By Cort Reynolds

ADA__The Bluffton High School wrestling team finished a strong third at the eight-team Northwest Conference wrestling championships on Saturday, February 17. The team was led by a pair of individual weight champions.

Columbus Grove won the NWC team crown with 286.5 points, followed by Allen East (263). Bluffton was third with 212.5 points.

Pirate senior Kye Basil authored a 3-0 record in the 190 lbs. division with one pin to champion his weight class.

Bluffton freshman Branden Cross captured three matches by pin and won a 15-9 decision to fashion a perfect 4-0 mark and seize the 120 lbs. NWC crown.

Pirate sophomore Wyatt Knauss took second in the 113 lbs. bracket with a 3-1 record and two pins.

Sophomore Micah Rehm posted a 3-1 record with one pin to finish second in the 138 lbs. class.

Junior Jett Blackburn took third in the 144 lbs. division with a 3-2 record and one pin.

Pirates Javen Crawfis (157), Ethan Kohli (175), Mason Shank (215) and Braylon Goings (285) each finished fourth in their respective weight classes. 

Sophomore Goings was 2-3 at 285 with one pin. Freshman Shank had one win via pin at 215. Junior Kohli recorded a pin and one victory at 175. Crawfis had one win at 157.

Pirate freshman Kizer Young posted a 2-3 record with two pins, and finished sixth in the stacked eight-man 150 lbs. class. He won the consolation bracket semifinals by pin, but then lost in the fifth-place bout by a 6-4 decision.

Bluffton NWC Placers:

120: 1x6 Placers
1st Branden Cross 9, Bluffton

190: 1x6 Placers
1st Kyle Basil 12, Bluffton

138: 1x6 Placers
1st Joey Sawyer 12, Lincolnview
2nd Micah Rehm 10, Bluffton

113: 1x6 Placers
1st Aizik Myers 12, Allen East
2nd Wyatt Knauss 10, Bluffton
 

144: 1x6 Placers
1st Jordan Neal 9, Allen East
2nd Cody Ricker 11, Lincolnview
3rd Jett Blackburn 11, Bluffton
 

157: 1x6 Placers
1st Trenton Gatchell 12, Allen East
2nd Logan Mershman 12, Columbus Grove
3rd Wylex Lloyd 11, Spencerville
4th Javen Crawfis 10, Bluffton

175: 1x6 Placers
1st Braylen Paxson 9, Allen East
2nd Layton Blankemeyer 11, Columbus Grove
3rd Javier Franco 11, Spencerville
4th Ethan Kohli 11, Bluffton
5th Aiden Helt 10, Crestview
 

215: 1x6 Placers
1st Brogan Paxson 12, Allen East
2nd Evan Walls 12, Crestview
3rd Ty Meyer 11, Columbus Grove
4th Mason Shank 9, Bluffton

285: 1x6 Placers
1st Kyden Culbertson 11, Allen East
2nd Henry Wiss 9, Spencerville
3rd Brady Fuerst 11, Columbus Grove
4th Braylon Goings 10, Bluffton

150: 2x4 Placers
1st Clayton McClain 12, Ada, Dec 9-7 SV
2nd Jacob Pinks 11, Allen East
3rd Levi Grace 12, Crestview, Dec 14-9
4th Jameson Rader 11, Columbus Grove
5th Braylon McNett 9, Spencerville, Dec 6-4
6th Kizer Young 9, Bluffton

NWC Wrestling Championships team scores:

1. Columbus Grove 286.5 points

2. Allen East 263.

3. Bluffton 212.5

4. Crestview 142

5. Spencerville 138

6. Ada 93

7. Lincolnview 83

8. Delphos Jefferson 34