 pounds.
Groh won his match in short order, something the bruising Falcon is used to this season. But instead of a quick pin, the match ended shortly after it started when Graham freshman Danny Hoke defaulted because of injury.
Clinton-Massie’s last district champion was Davey Tunon at 152 pounds in 2016.
Wilmington’s last district champion was Conner Barton at 285 pounds in 2018.
Gr0h (36-4) was projected to be the favorite in the 215-pound class but Hoke was slotted directly behind him. In the early seconds of the match, Groh went for a head and arm move. As Hoke went to the mat, he was inadvertantly struck by Groh’s foot in the thigh.
After several minutes on the mat, Hoke defaulted with the injury and finished second. He also dropped out of the state tournament with the fifth-place finisher in the weight class moving in to this spot.
“I would rather have had a match,” Groh said after the win.
Facing any Graham wrestler is a challenge but Groh said his coaches were confident going in to the match.
“They told me I had every capability to beat this kid,” said Groh.
Puller (43-5) was in one of the toughest weight classes in the district. He was projected fourth among the grouping by one publication.
In the championship match, Puller and Curry were cautious to start but Puller was the one who was hit with a stalling. In the second period, Puller picked up the first offensive points, a takedown to go up 2-1. WHS head coach Kelly Tolliver was confident at that point.
“Usually after he scores first, he finds a way to score again,” Tolliver said.
Puller was in control but never so far ahead he could relax. With seemingly everyone in the gym rooting for him, Puller pulled way for the victory.
“I think every kid from every school here was rooting for him (Puller),” Tolliver said.
Said Alintino Keefer, Puller’s dad and assistant wrestling coach for the Hurricane, “He’s been doing this for years (since he was 3 or 4), won two state championships (in youth wrestling) but this is what he’s been training for.”
SUMMARY
March 2, 2024
Division II Southwest District
Boys Wrestling Championship
@Rodger O. Borror Middle School
106: Alonzo Woody (Wilmington) was dec by Jenkins (Caledonia River Valley) 15-0; pinned Pardini (New Richmond) 4:27; was pinned by Buck (Ben Logan) 4:46
106: Cody Lisle (Clinton-Massie) was dec by Watson (Jon Alder) 6-3; pinned Stith (Batavia) 1:25; was dec by Jenkins (Caledonia River Valley) 21-5
113: Conner Musser (Clinton-Massie) pinned Young (Bellefontaine) 1:40; was dec by Anderson (Jon Alder) 9-8; dec Meatchem (Mt Healthy) 5-2; was dec by Day (Springfield Shawnee) 12-0
113: Tristan Skinner (Wilmington) was pinned by Root (Graham) 1:59; was pinned by Byler (Marengo Highland) 2:26
126: Josiah Puller (Wilmington) dec Kibler (Ben Logan) 20-4; pinned Teach (Jon Alder) 2:30; dec Clark (Marengo Highland) 12-6; dec Curry (Watterson) 10-7. Finished first
132: Mythias Stuckey (Wilmington) dec Runyon (Taylor) 21-4; was pinned by King (Col Hartley) 0:44; was pinned by Straquadine (Col Watterson) 3:13
138: Darius Stewart (Wilmington) was pinned by Lindsay (Col Watterson) 1:50; was dec by Snyder (McNicholas) 6-1
150: Caydn Denniston (Wilmington) was pinned by Settle (Urbana) 1:40; lost to Hambrick (Cin Woodward) by forfeit
157: Jackson Doyle (Clinton-Massie) was pinned by Fredericks (Wyoming) 3:39; pinned Haley (Col Watterson) 4:41; was dec by Huff (London) 9-4
165: Hunter Monds (Clinton-Massie) was pinned by Kroninger (Jon Alder) 1:23; was pinned by Smith (Roger Bacon) 2:33
175: Cash Mounce (Clinton-Massie) dec Ahlert (Indian Hill) 16-5; was pinned by Morgan (Springfield Shawnee) 1:49; was pinned by Parks (London) 1:31
190: Paul McKnight (Wilmington) pinned Bumgardner (Springfield Shawnee) 2:42; was dec by Rick (Caledonia River Valley) 8-1; was dec by Jordan (Ben Logan) 6-3
190: Brendan Musser (Clinton-Massie) was dec by Mannier (Graham) 15-0; was pinned by Schildmeyer (Roger Bacon) 4:24
215: Elijah Groh (Clinton-Massie) dec Tufts (Col Hartley) 11-8; pined Overturf (Dayton Carroll) 1:12; pined Payne (London) 0:31; won by default over Hoke (Graham). Finished first
285: Jelani Hunter was dec by Johnson (Urbana) 4-2; dec Young (London) 9-4; was dec by Goldberg (Caledonia River Valley) 7-6
