Kaufman wins 120 crown

By Cort Reynolds

COLDWATER__The Bluffton High School wrestling team fared well in the rugged Coldwater Cavalier Invitational tournament on Saturday, February 7

A total of 31 schools competed in the event, with Bluffton finishing a solid ninth with 111 points.

Troy captured the team title with 225 points, well ahead of second-place Northmont (194.5). 

Pirate sophomore Ronald Kaufman lived up to his number one seeding by winning the 120 lbs. division title. He went 4-0 on the day with two technical fall wins and a pair of pins. His 16-0 TF triumph in the final came over Columbus South sophomore Sharif Ibrahim.

Junior Branden Cross went 3-1 at the 126 lbs. division to finish second. He recorded two tech fall wins to reach the semifinals, where he won a 6-3 decision. 

In the championship bout, he lost to Miamisburg sophomore Parker Meadows by a 13-8 decision.

Top-seeded Bluffton junior heavyweight Mason Shank managed to finish fifth after he was upset 5-2 in his first match. In the 285 lbs. consolation bracket, he battled back with two pin victories, a default win and a 6-2 decision to reach the fifth-place match.

In that bout, he captured a 3-0 decision to finish 5-1 on the day.

Pirate sophomore Jesus Rivera registered a 4-3 record with three pins in the 175 lbs. class. He lost the seventh-place match by default to finish eighth.

Freshman Brody Schneck won his first two matches by pin in the 215 lbs. division. He lost by pin to the eventual bracket champion to fall into the consolation bracket. He was pinned in his first match there to end up 2-2.

Sophomore Hephaestion Weyer was 2-2 at 144 lbs. with a pin and one TF win.

Pirate soph Andrew Brodman went 1-2 in the 132 lbs. bracket. Freshman Parker Kimmell was 1-2 at 157 lbs.

Freshman Kohen Anderson posted a 1-2 mark at 165 lbs.

Pirate Placers:

120 Pound Placers
1st Ronald Kaufman 10, Bluffton, tf16-0
2nd Sharif Ibrahim 10, Col. South
3rd Athen Davenport 12, Fairview, Dec 8-2
4th Gabe Ditto 9, Shawnee
5th Khang Huynh 10, Northmont, tf19-2

126 Pound Placers
1st Parker Meadows 10, Miamisburg, Dec 13-8
2nd Branden Cross 11, Bluffton
3rd Dawson Berndt 9, Fremont Ross, Fall 1:36
4th Wyatt Pitz 11, Northmont
5th Carter Owen 9, Troy, Dec 7-5

285 Pound Placers
1st Lukus Jenkins 10, Mapleton, Dec 8-7
2nd Eli Deeter 11, Milton-Union
3rd Jett Manley 9, Waynesville, Fall 3:49
4th Tyre Bush-Freeman 10, Aiken
5th Mason Shank 11, Bluffton, Dec. 3-0

Team scores:

1. Troy 225 points

2. Northmont 194.5

3. Fremont Ross 165

4. Miamisburg 144

5. Coldwater 137.5

6. Xenia 136.5

7. Shawnee 132.5

8. Clinton-Massie 130

9. Bluffton 111

10. Waynesville 83

11. Milton-Union 81

12. Northridge 73.5

13. Columbus South 50.5

14. Mapleton 48.5

15. Sidney 45.5

16. Troy Christian 45

17. Aiken 40.5

18. Tecumseh 35

19 tie. Legacy Christian 34 & Northwestern 34

21. Bath 29

22. Lincolnview 29

23. Fairview 27

24. Williamsburg 23.5

25. Northeastern 20

26. Ft. Recovery 19.5

27. Cham. Julienne 16

28. Northridge 6

29. Minster 1

30. Blanchester 0 & Sidney-Lehman Catholic 0 

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