It was a successful weekend for the Wadsworth wrestling team. The Grizzlies finished fifth in the Div. I state wrestling championships conducted at Ohio State.
The team title was won by St. Edward with 111.5 points. Elyria was second with 97 points, Massillon Perry was third with 85.5, and Brecksville-Broadview Heights was fourth with 74 points. Wadsworth rounded out the top five with 68 points.
It was the highest finish at the state tournament for Wadsworth since 2011-12 when the Grizzlies finished seventh. Last year, Wadsworth finished 11th in the Division One State Tournament.
The five Wadsworth wrestlers that qualified for the State tournament did very well. In fact, all five come back home being a “State Placer”.
Junior Noah Baughman (113) finished third, senior Connor Gray (120) finished sixth, freshman Joey Baughman (145) racked up a fifth place finish, senior Shane Mast (160) registered a fourth place finish and senior Tim Knipl (170) finished second.
Knipl’s chance at a state championship ended at 1:23 of the final match when he was pinned by Andrew McNally of Uniontown Lake. Still, Knipl improved on his finish from last year when he was fifth at 170.
Those five finishes bring to 76 the number of state placers coached by John Gramuglia during his time with Wadsworth.
