DISTRICT WRESTLING
Graham unbeaten on first day
Falcons could send 14 wrestlers to state
Sunday, February 24, 2008
WAYNESFIELD —
Graham showed its competitors at the Division II district tournament why it is the
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No. 1 ranked team in the nation with an unbeaten day in the first two rounds of the tourney at Goshen High School on Saturday, Feb. 23.
All 14 of the Falcons advanced to today's semifinals with a pair of wins — seniors Ben Jordan (145), Cody Boyd (152) and Zac Thomussiet (171); juniors David Taylor (112), Zach Neibert (119), Brian Stephens (130), James Mannier (160) and Adam Walls (285); sophomores Tucker Armstrong (125), Max Thomusseit (171) and Logan White (215); and freshmen Nick Brascetta (103), Mark Meyer (135), Matt Stephens (140).
"I'm real happy," said Graham coach Jeff Jordan. "I certainly don't want to jinx it, but we've never taken more than 12 to the state tournament before. We've got five tough matches in the semis, though: Nick at 103, Tucker at 125, Mark at 135, Matt at 140, Logan at 215. They've all got tough matches."
This is the first time Graham has had all 14 wrestlers in the semifinals, another first in an historic Falcons season.
"That's always the goal," said Jordan of getting every wrestler to state. "I just met with the guys and told them that we've got a chance to do something special tomorrow."
Last season after the first day, Graham had 121 team points, "and this year, we've got 141½ for the first day," said Jordan proudly. "That's an honor because last year's team was such a good team."
The Kenton Ridge threesome of Cody Harting (103), Joe Quisenberry (112), and Dustin Foster (171) all won in the first round and lost in the quarters. So did Greenon's Nick Anthony (189), Shawnee's Wesley Miller (189) and Urbana's Duke Sherman (152).
Losing in the first round, but winning their first consolation match to stay alive were KR's Justin Armstrong (119), Sean Scaglia (140) and Jake Martycz (145), Greenon's Garrett Lay (125) and
Travis Richardson (215), Urbana's Bryce Baker (112) and Shawnee's Evan Storts (119).
The semifinals are at
10 a.m. today, Feb. 24.
Division I at Fairfield
FAIRFIELD — South senior heavyweight Thomas Stickney won his first match by pin and won his second match when his opponent slammed him to the mat illegally and was disqualified.
No results were available for Tecumseh.
Division I at Darby
HILLIARD — It was another bad day for North at the Division I meet. After going 0-4 in Friday's first round, the Panthers' foursome of district qualifiers went 5-4 on the final day, but none advanced to the state tournament.
The only North double-winner of the day was senior 145-pounder Daniel Klontz, who won his first consolation match 4-0 and his second by a 20-5 technical fall, but lost his third match 10-5.
Brandon Shaffer (160, pin and a 7-2 loss), Alan Knowles (171, 5-4 win and 3-2 loss) and Steve Knowles (215, pin and 2-0 loss) all won their first match of the day, but lost their second.



