Conference Wrestling Preview: Siders, Dalton try to spoil Waynedale's WCAL streak
When Greyson Siders steps on the mat this weekend at the Wayne County Athletic League Championships, he will be going for his third conference title in a row.
But don't tell the Dalton senior that, he's just trying to win another match.
“I'm focused on winning but, right now, I'm really just focused on getting better,” the 165-pounder said. “Wins and losses right now, they really don't mean anything. I would tell that to anybody.
“From here on out, its getting close to the tournament run, and I feel like we need to pick it up in the room. Our gas tanks are getting there, but we can always get better.”
Siders headlines a list of talented wrestlers set to take part in the annual county championships, held at Chippewa.
And while there will be a host of state-ranked wrestlers all poised for lengthy postseason runs, Waynedale has downright dominated the tournament over the past decade and a half.
Going for their 13th title in a row, the Golden Bears come in -- once again -- with a loaded lineup that should put them in the driver’s seat for the 28th WCAL crown in program history.
With a pair of state qualifiers from a year ago in Stephen Patterson (113 pounds) and Caden Schmeltzer (138) -- each of which are looking repeat as league champs -- Waynedale is loaded in the lightweight classes. Teammates Brock Beckler (106), Isaak Skelly (120), Riley Greathouse (126), Dalton Oberly (132), Cole Lewis (144) and Garrod (150) and Robert McCrork (157) come in as favorites in their respective brackets.
It won't be easy, however, as there will be some interesting battles in some of those groups.
Schmeltzer would need to contend with the defending 138-pound county champ, Joey McGuire of Rittman, while Chippewa's Ben Pierce, the 113-pound winner a year ago, has moved up to 126 and will have a match to watch with Greathouse.
But the Bears are as focused as ever after picking up a third-place finish at last weekend's OHSWCA State Duals.
“Different kids are shining and coming out at different times ... I like how we've been progressing,” Waynedale coach Louie Stanley said. “We're happy, but we have a lot of work to do. We're not even close to peaking and we don't want to peak. Our goal is peak around districts and state.”
Chippewa junior Neil Miller will look to repeat at 175, a weight group that is loaded with talent with Dalton's Kaden Russell and Jayden Schlabach expected to be in the field. Both Russell and Schlabach squared off at the OHSWCA District Duals earlier this month, with then-unranked Schlabach getting the victory.
Look for another intriguing field at 190, with Rittman's Justin Metheny, Dalton's Jack Waldron and Chippewa's Sam Petit among the tops, while Dalton's Seth Ryder (215) and an expected battle between Dalton's Cohen Riggenbach and Chippewa's Tyler Lower at 285 should make for a fun finish to the event.
For Riggenbach, who has a knack for winning grind-it-out matches, these late-season bouts only help prepare for the postseason ahead.
“I don't get a lot of big moves in the room, so when I come out here, I'm not used to getting huge throws that get people down quick,” the junior said. “I'm used to working with (Waldron and Ryder), where you have to work to get a takedown and hold onto it; play defense a little bit because they're good and you can't pin them that easy.”
Here's a look at the other league tournaments involving area teams:
Ohio Cardinal Conference
WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Madison Comprehensive High School (600 Esley Lane, Mansfield)
WRESTLERS TO WATCH: Mason Bauer (Ashland, 106), Brock Blankenhorn (Mount Vernon, 113), Max Ohl (Ashland, 113), Peyton Martin (WEST HOLMES, 113), Aden Burdulis (Mount Vernon, 120), Mike Thomas (Madison, 120), Guardian Miller (Ashland, 126), Grady Toye (WEST HOLMES, 126), Isaak Wickham (Ashland, 132), Tyler Ulmer (New Phila, 138), Aiden Proctor (Madison, 138), Louden Dixon (WEST HOLMES, 144), Mavrik Gregory (Madison, 144), Mason Mitchell (Mount Vernon, 150), Noah Fent (Ashland, 150), Hunter McCluggage (WEST HOLMES, 150), Jake Taylor (Mount Vernon, 157), Dylan Hudson (WOOSTER, 157), Edgar Mejia-Ramos (New Phila, 165), Cole Porter (WEST HOLMES, 175), Cole Eichorn (Lexington, 175), Cooper Smith (Ashland, 190), Dylan Sours (WEST HOLMES, 190), Alex Taylor (Mount Vernon, 215), Cayden Spotts (Ashland, 215), Evan Patton (WOOSTER, 215), Luke Mullins (Mount Vernon, 285), Garrett Dillon-Rine (New Phila, 285)
PREVIEW: A handful of intriguing potential matches between state-ranked wrestlers could be on tap for the annual OCC tournament. West Holmes is in the middle of all that fun as D-II eighth-ranked Louden Dixon and 11th-ranked Martin could run into some bouts that will have all the feelings of ones that will take place in Columbus next month. Dixon – the defending OCC 138 champ – is expected to take on No. 15 in D-I Mavrik Gregory of Mount Vernon, while Martin potentially could clash with D-I No. 18 Brock Blankenhorn. Grady Toye is also a returning league champ and has moved up to 126 this winter, while Hunter McCluggage also could make some noise at 150, after being runner-up at 132 a year ago. Mount Vernon is the defending team champ, while the Knights and Ashland will also be in the mix. Wooster had a pair of wrestlers that could make runs in their respective brackets. Both Dylan Hudson (157) and Evan Patton (215) were conference placers in 2023, along with Grant Hoffman (165). Patton is among a loaded 215-pound field that features a pair of top-10 D-I wrestlers from outside the area – fourth-ranked Alex Taylor Mount Vernon and No. 8 Cayden Spotts of Ashland.
