2022-23 Marion area wrestling preview capsules

Cardington Pirates

• Conference: KMAC.

• Coach: Michael Ongalibang (second season).

• Roster: Cameron Tribunella (letter), Logan Young-Garrett (Fr.), Christopher Kinsey (Fr.), Wyatt Denney (Fr.), Dillen Darst (letter), Bryce Hartley (Fr.), Cody Redmon (letter), James Collins (Fr.), Caleb Davis, Colin McAvoy (Sr.), Austin Vails (letter), Lane Hughes (letter), Brandon Hughes (Fr.), Cameron Sherman (So.).

• Note: The Pirates have a large freshman class and several first-time wrestlers ... Sherman will compete in the new girls division in the postseason ... Cardington graduated Kaden Burton last year.

• Comment: "With a large freshman class and several true fist-year wrestlers, we are looking to start with the basics and build some new traditions," Ongalibang said.

Elgin Comets

• Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

• Coach: Levi Pasma (seventh season).

• Assistants: Jacob Fohl, Don Martin, Donovan Weddell.

• Last Year: KMAC champions.

• Roster: Aiden Cervantes (Fr., 106 pounds), John Willis (So., 113), Hunter Johnston (So., 120, letter, 21-11 record last year, KMAC champ), Gavin Rhodes (So., 126, letter, 21-11, district alternate), Jacob Hostetler (So., 132, letter, 13-10), Colton Long (So., 138, letter, 23-16), Kaleb Martin (Jr., 144, letter, 16-20), Kaiden Luikart (Jr., 150, letter, 32-14, district qualifier, Central District All-Star), Quinten Harrison (So., 157, letter, 25-12, KMAC champ), Jarrod Johnston (Sr., 165, letter, 32-14), Nels VanGundy (Jr., 175, letter, 33-14, KMAC champ, district qualifier), Tyler Pasma (So., 190, letter, 21-12), Luke Waldo (Sr., 215, letter, 26-16, district qualifier), Russell Sherman (Jr., heavyweight, letter, 15-14).

• Notes: The Comets compete in the KMAC in wrestling only ... The team has comradery and a will to win ... Some wrestlers are going up in weight classes in order to fill out a varsity lineup ... The Comets will be busy in the new weight room ... Hallie Winslow is a freshman who will compete in the girls postseason, and she finished fifth in the state at last year's junior high tournament ... They lost two to graduation, but the spots are filled and all others are veteran wrestlers.

• Comment: "As returning (KMAC) champions, we are near the top to win it again," Pasma said. "Northmor, however, has a very good incoming freshman class and will certainly give us a run for our money."

Highland Scots

• Conference: Mid Ohio Athletic Conference.

• Coach: Adam Gilmore (16th season).

• Assistants: Zach Baker, Triston Hinkle, Austin LaFever.

• Roster: Konner Blaney (106, state alternate), Brendan Lester (113, district qualifier), Caleb Wetzel (132, state alternate), Jacob Garber (132), Matthew Scarberry (144/150), Remington Baker (150/157, district qualifier), Chandler Stevens (220/190/175, district qualifier), Ethan Taylor (190/175, district alternate), Landon Pedigo (285, district alternate), Caitlyn Thieret (girls state qualifier), Cami Hilton, Emma Bolton, Iliana Men-Hartley, Maddie Morrison, Brianna Tuggle.

• Notes: The Scots have good numbers and a nice mix of experience and new talent ... The numbers are good, but they may struggle early on to fill all weight classes ... The returnees have retained their technique over the offseason ... The team is filled with hard workers with great attitudes ... Highland lost to graduation two-time state placer Cody Matthews at 157, three-time district qualifier Kaden Miller at 138/144 and state alternate Eli Grandstaff at 165 ... Gilmore expects the MOAC to be highly competitive, and he wants his wrestlers to focus on the postseason tournament trail.

• Comment: "We just want our guys and girls coming in to each practice motivated to work hard and get better from week to week. If this happens, winning will take care of itself," Gilmore said.

Marion Harding Presidents

• Conference: MOAC.

• Coach: Jeff Ratliff (10th season, 13th overall).

• Assistants: Mitchell Gruber, Adi Tamarapoo, A.J. Sentieri.

• Roster: Christian Abrams (So., 138/144), David Backus (Sr., 126/132, state qualifier), Ridge Barkley (Jr., 138/144, transfer from Ridgedale, district qualifier), Nathan Cunningham (Jr., 126/132, district qualifier), Samson St. Germain (Sr., 113, district qualifier), Kile Sentieri (Fr., 150/157).

