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BL hosts annual Panther Classic

CONNORVILLE — Nine Ohio Valley Athletic Conference wrestlers took home the top hardware in their respective weight classes late Saturday night under the spotlight as the 27th annual Panther Classic concluded a long day of action inside Buckeye Local High School.

Three of those titlists wore Shadyside singlets, while Wheeling Park had two champions. Bridgeport, Brooke, Martins Ferry and Union Local all had one.

The Tigers champions included defending Division III state runnerup Greg Quinn (113); sophomore sensation Jacson Muldrew (120) and senior standout Josh Kahl (132).

Quinn, who dropped to 113 after competing most of the season at 120, put on a takedown clinic in the first period against Trinity’s AD Nelson. He finished off Nelson in 1:45 to improve to a sparkling 37-1.

Muldrew, a state qualifier last winter, impressed with a 13-6 decision over Hampton’s Zach Wright. Now 34-4, Muldrew, who also dropped a weight class, led 7-6 before exploding for the final six points.

Kahl, now 28-4, had his way with Hampton’s Vincent Schmitt to the tune of a 17-0 technical fall.

“All three of those guys wrestled really well this weekend,” Shadyside head coach Sean Grinch said. “They knew what they had to do and went out and did it.”

Shadyside wrestled without seniors Billy Johnson and Donnie Meadows who are nursing injuries.

Their efforts, plus three other placers, helped the Tigers to a tie for third with Indian Creek. They each tallied 115 points, 12 in back of champion West Allegheny (127) and 10 behind runnerup Trinity.

Wheeling Park had one individual — John Nash (160) — defend his title, while another — Kaleb Simpkins (170) — moved up the ladder from runnerup.

Nash, a junior who is now 37-5, pinned Fox Chapel’s Billy Myers in 3:58 for his 100th career victory.

Simpkins, another junior, improved to 34-8 with a 12-1 major decision over River’s Zac Talbot.

“Those two guys are our leaders, both on the mat and in the practice room,” second-year Wheeling Park head coach Clay Tucker said. “We are still a relatively young team and those guys lead by example. The young kids see their efforts and want to be like them some day. it’s a good thing for both of those guys and our younger kids.”

Bridgeport sophomore Mason Kuneff also defended his title as he claimed the 138-pound division with a pin of Trinity’s Cole Whitmer in 3:45. He is now 25-5.

“Mason had a really good day,” Bridgeport head coach David Nelson said. “He went out and took care of business.”

Brooke’s Alex Edgell continued his magical season. Just two weeks after defeating Martins Ferry’s Hunter Bodkin in sudden-victory for the OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament title, the two went at it again. Six minutes of regulation found them tied at one before Edgell took control and eventually won by pin in 6:49.

Edgell is now 30-3.

Union Local’s Devin Crum (145) proved the third time was a charm as he finally defeated Indian Creek’s Miles Mazik, 4-3. Crum, who had lost twice before this season to the Redskins returning Division II state-placer, overcame nearly being pinned in the third period to record an escape with 14 seconds remaining for the winning point.

For his effort, Crum was voted the tournament’s Gary Glover Most Valuable Wrestler by tournament coaches.

“I just kept going after him,” Crum, now 31-8, said of his match. “I had lost to him twice, but I knew I could beat him.”

Martins Ferry’s Dalton Hoover (195) continued his super season with a workmanlike 9-3 nod over West Allegheny’s Rocky McGreary. The Purple Riders defending Division III state runnerup improved to a superb 22-1.

Five different Pennsylvania wrestlers captured titles, including the nation’s No. 1-ranked Gavin Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan. He improved to 27-0 on the season and 109-0 for his two-and-a-half-year career. The University of Iowa recruit won by pin in 2:44 over Hilliard Bradley’s Zander Ellison.

Other winners were Hampton’s Ty Kocak (106); West Allegheny’s Dante Flati (152) who pinned Indian Creek’s Devin Eakle; Fox Chapel’s Mike Mahon (182); and West Mifflin’s Gerald Brown (285), who held off Martins Ferry’s Dom Wallace, 4-3. Brown was a runnerup last year.

Hilliard Bradley, the defending champions, finished fifth with 105.5 points. Wheeling Park was a close sixth with 101. Martins Ferry was 10th at 82.

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