Prep wrestling: Strong showing for GWOC at Division I district

Wayne junior Jacob Padilla won the 285-pound title Saturday at the Division I district meet to improve to 38-0 this season. Greg Billing/CONTRIBUTED

Wayne junior Jacob Padilla won the 285-pound title Saturday at the Division I district meet to improve to 38-0 this season. Greg Billing/CONTRIBUTED

The Cincinnati area, led by nationally-ranked LaSalle, brings some of the state’s best talent to the Division I district championships. The Greater Western Ohio Conference showed they were no pushover, though.

The GWOC placed nine wrestlers in championship matches Saturday at Trent Arena. Though they won two, it was still a strong showing for the conference. Last season the GWOC qualified six to the finals with two titles.

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“I think we had nine finalists so that was a big step for the GWOC,” said Wayne junior Jacob Padilla, who improved to 38-0 after winning the 285-pound district title.

Fairmont junior Nevan Snodgrass (43-2) joined Padilla as a district champion by winning the title at 170. The top four finishers in each weight class qualified for the three-day D-I state championships that begin Thursday in Columbus. The GWOC qualified 18 wrestlers to state.

Padilla enters as the projected champion after finishing eighth last season. That’s quite a leap, but Padilla is ready to take it. He increased his conditioning so he can wear down and outlast his opponents into the third period. Being an upperclassmen is also an advantage.

“Maturity of a heavyweight,” Wayne coach Randy Bitsko said of another difference from last year. “When you look at the bigger guys as they get older that maturity comes in and they get strength and that confidence comes in. As a freshman going to state he was going against 18-year old and 19-year old men. That’s terrifying for a freshman. As he’s been maturing he realizes he’s now one of the men in the group instead of one of the kids.

“He’s had a bulls-eye on his back all year. He’s been living up to it in the weight room and on the mat. He recognizes there are some really good wrestlers out there that have him as the mark. I’m really proud of him. He had a fantastic weekend. He’s an exciting kid to watch.”

Beavercreek, Centerville and Northmont all qualified a GWOC-best three wrestlers to state. Butler, Fairmont, Springboro and Wayne all sent two wrestles. Lebanon had one.

“It’s a great district. That we have as many kids as we do from the GWOC that qualify for state says a lot about the conference,” Bitsko said. “It’s great to see the champions. I would have liked to have another one at 160 (with Jaden Hardrick).”

LaSalle won the D-I district title with 273.5 points. Beavercreek finished fifth for the Dayton area’s highest finish with 90 points.

Division II: Chaminade Julienne received district championships from Isaiah Wortham (126), David Frederick (170) and Hunter Johns (182) and finished second in the Wilmington district. Alter also had a district champ with Nathaniel Armstrong (220). Eaton qualified three to state and Valley View also had multiple state qualifiers with two.

Division III: Troy Christian won the Troy district title with 147.5 points to beat Covington (99.5) and Legacy Christian (91.5). The Eagles qualified seven to state, including district champ Nick Baker at 220.

Covington’s Kellan Anderson (106) and Keringten Martin (152) won titles for the Buccaneers, who sent three to state. Legacy Christian district champs Camron Lacure (120) and Gavin Brown (126) were among LC’s three state qualifiers. Versailles (4), Brookville (2) and Miami East (2) also had multiple qualifiers.

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