By Cort Reynolds

LIMA – The Bluffton High School wrestling team finished a solid ninth at the 36-team Thunderbird Invitational at Lima Central Catholic on Friday and Saturday, January 24-25.

Delta won the team crown with 290.5 points. Waynedale was second with 247.5. Allen East came in sixth (113), while the Pirates came in ninth at the two-day event with 93.5 points.

Host LCC ended up 11th with 85.5 points.

Bluffton’s Branden Cross came in fourth in the 120 lbs. division to post the top Pirate finish.

Pirate Ronald Kaufman took fifth in the 106 lbs. weight class.

Evan Grothause came in fifth in the 190 lbs. bracket.

Pirate Mason Shank finished seventh in the heavyweight division.

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Champions and Pirate placers by weight class

106: 1. Thomas Hernandez (DEL) 

5. Ronald Kaufman (BLU) 

113: 1. Brock Beckler (WAYN) 

120: 1. Isaak Skelly (WAYN) 

4. Branden Cross 

126: 1. Max Childers (NC) 

132: 1. Nathan Attisano (LEG) 

138: 1. Caden Schmeltzer (WAYN) 

144: 1. Jordan Neal (LCC) 

150: 1. Caleb Ryman (COV) 

157: 1. Aaron Mills (ME) 

165: 1. Braxton Quaintance (LAK) 

175: 1. Awsom Mitchell (TRI) 

190: 1. Robert McCrork (WAYN) 

5. Evan Grothause (BLU) 

215: 1. Cass Chiesa (DEL) 

285: 1. Evan Smigelski (SWA) 

7. Mason Shank (BLU)