“They always ask which one I belong to,” Bey said. “I come from a wrestling family and it is kind of cool to think about the fact that people know the name.”
Jerome and freshman Cael belong to assistant coach Jerry Bey. Another senior, Tanner, is the son of head coach AJ Bey.
AJ also had an older son, Tyler, compete at Versailles. Tyler now coaches at Brookville. AJ’s and Jerry’s brother Tyler also wrestled.
Jerry is the lone Bey to climb the podium at the state tournament, finishing fourth in 1989.
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Tanner, Jerome and Cael will try for bragging rights in the family starting Friday at 3 p.m. at Hobart Arena in the district tournament. The top four in each weight class advance to the state tournament March 9-11 at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
“I think we might have a basketball someplace at home,” Tanner Bey said. “But we have always known we were going to wrestle.”
“It is kind of cool having your brother and cousin there,” Cael Bey said. “They push me to do my best. When opponents see a Bey, they know they are going to be in for a tough challenge.”
AJ and Jerry have been involved in wrestling for over 40 years, since former Sidney coach Jim McCracken got them out of the gym and into a wrestling room when they were young.
“We’ve had quite a little bit of a run,” Jerry said. “Me and AJ started it and now we are to the next generation. We will see what happens after that.”
• The super showdown in D-III is set to be a finals match.
Returning state placer Reece Human of Carlisle and National Trail’s Ben Sullivan are on opposite halves of the bracket at Troy.
Human, 29-0, beat Sullivan 6-1 in sudden victory in the semifinals last year, throwing Sullivan to his back in overtime.
Sullivan, 29-3, claimed the state title after Human was upset in overtime in the state semis.
Division I: Fairmont is taking the district tournament next level.
The result of each match of the district tournament will be tweeted by the tournament on @FHSWrestling.
• One of the must-see matches could take place in the semis Saturday morning. Miamisburg’s two-time district champ Elijah Perkins will square off with nationally ranked Zachary Donathan of Mason at 132.
Division II: Graham advanced all 14 to the district tournament at Wilmington High School.
The marquee match of the tournament could come Saturday afternoon in the finals with Graham’s Kavan Sarver and Valley View’s Stone Day meeting for the fourth time this year at 195.
Day holds a 2-1 advantage in the series, including a tight 4-3 win in the sectional final.
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