CORRECTION Previously the article incorrectedly indicated McClain finished third.
By Cort Reynolds
TROY--Ada High School junior Clayton McClain finished a strong fourth in the 144 lbs. division at the Div. III northwest district double-elimination tournament Friday and Saturday, March 3-4, at Hobart Arena.
With his top-four showing buoyed by a 4-1 record at the event, McClain advanced to the state meet at the Schottenstein Center March 10-12 in Columbus.
Seeded first in his quarter of the 16 wrestlers at the district event, McClain won his first two matches handily Friday.
First, he pinned junior Dallas Coffey of South Charleston Southeastern in 3:30 of the first round.
In the quarterfinals, he won a 15-5 majority decision over East Clinton junior Curtis Singleton.
On Saturday morning in the 144 lbs. semifinals, McClain was pinned by Versailles senior Payton Platfoot (47-3) at 4:51. Platfoot eventually finished second in the 144 bracket to Legacy Christian senior Boede Campbell.
That loss dropped him into the consolation bracket semifinals match, where McClain defeated Greenon junior Owen Fagan by a 5-2 decision.
Then in the third-place bout Saturday afternoon, McClain pinned Clermont Northeastern senior Colby Johnson at 2:27.
McClain advances to the state tournament next weekend with a record of 41-9.
Seeded second in his quarter of the 16-man draw at 106 lbs., Ada freshman Silas Riblet lost his first-round match by pin at 3:24 to Kettering Alter freshman Rocco Mauro Friday.
In the first consolation round, Riblet decisioned Finneytown freshman Khadim Lo 10-3.
In the second consolation round Saturday morning, Riblet was eliminated by Covington junior Caron Taylor via pin at 3:20.
He ended his season with a record of 28-14.
Ada scored 20 points to finish in the middle of the pack at the 57-team event, won by Legacy Christian.