• Notes: The Presidents are energized and willing to learn how to wrestle ... They are putting the time in to excel ... Backus is a state qualifier leading three other district qualifiers ... Gone are state qualifier Drake Cerny as well as Rashawn Turner, Kobe Johnson, Cameron Ross, Trey Neault, Nappierre Braddy and Braden Gruber ... It is difficult to replace outgoing seniors with freshmen ... Sophie Holt is a freshman and the lone girl on the team ... Harding will have trouble filling all the weight classes which hurts team results.

• Comment: "Just to have this core set of wrestlers lean how to wrestle and the sacrifice it takes to be successful in this sport is the only goal I have as a coach for this team," Ratliff said.

Mount Gilead Indians

• Conference: KMAC.

• Coach: Mike Williamson (11th season).

• Assistants: James Coultier, Dustin Baker.

• Roster: Carter Goodrich (Sr., 190, letter, 2-6), Garret George (Sr., 175, letter, 31-11), Nick Garvey (Sr., 215, letter, 6-13), Gabe Simpson (Jr., 165, letter, 21-14), Isaiah Carmon (Sr.), Abe Newson (Fr.), Cody Meimer (Fr.,), Hunter Meimer (Jr.), William Hale (Fr.).

• Notes: The Indians have a small team but good senior leadership ... Most of them have a wrestling background ... The team lacks depth and can't fill all weight classes which will hurt them in the team standings ... Williamson expects to have a couple wrestlers competing for KMAC championships ... They must replace Isaiah Fisher who is wrestling at Otterbein and Justin Dendinger.

• Comment: "We would like to fill five or six weight classes," Williamson said. "(We) need to get our new guys to take their lumps early and then build them up for success at the end of the year."

Northmor Golden Knights

• Conference: KMAC.

• Coach: Scott Carr (15th season, 145-72).

• Last Year: 7-11, third at Big Walnut, 11th at sectional and district.

• Roster: Cohan Hurst (Jr., 106, 14-16), Ethan Amens (Fr., 113), Brady Carr (Fr., 120), Cowin Becker (So., 126, seventh at state tournament), Bryce Cooper (Jr., 12-19, KMAC champ), Carson Campbell (Fr., 138, junior high state champion), Caiden Martinez (Jr., 157), Colton Brammer (Jr., 165), Ashton Clark (So., 27-14, district qualifier), Nick Armrose (So., 7-17), Braedyn Kiener (Fr.).

• Notes: The Golden Knights are a young group, but they are hungry for success and know how to compete ... Returning state placer Cowin Becker, junior high state champ Carson Campbell, district qualifier and transfer from Mount Gilead Ashton Clark and Nick Armrose are wrestlers who should excel this season ... Northmor grad Niko Christo was a four-time state qualifier who is no longer in the lineup.

• Comment: "We are so young. I've never had such an inexperienced squad. I hope their youth and hunger show up," Carr said.

North Union Wildcats

• Conference: Central Buckeye Conference, Mad River Division.

• Coach: Garrett Andrews (15th season).

• Assistants: Randal RIffle, Christian Koch, Corbin Bunshold, Don Wasserbeck.

• Last Year: Eighth at district, fourth at CBC Mad River.

• Roster: Kannon Alvarado (Fr., 113), Trace Williams (Sr., 120, letter, state qualifier, 44-6), Zack Ellis (Jr., 126, letter), Traven Reber (So., 132, letter), John Allinder (Sr., 138, letter), Zayne Leiter (Jr., 144, letter), Austin Cline (Jr., 157 letter), Josh Ahern (So., 165, letter), Cameron Osborne (Jr., 190, letter), Liam Adams (Sr., 215, letter), Tyler Cline (Jr., 285, letter), Alex Dexter (Fr.), Ethan Miller (Fr.), Brayden Millington (Jr.), Preston Larson (Fr.), Corey Gilliam (So.), Daniel Darver (Jr.), David Hawkins (Jr.), Heath Ferguson (Fr.), Jason Cremeans (Fr.), Jaxon Canter (Fr.), Matthew Connor (Fr.), Ben Bonnell (Fr.), Hez Vanhoose (Fr.), Braylen Riffle (Fr.), Girls: Kayla Knox (So.), Kyra Knox (So.), Jaslon Miller (Fr.), Shelby Cowgill (Fr.), Rylan Riffle (So.)

• Notes: The Wildcats had a state placer in Gabe Hansen, who graduated, as did state qualifier Shan Swank ... District qualifier Brody Wilson graduated ... Junior Gavin Craft is out with injury ... Williams is back as a state qualifier ... The juniors and seniors are good leaders ... The numbers have almost doubled this year ... While numbers are high, there are a lot of freshmen and first-time wrestlers in the group, so the challenge is to get them up to a speed that also pushed the veterans ... They cannot fill the 106-pound weight class ... Andrews wants to send half of his team to the district tournament this year.

