High School wrestling: Springboro set for Division I regional duals

The Springboro Panthers aren’t ones to back down from a challenge. That’s good because the Panthers’ schedule is about to ramp up.

The Panthers compete in the Division I regional dual team tournament hosted by Beavercreek on Saturday. Should No. 2-seeded Springboro survive its side of the bracket that includes – among others – No. 3 Harrison, No 6 Fairmont, No. 7 Centerville and No. 10 Lebanon, then Springboro would likely face top-seeded and defending regional champ Mason in the finals.

»RELATED: Tuesday’s high school roundup

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“The only advice I ever tell kids is go do what you do every day,” Springboro coach Fred Boulton said of the grind ahead. “Put your head down, do what you’ve been training to do all season. Do what you do best and wrestle in your best positions.”

So far, so good.

Springboro topped Harrison 34-32 in a dual meet on Jan. 17. Harrison is ranked No. 7 in the state.

On Saturday they have the chance to avenge a pair of losses. Centerville beat Springboro 32-28 back in December. At last year’s dual meet, Mason ended Springboro’s tournament run with a 45-24 win in the regional championship.

“We’re not looking past anybody, but Mason has been the class of our region for a number of years,” Boulton said. “All of us – including Butler and Harrison and everyone else – are trying to catch them. I look forward to that challenge. We’ll have our hands full with the winner of Lebanon and Centerville. Rivalry matches can go either way. Things have a strange way of getting screwed up.”

Jake Kowalski leads the Panthers with a 27-1 record (with 24 pins) at 195 pounds and is ranked No. 8 in the state at Division I. Mason Kleinburg (22-6) is No. 9 at 132 pounds. Jake Stamcoff (15-7) is No. 13 at 170. Drake Smith (19-5) is No. 14 at 182.

Among other notables: Hayden Hollis is 17-10 at 106, Kevin Chitsaz is 17-11 at 126, Mauricio Dominguez is 16-3 at 138, Parker Bell is 12-5 at 145, Will Coffield is 23-7 at 160, Tripp Johnson is 22-7 at 220 and Wade Humphrey is 16-9 at 285.

The Panthers have 30 wrestlers on the roster and two are senior starters. That bodes well for the future.

“To be honest with you, we’re probably a year ahead of schedule where I thought we’d be strong enough to challenge some of the top teams,” Boulton said. “What makes me most proud is we’re 100 percent home grown.”

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