DeSales wrestling team wins CCL duals, defends league championship
Correction: The final score of the DeSales-Watterson match was 48-33.
The CCL wrestling duals serve several purposes, most notably granting bragging rights to the team champion. The tournament also renews competitive yet friendly rivalries within the league and helps wrestlers prepare for the postseason.
The annual event was held Wednesday at DeSales, with the host Stallions going 3-0 to defend their league title. Last year’s championship was DeSales’ first since 2009.
“This tournament is awesome,” Stallions coach Collin Palmer said. “We had a pretty packed house for the duals, which is good to see. I work with a lot of these kids on the other teams in my club, so it’s cool seeing all of them in the same facility and getting some wins.”
High school sports newsletter: Get the latest news from The Dispatch in your inbox
Watterson finished second at 3-1, losing to DeSales 48-33.
Winners by pin for DeSales were David McClelland at 138 pounds (2 minutes, 49 seconds), Owen Eagan at 152 (1:15), Andrew Barford at 165 (1:00), Lincoln Shulaw at 175 (51 seconds), Marshall Froehlich at 190 (3:18), Max Shulaw at 215 (40 seconds) and Raesean Betton at heavyweight (33 seconds). McClelland won last year's Division II state title at 132, and Max Shulaw was runner-up at 215.
Winners by pin for Watterson were Neal Krysty at 106 (1:05), Robbie Hite at 113 (1:52), Ryan Grim at 126 (1:03) and Joe Curry at 132 (1:29).
“I’m excited,” Watterson coach Felix Catheline said. “I’m proud of our kids and their efforts. We’re not there yet as a team, but we have some kids who are trending in the right direction. I really like the future. We have some good stuff coming down the pike.”
Hartley went 1-2 in the duals, and Ready and St. Charles each went 1-3. DeSales and Hartley did not face each other because they met in the Division II district dual tournament Saturday, with DeSales winning 49-24.
The CCL tournament also determines the all-league honorees.
DeSales, Hartley and Watterson again will compete in the Division II postseason, while St. Charles is in Division I and Ready is in Division III. The postseason begins with sectionals Feb. 25 and culminates with the state tournament March 10-12 at Value City Arena.
“We’re not celebrating until we get a state title under our belt,” Palmer said. “(The league title) is just another notch on the belt and working towards our end goal.”
This was the final CCL tournament for Ready, which will join the new Central Buckeye League in the fall. The league also will include schools from the MSL-Ohio Division.
“I like this tournament, but it’s kind of hard knowing that we’re not going to be involved in it anymore," Ready coach Anthony Aiello said. “This is our last season with the CCL. It hit me today that this is the last time in the CCL. It’s hard to swallow. Being part of the CCL has been great. Teams are getting better and better, but it stinks we’re leaving.”
Watterson was led by sophomore Mitchell Younger, who went 4-0 on the night.
“This combines the whole Catholic community,” said Younger, won the state title at 144 last season. “There’s five teams and we’re all pretty good, individually and as a team. We push each other. ... We don’t see this at the state tournament. We don’t get everyone together. We’re tested physically, but then there’s the mental and spiritual parts in the CCL, which is a different feel. It’s a different type of community.”
@DispatchFrank
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: DeSales edges Watterson for CCL wrestling championship
