By Cort Reynolds
MARION–The Ada High School boys wrestling team had a solid showing in the annual 24-team Sally George Invitational at Marion Pleasant Friday and Saturday, January 27-28.
Bulldog junior Clayton McClain advanced to the finals of the 144 lbs. bracket Saturday and finished second in his division.
Ada stood 17th after day one with 31 points,
and finished 17th Saturday with 45 total points.
Ontario overcame a 6.5 deficit after day one to beat Liberty Center for the team crown, 199-176. Host Marion Pleasant finished third with 140.5 points.
Seeded second at 144, McClain got a first round bye and then won via pin in just 47 seconds. In the quarterfinals, he pinned his opponent at 5:13 to advance to the semifinals Saturday.
In the semis, he edged Logan Elm sophomore Wesley Entler 3-2 in a decision to make it to the finals and face top seed junior Daxton Chase of host Pleasant.
State-ranked Chase won the title bout by pin at 1:37.
Sophomore Landon Simon was seeded seventh at 175 lbs. He received a bye, then won his first match by pin in 75 seconds. He then lost in the quarterfinals by pin.
On Saturday in the consolation bracket, he defeated sophomore Kahleb Vance of Madison Comprehensive, pinning him in 1:21.
Junior Dylan Floyd of Ontario then pinned Simon to eliminate him in the consolation bracket quarters.
Seeded seventh at 106 lbs., Bulldog freshman Silas Riblet got a first round bye then lost in the round of 16 tournament in the 106 lbs. bracket.
In the consolation bracket Saturday, he was pinned by eventual third-place finisher Nolan Fraley of Mechanicsburg.
At 113 lbs., Ada freshman Cooper Dappert also got a bye and lost in the round of 16. In the consolation bracket he got a bye and a forfeit on Friday.
After advancing by forfeit in the consolation bracket, he lost to Circleville sophomore Carson Van Gundy by pin.
Seeded sixth at 126 lbs., sophomore Liam Vieira received a bye then won by pin in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, he lost a technical fall 17-0.
In the consolation bracket Saturday, he lost to junior Carson Barnes of Ontario by a 13-10 decision.
Sophomore Logan Jolliff had a first round bye at 132 lbs., then won a 21-13 decision. In the quarters he lost by TF, 18-3.
In the consolation bracket Saturday, he was pinned by Liberty Center junior Eli Bostelman.
Junior Owen Arnett got a bye at 157 lbs., then lost his first match by pin. He got a bye in the consolation bracket, then lost by pin in the next round.
Sophomore Ken Zheng got a bye at 165, then lost by forfeit in the next two rounds after injury.
The Ada boys are back in action as they host a 16-team Invitational Saturday, February 4 starting at 10 a.m.
