TROY — Columbus Grove junior A.J. Schafer has excelled at a high level in football and track-and-field throughout his high school career.
Schafer was First Team All-Ohio in football as a linebacker last fall, and has been a high-level performer in the throwing events in track-and-field.
Now, Schafer has taken his wrestling skills to the next level.
At this weekend’s Division III district tournament at Hobart Arena (Friday and Saturday), Schafer finished runner-up in the 215-pound weight class.
With his second-place finish, Schafer will be making his first-ever trip to the state wrestling tournament, which takes place March 11-13 at the Jerome Schottenstein Center at Ohio State.
The top four placers in each weight class at the district tournaments, qualify for next weekend’s state tournament.
Schafer (24-7) admitted that he was a little bit surprised on the success this season.
“(I was) a little bit (surprised),” Schafer said. “I had two losing records in the two years before. So, this was pretty unexpected.”
Schafer pointed to the support he received from the coaching staff – namely, assistant coach Jeff Meyer, who was last year’s state champion in the heavyweight class for Columbus Grove.
“Our coaches do a good job. I work with Jeff (Meyer) a lot – especially the week before sectionals – he really helped me out a lot. I rotated with some other guys, too.”
Columbus Grove head coach Eric Siefker said Schafer was focused, coming into the postseason tournament.
“We knew he would be alright,” Siefker said. “We knew if he got a good draw over here, that we would be good to go. Coach Meyer and all the rest of the coaches have been working really hard with him. He was under control. He’s been used to it (competing at a high level). He’s seen things like that.”
Schafer said he wants to go to Columbus next weekend and compete for a spot on the awards podium.
“(I want) to get down there and place, hopefully. …We’ll see how it goes,” Schafer said.
Allen East came away with three state qualifiers on Saturday.
Kade Wireman (second, 150), Eli Criblez (second, 285) and Chase Miller (third, 165) were the three Allen East wrestlers who advanced to the state tournament. All three wrestlers are returning state-qualifiers for Allen East.
Criblez, who finished state runner-up last season to Jeff Meyer from Columbus Grove, suffered his first loss of the season on Saturday. In Saturday’s finals, Versailles’ Taran Tyo (45-2) pinned Criblez (44-1) late in the second period.
“For me being undefeated and not being taken down this year (coming in), I think it’s more of a drive for me right now,” Criblez said after his tough loss.
Wireman will be making his third trip to the state tournament next weekend. Wireman (45-5) ran into a buzz-saw in his finals match at 150.
Gavin Brown from Legacy Christian, a two-time state champion, made quick work of Wireman, pinning him in just 41 seconds.
“He was a really good kid (Brown),” Wireman said. “He’s going to wrestle for Ohio State, but I really don’t look at those things. … I really don’t care. I’m still going to go out there and fight my heart out. I went out there to fight, and I just got caught.
“It is, what it is. Now, I have this week to come back; and hopefully I see him in the state finals.”
For Miller (30-4), it was about coming back in the consolation semifinals on Saturday.
“I also had to wrestle back last year (at districts),” Miller said. “I had a tough semifinal match (loss). I thought I took off pretty good on my feet, but I got in a bad position and got thrown. So, now you have to wrestle back. That’s what wrestling is about.”
Longtime Allen East head coach Mike Abbey was pleased on the performance of his team this weekend.
“We had three (state) qualifiers today,” Abbey said. “We had two runners-up – Kade (Wireman) at 150 and Eli Criblez at heavyweight. Chase (Miller) was third at 165. (Trenton) Gatchell was state-alternate at 144 (placed fifth). (Jacob) Pinks was a placer (sixth, 138). So, not too bad of a weekend.”
As a team, Allen East had the best area performance this weekend, placing sixth overall out of 45 schools that were represented.
Legacy Christian won the team title, decisively. Legacy Christian ended the two-day tournament with 209 points, while second-place Mechanicsburg tallied 132.5 points. Allen East recorded 98 points.
Mason Vonderwell from Delphos St. John’s, stamped his ticket for the state tournament Saturday. Vonderwell (44-5) placed second in the 175-pound weight class.
Vonderwell will be making his first trip to the state tournament next weekend.
“The main goal was to make it to state,” Vonderwell said. “So, that’s what I accomplished. Now, I just have to put some more work in next week and get ready for state.”
Lima Central Catholic’s Gavin Caprella will make a return to the state tournament. Caprella made it to the finals match at the 120-pound weight class on Saturday. However, Caprella (34-4) suffered an injury in the finals and was unable to continue.
Last season at the state tournament, Caprella placed fifth in the 113-pound weight class.
Indian Lake freshman Owen Pummel (39-5) won the title at 190 on Saturday.
“I wasn’t sure how districts were going to turn out,” Pummel said. “But I’m happy it turned out like it did.”
Hayden Pummel, last year’s Division III state champion at 160 pounds, is the older brother of Owen Pummel.
Bath senior Ezekiel Burkholder (38-6) placed fourth at 150 on Saturday to stamp his ticket for the state tournament. This will be Burkholder’s first trip to state. The senior standout had to win his consolation semifinal on Saturday to put himself in the third-place match.
“I knew I could accomplish my goal. I’ve been working on it, and I felt really good this week. So, I knew I could go in there and win that,” Burkholder said.
Coldwater’s Grant Heuing (fourth, 165) and Will Fox (fourth, 285) also qualified for the state tournament.
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