By Cort Reynolds
TROY - Three Ada wrestlers competed in the Div. III district tournament at Troy's Hobart Arena Friday and Saturday to finish their season strongly, led by one Bulldog freshman placing sixth.
"We wrestled hard all weekend," said Ada head coach David Ames. "We fought hard and wrestled tough."
The double-elimination tournament format allows wrestlers who lose one match to still finish as high as third by making their way through the consolation draw.
After a promising start, Ada freshman Clayton McClain went 2-3 in the 113 lbs. division to finish sixth and narrowly miss state qualification.
A top-four district finish in any weight bracket qualifies a wrestler for the Div. III state tournament to be hosted by Marion Harding High School March 13-14.
"Clayton McClain was in a very tough bracket," said Ames. "(After Friday), the goal was a state berth."
McClain won his first round match Friday over fellow freshman Shane Small of Greenon, 4-2.
He was slated to take on undefeated Madeira junior Ramakrishna Gandhi in the quarterfinals. But Gandhi had to default, which ensured a top-six finish for McClain.
"Clayton came out and wrestled tough, winning his first match by decision. His next opponent forfeited, letting Clayton advance to the semis," said Ames.
The young Bulldog advanced to the semifinals Saturday morning vs. 38-0 fellow freshman Dillon Campbell of Legacy Christian.
On Saturday, McClain was pinned by Campbell at 1:10 to drop into the consolation bracket. Campbell eventually won the district title.
In the consolation quarterfinals, McClain lost by pin to LCC junior Gavin Caprella in 2:07.
Then in the fifth-place bout, he was defeated in a 7-1 decision by Carlisle sophomore Kyler Walsh. McClain ended his season with a 19-4 record.
Ada senior Colton Biederman compiled a 1-2 mark Friday in the 120 lbs. division. He lost his first round match to unbeaten sophomore Ashtan Hendricks of Greenview in 2:21 to drop into the consolation bracket.
He then bounced back to win his first round consolation bout 12-2 over sophomore Vincent Brookshire of Brookville.
In the second consolation round, he faced off against senior Dylan Rowland of Williamsburg, and was pinned at 2:24 to be eliminated.
"Colton Biederman came out tough against 27-0 Hendricks from Greenview and fought hard but ended up losing," Ames noted. "He was incredibly dominant in his second match, defeating his opponent with a 12-4 major decision.
"But unfortunately he fell in his final match against Williamsburg," Ames added. Biederman concluded his senior season with an 18-7 individual mark.
Bulldog sophomore Antonio Pettit also went 1-2 Friday at Troy in the 16-wrestler 126 lbs. bracket. In his first round match, Pettit was pinned by sophomore Owen O'Brien of Ben Logan at 5:07 to fall into the consolation bracket.
In the first consolation round, he won a 9-6 decision over Miami East junior Chance Rust. In the second consolation round, Pettit was pinned at 3:08 by junior Troy Kennedy of Troy Christian to be knocked out of the tournament.
"Antonio Petitt came out against a 30-2 Ben Logan wrestler and ended up losing," said Ames. "But he fought back in a close, tough match to defeat a Miami East wrestler. Unfortunately, his season was ended by the 126 from Troy Christian with a pin in the second period."
Pettit finished his season with a 12-9 record.
Legacy Christian won the 50-team district crown with 210.5 points. Mechanicsburg came in a distant second with 154.5 points.
Allen East made a strong second-day run to end up third with 119 points. Ada finished 31st with 12 points.
Ada individual district results:
Clayton McClain 113 lbs.
1st round
Clayton McClain dec. Shane Small (Greenon) 4-2
Quarterfinals
Clayton McClain Default over Ramakrishna Gandhi (Madeira)
Semifinals
Dillon Campbell (Legacy Christian) pin Clayton McClain 1:10
Consolation semis
Gavin Caprella (Lima C.C.) pin Clayton McClain 2:07
5th place match
Kyler Walsh (Carlisle) dec. Clayton McClain 7-1
Colton Biederman 120 lbs.
1st round
Ashtan Hendricks (Greeneview) pin Colton Biederman 2:21
1st consolation round
Colton Biederman maj. dec. Vincent Brookshire (Brookville) 12-4
2nd consolation round
Dylan Rowland (Williamsburg) pin Colton Biederman 2:24
Antonio Pettit 126 lbs.
1st round
Owen O'Brien (Benjamin Logan) pin Antonio Pettit 5:07
1st consolation round
Antonio Pettit dec. Chance Rust (Miami East) 9-6
2nd consolation round
Troy Kennedy (Troy Christian) pin Antonio Pettit 3:08
Div. III Troy district team scores:
1. Legacy Christian 210.5 points
2. Mechanicsburg 154.5
3. Allen East 119
4. Miami East 114
5. Versailles 106
6. Troy Christian 75
7. Covington 73.5
8. Wayne Trace 86.5
9. Covington 84.5
10. Columbus Grove 67
11. Indian Lake 53.5
12. Coldwater 52
13. Carlisle 50
14. Brookville 45
15. Benjamin Logan 39
16. Greeneview 36
17. Clermont NE 32
18. Delphos St. John's 28
19. Arcanum 27/S. Shawnee 27
21. McNicholas 25
22. Madeira 24.5
23. LCC 23
24. Mid. Madison 22
25. No. College Hill 20
26. Dayton Christian 19/Spencerville 19
28. Triad 16
29. Williamsburg 14.5
30. West Liberty-Salem 13
31. Ada 12
32. Dayton Northriidge 11
33. Delphos Jefferson 9
Ntional Trail 9
Preble Shawnee 9
36. Parkway 8
36. Kenton 7/South Char. SE 7
39 Crestview 6/Deer Park 6/Sidney-Lehman Catholic 6
42. Dixie 3
43. Roger Bacon 2.5
44. Bath 2
45. Cincinnati Country Day/East Clinton /Finneytown/Lincolnview/Springfield Catholic Central/Twin Valley So. 0