Principals Athletic Conference
WHEN: Saturday, 8 a.m.
WHERE: Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy (4687 Wyoga Lake Road, Cuyahoga Falls)
WRESTLERS TO WATCH: Dominic Prosperi (Canton South, 106), Brent Hull (TUSLAW, 106), Renzo Tello (Canton South, 113), Kaden Lawson (TUSLAW, 113), Joe Slatzer (Fairless, 113), Rocco Czarnecki (CVCA, 120), Cash (Canton South, 120), Bradyn Wolfe (Northwest, 126), Trevor Kusmits (Manchester, 126), Cody Miller (Canton South, 132), Hart (CVCA, 132), Bryce Geer (Canton South, 138), Partin (Manchester, 138), Sam Knouse (TUSLAW, 138), Lucas Nair (Northwest, 144), Summer (CVCA, 144), Jacob Lyons (TUSLAW, 150), Zanden Lewis (Canton South, 150), Tyler Pugh (Canton South, 157), Sillman (Northwest, 157), Ayden Meade (Manchester, 165), Paul Hostetler (ORRVILLE, 165), Chad Griffith (Northwest, 175), Ethan Fricke (Canton South, 190), Collin Sullivan (Fairless, 215), Brahm Hostetler (ORRVILLE, 215), DeAngelo Spear (Canton South, 285), David Grimes (CVCA, 285)
PREVIEW: While Canton South looks to be a favorite, several teams – including Tuslaw – are expected to be battling it out behind the leaders. Both Sam Knouse and Jacob Lyons are defending league champs for the Mustangs and each find themselves in the mix again this year. The 138-pound Knouse will have his hands full, however, in a loaded bracket that features Canton South’s Greer and Manchester’s Partin. Kaden Lawson, a state qualifier last winter, was a PAC runner-up a year ago at 106 and, now at 113, is expected to have one of the matches to watch with another state-ranked wrestler in Fairless’ Joe Slatzer. Look for Nate Eberhardt, a sophomore 144-pounder, will also be another one to watch for Tuslaw, as well as Brent Hull at 106. Both Orrville’s Paul Hostetler (165) and Brahm Hostetler (215) should also be in the mix for their respective weight groups. Brahm Hostetler was a conference placer last season as a freshman. The Red Riders’ Seth Kinser (150) and Drew Caskey (175) could also be in the mix, along with Triway’s Jagger Hyatt (157).
Knox-Morrow Athletic Conference
WHEN: Saturday, 10 a.m.
WHERE: Northmor High School (7819 State Route 19, Galion)
WRESTLERS TO WATCH: Carter Thomas (Northmor, 106), Aiden Cervantes (Elgin, 106), Brady Carr (Northmor, 113), Ethan Amens (Northmor, 120), Tyler Reeder (LOUDONVILLE, 120), Trent Rooke (Fredericktown, 120), Cowin Beckler (Northmor, 132), Chris Marshall (Centerburg, 138), Isaac Wittel (LOUDONVILLE, 144), Creed Long (Elgin, 144), Arius Swaim (Northmor, 144), Kaiden Luikart (Elgin, 150), Carson Campbell (Northmor, 157), Quenten Harrison (Elgin, 157), Baylor Weisler (LOUDONVILLE, 165), Wyatt Denney (Cardington-Lincoln, 165), Nels Van Gundy (Elgin, 175), Blake Elliot (East Knox, 190), Rayden Caudill (Lucas, 190), Ashton Clark (Northmor, 190), Tyler Pasma (Elgin, 215), Charlie Sargent (Centerburg, 215), Russell Sherman (Elgin, 285)
PREVIEW: Loudonville has a handful of state-ranked wrestlers, each of which are expected to make runs at the KMAC title in their respective weight classes. Senior Issac Wittel, a runner-up at 138 last winter, is back and this time is among the state’s top-25 wrestlers at 144 and finds himself as the favorite in a bracket against underclassman Creed Long of Marion Elgin and Arius Swaim of Northmor. The Redbirds’ Tyler Reeder also placed last season at the conference tournament and will have his hand’s full in a loaded 120-pound bracket. A potential finals match could pit the local against fellow state-ranked wrestler in Northmor’s Ethan Amens. Another Loudonville wrestler, Baylor Weisler, is among the favorites at 165. Defending champ Elgin and Northmor are expected to compete for the team title. Cowin Beckler, a 132-pounder from Northmor, has the highest state ranking of any wrestler in the field (4th overall).
This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wrestling: Waynedale takes aim at 13th straight WCAL title
