By Cort Reynolds
VAN BUREN - The Bluffton wrestling team finished a strong second out of 13 teams at the Van Buren Div. III sectional meet Friday and Saturday.
Carey won the tournament with 178.5 points while the Pirates tied with Elmwood for second, scoring 146 points. They nosed out host VB in fourth with 145 points.
A top-four finish at sectionals qualifies any wrestler to the district event in Napoleon March 6-7.
Junior Tayton Kleman got two byes and won two matches with quick pins to capture the 113 lbs. weight division crown. He is 35-7 on the season.
Sophomore Kaden Basil went 3-0 in the 138 lbs. division to win the crown with three pins. He now sports a 25-14 record on the season.
Bluffton junior Jeremy Sturgeon came in second in the 120 lbs. bracket to also make it to districts with a 21-6 mark. He finished 1-1 with two byes in the tourney, losing in the finals to Carey's Lance Rickle by fall in 5:14.
Junior Landen Luginbihl finished second in the 195 lbs. bracket to improve his record to 27-7. He went 2-1 with two pins before falling in the finals by a 7-4 decision.
Freshman Thayne Kleman finished third in the 106 lbs. division with a 3-1 record. He won the third-place bout by pin to improve his record to 26-10.
Sophomore Jackson Wilson compiled a 3-2 record at 170 lbs. to finish fifth and improve his season mark to 18-10.
Sophomore Trent Howard amassed a 2-2 record at 182 lbs. to end his season 13-18.
Freshman Mason Davis finished 2-3 at 145 lbs. to end up 8-15 this season.
Sophomore Elias Mault finished sixth at 126 lbs. with a 2-3 record in the tourney. He ended his season 21-13.
At Napoleon in the double-elimination district event, Thayne Kleman is a three seed in his quarter of the 106 lbs. draw. He will face a two seed in sophomore Eli Guyton (31-14) of Lake in round one.
Tayton Kleman is a one seed at 113 lbs. and will take on four seed Connor Robbins (21-12) of Willard in the first round Friday.
Junior Jeremy Sturgeon earned a two seed and will meet senior Carson Tracy (27-12) of Defiance Ayersville in the opening round of the 120 lbs. bracket.
Sophomore Kaden Basil got a top seed and will meet four seed Blake Steele (16-14) of Otsego in round one.
Junior Landen Luginbihl earned a two seed at 195 lbs. and will take on sophomore Aidan Godsey (27-7) of Ashland Crestview in the first round at districts.
Sectional team results:
1 178.5 points Carey
2 146 Bluffton
2 146 Elmwood
4 145 Van Buren
5 128 Liberty-Benton
6 119.5 Patrick Henry
7 100.5 Arcadia
8 73 Hopewell-Loudon
9 52 McComb
10 50.5 Cory-Rawson
11 40.5 Calvert
12 22.0 No. Baltimore
13 21.0 Riverdale
