Grove City Messenger - March 21st, 2021

PAGE 4 - GROVE CITY MESSENGER - March 21, 2021
Greyhounds take it to the mat
In Achievement
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Messenger photos by Pat Donahue
Extending the wrestling season is always the goal. Grove City did just that by doing
well enough in the sectionals to qualify nine wrestlers out of 14 weight classes into the
Division I District Championships, held March 6-7 at Hilliard Darby High School. At the
end of the weekend, two Greyhounds would move on to the next step by qualifying for
their first trip to the State Wrestling Championships, which for Division I wrestlers will
again be at Hilliard Darby. Here sophomore Braxton Sheets took on the best in the district’s
120-pound class and started off with an 11-7 win. He fell a point short in his second
match, going into the consolation bracket. Sheets battled back, shown here on his
way to pin junior, Josh Niemann of Watkins Memorial. Sheets went on to claim wins of
17-2 and 7-4 before placing fourth. Sheet’s four wins over the weekend took his season
record to 27-4.
Messenger photos by Pat Donahue
Comets compete in championships
Central Crossing High School qualified six wrestlers for the Division 1 District
Wrestling Championships held March 6-7 at Hilliard Darby High School. Here, the
182-pound sophomore Ryder Gwartney had his hands full with Marysville sophomore
Brady Seger. Gwartney got the take down but Seger took the win. The Comet
wrestler closed his season with a 21-10 record. Gwartney was joined at the tournament
by teammates, Max Webb, Jamie Ramirez, Oliver Savage, Caleb Eads, and
Abel Garantche.
The 182-pound junior Brayden Benson won by a pin over Central Crossing rival Ryder
Gwartney to start the tournament but fell in his second match. Benson is shown here
on his way to pin Westerville North sophomore Corey Howlett in his third match to get
back on track. Wins came in Benson’s next two matches with his battle for third ending
in a 3-2 loss that would earn him the fourth place and a secure spot in the state championship.
Benson will go on to face the best in the state with a record of 24-2.
Shown here looking on are Comet coaches Cody Wimer (left) and Jamie Ramirez
as sophomore Jamie Ramirez battles on the mat with Broc Fitzpatrick of Olentangy
Liberty who would take the win. The younger Ramirez has been wrestling since he
was 5 years old and would finish the season at the district tournament with a
record of 31-10.