Co-MVPs are:
120# Champion - Tayton Kleman (Bluffton)
285# Champion - Jeff Meyer (Columbus Grove)
Coach-of-the-Year - Ernie Siefker (Columbus Grove)

By Cort Reynolds
BLUFFTON - The Bluffton varsity wrestling team hosted the annual Northwest Conference title meet Friday. The Pirates finished a solid fourth out of eight teams as three Bluffton grapplers secured individual championships.

Allen East narrowly won its fifth straight league title with 264.5 points, edging second-place Columbus Grove by a mere half point.

Spencerville finished a strong third at 239.5 points, followed by Bluffton (150). Ada was unable to compete due to covid quarantine restrictions.

Bluffton's three individual weight bracket crowns were captured by sophomore Thayne Kleman (106 lbs.), senior Tayton Kleman (120 lbs.) and senior Jeremy Sturgeon (126 lbs.) in their respective divisions.

Thayne and Tayton Kleman each finished 3-0 with three pins in the tournament. Sturgeon posted a 4-0 mark with three pins.

Bluffton junior Kaden Basil also finished second at the 160 lbs. class. Basil registered a 4-1 record at the league meet, staying undefeated with four straight pins until the championship round.

Pirate junior Trent Howard took third place in the 195 lbs. bracket. He finished 3-2 and won the third-place match with a pin at 42 seconds.

Bluffton sophomore Isaiah Mikesell came in fifth in the 170 lbs. division. He finished 2-2, capped by a pin at in the fifth-place bout at 2:34.

Bluffton title round weight class results:
106: Thayne Kleman (Bluffton) pin Gavin Grubb (Crestview) 1:58
120: Tayton Kleman (Bluffton) pin Carder Miller (Spencerville)   1:39
126: Jeremy Sturgeon (Bluffton) pin Ean Martinez (Spencerville)   0:30
160: Chase Miller (Allen East) dec. Kaden Basil (Bluffton) 14-8
NWC team scores:
1. Allen East 264.5 points
2. Columbus Grove 264
3. Spencerville 239.5
4. Bluffton 150
5. Delphos Jefferson 114
6. Paulding 111
7. Crestview 104
8. Lincolnview 62
AE has now won nine NWC wrestling championships. Bluffton has captured three crowns.