• Comment: "In the CBC, it's St. Paris Graham and then everyone else fighting for No. 2," Andrews said. "Jon Alder and Ben Logan have proven to be very tough competition over the past few years in our league as well as Indian Lake and London."

Pleasant Spartans

• Conference: MOAC.

• Coach: Joe Robinson (ninth season, 93-40).

• Assistants: David Little, Bret Thomas, Steve Chase, Gerald Smith, Brock Zugg, Mason Sparks.

• Last Year: State Duals regional champs, third at MOAC, sectional champs, district runner-up, sixth at state.

• Roster: Jaden Griffith (Fr., 132/138), Greyson Haycock (Fr., 120/126), Dylan Moore (Fr., 165), Jack Seckel (Fr., 126), Chase Van Oosten (Fr., 138), Luke Flinchbaugh (So., heavyweight, letter), Elijian McGinniss (So., 113/120, letter), Sam Mentzer (So., 157/165, letter, 15-12), Elijah Miley (So., HVY), Harrison Mohr (So., 138, letter), Sean Murphy (So., 113/120, letter), Ayden O'Dell (So., 106, 18-17, fifth at sectional), Caleb Young (So., 175), Daxton Chase (Jr., 144, 41-9, two-time state placer who was sixth last year, MOAC runner-up, sectional and district champ), Sasha Detwiler (Jr., 175), Julien Griffith (Jr., 215, 15-2, fourth at state in 2021), Mason Moore (Jr., 144, letter), Landon O'Donnell (Jr., 190, 16-15), Skyler Wolf (Jr., 138/144, 27-11, MOAC runner-up, fifth at sectional, district placer in 2021), K.J. Rowe (Sr., HVY, letter), Brandon Mulvaine (Sr., 165, 38-12, fourth at MOAC, third at sectional, two-time district qualifier).

• Notes: The Spartans had six district qualifiers and two alternates last year and saw five make it to state with Carter Chase winning a state championship and C.J. Smith taking a state runner-up medal ... Both graduated along with state qualifier Jonah Bibler, Nic Depuy, Rod Lyman and Dylan Baisden ... Two-time state qualifier Anwar Alli left early for a prep school ... The Spartans had four Academic All-Ohioans and qualified for Academic All-Ohio as a team as well ... The Spartans have two good senior leaders and wrestlers with varsity experience ... Pleasant can fill every weight class with some depth, which makes for a competitive atmosphere in practice ... The coaches need to meet the needs of the experienced wrestlers, while also bringing along the less experienced in the room ... They are wrestling a tough regular season schedule to get ready for February ... If they can stay healthy, they would like to challenge for the MOAC title.

• Comment: "We had some guys fall just shrot of goals last season who look to rebound in a big way this season," Robinson said.

Ridgedale Rockets

• Coach: Matt Mosher (first season).

• Assistant: Nathan Brand.

• Roster: Nya Miller (Sr., 155, 27-8), Darien Lester (Fr.), Brody Fultz (Fr.)

• Notes: Miller won the Orange Pioneer Classic, the Bellefontaine Iron Maiden and the Northwest District Tournament for girls ... She did not place lower than third in any of her regular season meets ... She is a three-time girls state qualifier , finishing seventh last year, who is looking to make a trip to Ohio State's Schottenstein Center when the girls brackets will be contested along with the boys at the state meet this year for the first time ... Lester competed in three junior high meets last year ... Fultz is out with an elbow injury suffered during football season.

River Valley Vikings

• Conference: MOAC.

• Coach: Mark McGuire (40th season).

• Assistants: Jonathan Edwards, Jason Nutbrown, Cooper Graham.

• Last Year: 5-19.

• Roster: Gabe Thacker (Sr., 106, 40-17, district qualifier), Aiden Jordan (Fr., 113), Colton Holmes (So., 120), Jayden Cox (Fr., 126), Shayla Pappert (Sr., 120, 13-13), Owen Rogers (Jr., 126, 10-25), Kylee Sardina (Fr., 125), Addison Babb (So., 144, 18-28), Lila Mencer (Sr., 140, 28-12, state qualifier), Alex Thompson (Fr., 150), Jacob Kidwell (Jr., 150), A.J. Thorpe (Fr., 157), Porter Rick (Jr., 150, 40-15, district qualifier), Honour Jennings (So., 175), Rage Colegrove (Fr., 190), Ben Luchene (Sr., 190, 23-20), Jaydon Bennett (Fr., 190), Justino Rodreguez (So., 190), Drew Goldburg (Fr., 215), Remington Sanchez (Jr., 215, 6-19), Diego Sanchez (So., 190), Jack Honaker (Fr., 285).

• Notes: The Vikings have several hard workers ... They need to get tougher and hone their skills ... Ky Emmerson and Ryan Blanton graduated ... McGuire wants to see his group improve every day.

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: 2022-23 Wrestling Preview Capsules