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By Kris Horlacher
Even with the bad weather, Oakwood enjoyed an outstanding sectionals tourney at Blanchester. The team finished a very respectable sixth out of 14 teams but more importantly, sent seven wrestlers on to district competition next week with top four finishes.
“The seniors laid it on the line this week” remarked Coach Gary Kessler and indeed seniors led the way with Joel Turner, Matt Werst and Alex Livada all advancing to districts. Senior Brian Graeser just missed with a fifth place but ended on a high note by crushing his Williamsburg opponent. Rounding out the qualifiers are Daniel Jacobs, Paul Hochwalt, Brandon Bustillo and John Harman.
Early round victories were set up by arm bars and half nelsons as Jacobs, Hochwalt, Bustillo and Turner all advanced to the third round with excellent pin moves. Then the number one seeds in their brackets got in the way, sending all to the consolation bracket except Hochwalt, a top seed himself at 112. Joel Turner nearly pulled off the huge upset, losing 5-4 only after the top seed squeezed out a last minute takedown. Hochwalt wrestled superbly and moved on a bye and two pins, one off a double arm bar.
But the first order of business is finishing in the top four, and eight wrestlers got within one win of advancing to districts. Jacobs, Bustillo, Turner, Harman, Nolan Kronberg, Werst, Graeser and Livada all overpowered their opponents to set up key showdowns, then toughness took over.
“I told them to finish what they started” said Coach Kessler and he wasn’t disappointed, as six of eight won to guarantee a shot in districts. DJ Jacobs started the key round off the right way with a quick pin of his Greenview opponent. Brandon Bustillo followed with a solid 9-3 win and Joel Turner pinned a Dayton Catholic grappler. The last three winners did so, on pure determination. John Harman eaked out a tough 5-4 win coming from 4-0 down with a combo reversal and near fall. Matt Werst, still feeling the effects of last week’s bruised collarbone, gutted out a pin over the Blanchester entry. Finally, Alex Livada came from behind several times to win 9-8 despite obvious effect from a recent flu that kept him out of last week’s SWBL tourney.
Unfortunately, few won their last match which according to Coach Kessler will affect their draw next week. Bright spots were Paul Hochwalt’s first place 8-6 win at 112 and Nolan Kronberg’s pin for 5th place. Districts will be held at Fairmont next week, so come cheer the team as they compete for a state berth.
Placers from sectionals in Blanchester who will go on to districts at Fairmont. Pictured, left to right: Alec Livada, Brandon Bustillo, Joel Turner, John Harmon, D.J. Jacobs, Brian Graeser, Paul Hochwalt and Matt Werst.
Senior Captain Michael Cobb’s high school swimming career culminated in record setting fashion. On Friday at the Southwest District Championships at Miami University’s Corwin Natatorium, Cobb broke the school record in the 200 Individual Medley and was a member of the school-record-breaking 200 Medley Relay and the 400 Free Relay.
In the 200 Individual Medley, Cobb finished 17th with a time of 1:59.99, dropping more than 2 seconds from his seed time. Cobb’s time broke the school record of 2:00.67 set in 2000 by Travis Morrison-McKell.
The 200 Medley Relay of Chase Doman, David Ireland, Michael Cobb, and Daniel Schmitz placed 16th with a time 1: 44.37 which broke the record of 1:45.93 set in 2000. The 400 Free Relay of Chase Doman, Daniel Schmitz, David Ireland, and Michael Cobb finished 13th with a time of 3:21.35 to break the record of 3:24.10 set in 2000.
Cobb also competed in the 100 Backstroke where he finished ninth with a time of 54.79. Junior Chase Doman competed in the 500 Freestyle where he placed 30th with a time of 5:00.74 and competed in the 100 Backstroke where he placed 29th with a time of 57.75. Freshman David Ireland competed in the 200 Individual Medley and finished 21st with a time of 2:03.54. Ireland also qualified to the District Championships in the 100 Breaststroke where he finished 25h with a time of 1:03.35.
The Jills competed in the 2007 Southwest District Championships on Friday at Miami University’s Corwin Nixon Natatorium where every swimmer and relay dropped time from their seed times.
The Jills had two podium appearances in the 200 Free Relay and in the 400 Free Relay. The 200 Free Relay of Gracie Sherk, Tory Danis, Kristen Cobb, and Ellen Viereckl placed seventh with a time of 1:48.23. The 400 Free Relay of Kristen Cobb, Gracie Sherk, Lauren Amongero, and Ellen Viereckl placed sixth with a time of 4:03.86. The 200 Medley Relay of Sarah Wilhoit, Liz Whalen, Hilary Beyer, and Gracie Sherk placed 13th with a time of 2:04.61.
Place Finishers for the Jills:
200 Individual Medley: Hilary Beyer—21st/2:35.62. 100 Butterfly: Alexandra Harmony—17th/1:09.85 and Hilary Beyer—20th/1:10.24. 50 Freestyle: Kristen Cobb—17th/26.84 and Ellen Viereckl—19th/27:07. 100 Freestyle: Ellen Viereckl—15th/59.29 and Kristen Cobb—18th/1:00.12. 500 Freestyle: Sarah Wilhoit—18th/6:03.26. 100 Breaststroke—Hailey Pohlman—15th/1:16.90 and Liz Whalen—19th/1:18.48. 1 Meter Diving—Elissa Mosman—15th/149.50 and Stephanie Williams—16th/142.25.
The Oakwood girls seventh grade basketball team captured third place in this year’s Southwestern Buckeye League Junior High Girls Basketball Tournament. Along the road to the final four, the Oakwood seventh grade girls beat Brookville 33 to 15.
In the next game the girls went up against Dixie and came away with a sound victory 39 to 28.
After a disappointing loss to Bellbrook in the next tournament game, the Oakwood girls were set to play Madison in the battle for third place on Monday, Feb. 12 in Waynesville. It was a physical game where Oakwood proved their team strength with a 29 to 17 win. It was a positive ending to an award-winning season.
2006-2007 7th Grade Oakwood Girls Basketball Team. standing left to right: Katie Carlson (team mgr), Claire Davis, Grace Danis, Olivia Lewis, Dani Carlson, Kelsey Rieger, Rachel Ramey and Coach Nate Thompson: Kneeling left to right: Erin Taylor, Nicole Maher, Hannah French, Amanda Winch, Cara Mumford, Emma Roll.
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