Former state placers highlight list of local wrestlers to watch – Zanesville Times Recorder
The state wrestling tournament is two months away, and area grapplers have shined on the mat through the first month of the season.
More:See how Muskingum Valley League wrestlers fared at the Licking Valley Invitational
More:Saturday Roundup: John Glenn, Coshocton boys among big winners
Our sports department, along with coaches’ submissions and Borofanohio rankings, have put together Top 10 wrestlers to watch:
Coltyn Reedy — The Sheridan junior is coming off a fourth-place finish at 138 pounds in the Division II state tournament. The Naval Academy commit has started this season strong, including a title at the Cambridge Invitational. He currently ranks third at 150 pounds in Division II by Borofanohio.
Cohen Bunting — The John Glenn senior is a two-time state qualifier and had a strong offseason, noted coach Connor McMahon. He is currently battling through some nagging injuries, but has posted a second-place at the Hudson Invite. Bunting is third at 175 in Division II by Borofanohio.
Logan Niceswanger — The Morgan senior made his first state meet appearance last season, placing eighth at 190. He has won titles at Cambridge, Vincent Warren, Fort Frye and Licking Valley, leading to a fourth-place ranking at 190 in Division II by Borofanohio.
Tyson Spicer — The New Lexington freshman opened the season with a title at the Cambridge Invitational. He has posted several strong efforts, including a third at Licking Valley, a fourth at North Canton Hoover and a sixth at the prestigious Medina Invitational Tournament. Those results have seen Spicer move to a 10th-place ranking at 138 by Borofanohio.
Bradley Spencer — The Morgan junior has been stellar on the mat, going 21-1, including titles at Licking Valley, Warren and Fort Frye. He ranks 16th at 165 pounds in Division II, which Borofanohio called the deepest weight class in the division.
Christian Browning — The 138-pound junior from Crooksville recently claimed the title at the West Muskingum Tornado Classic and also won his division at the Crooksville Invitational. He has been one of the most steady grapplers and is ranked 20th for his weight class in Division III by Borofanohio.
Talan Bailey — The Philo junior highlights several strong wrestlers for the Electrics, currently sitting 10th at 157 in Division II by Borofanohio. He won his weight class at Sheridan’s Larry Emmert and the Coshocton Classic and has placed in the top four at several other meets, including the Steve Yinger at Nelsonville.
Danny (DJ) Waite — The 132-pounder from Maysville highlights a strong freshman class for the Panthers, who won the OAC Junior High state tournament last season. Waite is currently ranked 18th at 132 in Division II by Borofanohio, as he won the Westfall Invite and has several top-four finishes.
Jack Lincicome — The Philo junior has moved his way up the rankings on Borofanohio, reaching 12th at 165. He is part of a deep pool of talent with the Electrics with several strong finishes in recent weeks, including a second at the Larry Emmert.
Dyllan Austin — The Ridgewood senior has moved up to 13th at 190 in Division III, according to Borofanohio. He recently claimed a title at the Tornado Classic and came in second at the Coshocton Classic.
Sheridan’s Addy Crane (110) highlights the best in our girls wrestling, which will have its second state tournament under OHSAA this season. She was undefeated before suffering her first loss in a third-place finish at the Tri-Valley Midwest Classic on Sunday, Jan. 7.
Others to watch: John Brown, Philo (132); Jack Lee, John Glenn (190), Dominic Bates, John Glenn (126), Kian Barton, John Glenn (215); Slade Armstrong, Tri-Valley (138), Andrew Tackett, Tri-Valley (132); Logan Wilhite, Maysville (150); Caleb Monlux, Maysville (144), Carter Abella, Maysville (120); Noah McFee, Zanesville (175), Vince Coleman, Zanesville (106); Isaac Ratliff, New Lex (126), Jesse Wood, New Lex (215); Jacob Householder, Sheridan (157); Marshall Laishley, Cambridge (138), Clayton Myers, Cambridge (150); Tanner Bankes, Morgan (175); Brodi Hardesty, Ridgewood (126); Andrew Stark, West Muskingum (190); Logan Greer, Meadowbrook (175), Ethan Heady, Meadowbrook (285); Severeign Workman, Coshocton (215); Blayne Mounts, River View (215); Girls: Kandice Spry, Tri-Valley; Lilah Carson, New Lexington, Olivia Beaulieu, New Lexington; Miley Sesser, Ridgewood.
