BETHEL-TATE – The Blanchester Middle School wrestling team had four champions and finished first overall in the team standings Saturday at the Bethel-Tate Invitational.

Wilmington’s Rodger O. Borror Middle School finished as the tournament runnerup.

Blanchester champions were Zane Panetta, Joey Haines, Adam Frump and Levi St. John.

Other placers for the young Wildcats were Nick Musselman second, Carson Curless second, Tyler Bussell second, Hunter Smith third, Cody Kidd third and Aiden Begley fourth.

”I was very pleased with our performance,” Blanchester coach Ryan Shafer said. “A lot of our kids stepped up and placed higher than what their seed showed. Hard work is paying off and hope to ride this win right into next week for the league tournament.”

The Blanchester Middle School wrestling team, from left to right, front row, Carson Curless, Bryan Brewer, and Adam Frump; second row, Bryan Bandow, Hunter Smith (on Bandow’s shoulders), Nick Musselman, Cody Kidd, Joey Haines, Aidan Begley, coach Ryan Shafer, Levi St. John, Zane Panetta, Wyatt Oberle (on Panetta’s back), Tyler Bussell, Jacob Lanham, Brett Bandow (on Lanham’s shoulders).

http://www.wnewsj.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/22/2018/01/web1_WR_blanjrhiBT.jpgThe Blanchester Middle School wrestling team, from left to right, front row, Carson Curless, Bryan Brewer, and Adam Frump; second row, Bryan Bandow, Hunter Smith (on Bandow’s shoulders), Nick Musselman, Cody Kidd, Joey Haines, Aidan Begley, coach Ryan Shafer, Levi St. John, Zane Panetta, Wyatt Oberle (on Panetta’s back), Tyler Bussell, Jacob Lanham, Brett Bandow (on Lanham’s shoulders).