Warren High wrestling history could be made at the Southeastern Ohio Athletic League (SEOAL) Championships at Chillicothe High at 9:30 a.m. Saturday.
Cory Parsons needs just three mat wins to surpass former Warren great Heath Eddleblute's career record of 151. The Warriors' 113-pound senior currently owns a 149-30 overall mark. (Eddleblute, who was coached by the legendary Martin Santini, finished with a 151-9 record.)
"Because of the size of the (SEOAL) field, the most a wrestler could wrestle is four matches," said first-year Warren wrestling coach Mike Pahl. "Some might only wrestle two or three matches, though. So, Cory might have to wait until the sectional before he sets the record."
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Photo courtesy of Kelly Pahl
Warren’s 170-pound Austin Antill looks to flip an opponent over on his back during a match this season.
The SEOAL field includes defending champion Logan, Gallia Academy, Chillicothe, Jackson and Warren.
"Logan, Chillicothe, and Gallia each has a full team," Pahl said. "And Jackson is even smaller than us.
"I'm hoping to have 10 or 11 kids in the lineup, and I think we can get first in five weight classes. And, if the other kids can place, I think we've got a shot at winning it (SEOAL)."
Earlier, in the Miami Trace McDonald's Invitational at Washington Court House, Parsons broke Eddleblute's pin record of 91 with a mat-slapper in his first bout.
On the season, Parsons is 32-4 after going 4-0 and earning a championship at last Saturday's John Deno Wrestling Tournament at Athens High in The Plains. He did not wrestle five matches in that tourney, because he got a bye in the opening round.
At John Deno, Parsons pinned Meigs' Robert Hoffman in 1:59 in his first match in Round 2. In Round 3, he flattened Boyd County's Justin McDowell in 2:29.
Parsons also earned a fall against Vinton County's Austin Webb in the semifinals.
In the finals, he decisioned Westfall's Derek Thomas, 7-2, to claim the title.
Parsons is a three-time SEOAL champion, and is a favorite to make it four.
Congleton is also a defending league champion in the 106-pound weight division. The Warrior sophomore currently owns a 37-1 record after going 4-0 at John Deno and winning a title.
"If Levi and Cory don't win a league championship, they're walking home," said Pahl, jokingly.
At John Deno, Congleton led off with a pin of Shane Stalder at 1:07 in Round 1. In Round 2, he got a fall against Meigs' Leslie Hoffman in 23 seconds.
Congleton pinned Logan's Wyatt Garren in the semis, and then flattened Athens' Skyler St. Peter in the final.
Also placing for Warren at John Deno were 182-pounder Zach Pike (third), and 145-pounder Austin Klintworth (sixth) and 170-pounder Austin Antill.
"Zach wrestled really well for us," Pahl said.
Warren's wrestling lineup is also expected to include 138-pounder Braden Hewitt, 160-pounder Austin Miles, 170-pounder Wayne Bailey, 145-pounder Cody Dobbs, and 285-pounder Brandon Pahl.
Pahl, the coach's son, is back in action after sitting out John Deno with a shoulder injury. Last year, the younger Pahl wrestled 220 at the SEOAL meet and placed third.
Also placing last year for Warren on the current roster were Hewitt (132), Dobbs (145)), and Antill (160).
"Brandon's looking forward to wrestling again," the elder Pahl said, "because the guy who won (285) at John Deno, he beat earlier in the season."
Also, at 10 a.m. Saturday, the Tri-Valley Conference Championships* are scheduled to be hosted by Vinton County High in McArthur.
Washington County will be represented by Waterford and Belpre.
The Scott Zimmer-coached Wildcats will feature Zeb Offenberger at 120 pounds; Austin Lang, 126; Tim Leach, 132; Wes Wagner, 138; Hunter Munjas, 160; and Blake Heiss, 182.
At the John Deno Tournament, Lang (37-6) was runner-up; Munjas (32-12) placed sixth; and Heiss (28-18) was seventh.
Lang was edged 2-1 by Athens' Keanu Hallowell in the 126 finals bout. Earlier the Wildcat junior earned a 16-0 tech fall against Westerville North's Antonio Albertini in Round 1.
In Round 2, Lang won a 20-9 major decision over Paul Pook of Athens.
Lang flattened Meigs' Gage Gilkey in 1:30 in Round 3, and followed that up with an 8-5 decision over Vinton County's Austin Barnes in the semis to advance to the title bout.
Belpre is expected to start Gavin Stalnaker at 106; Jordan McCutcheon, 113; Zach Davis, 120; Shane Wheldon, 126; Manney Tullius, 132; Daniel Law or Jake Hall, 138; Ethan Wiggers, 145; Cody Martin, 152; Derek Davis or Matthew Colvin, 160; Tyler Martin, 182; Jamie Barrett, 195; and Hayden Lowe, 285.
*TVC wrestling note: Athens was scheduled to wrestle Circleville in the regional final of the team dual tournament at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Circleville. If the Bulldogs won, they will advance to the state tournament on Saturday at St. John Arena. This means that the TVC meet will be held at 4 p.m. today at Vinton County.
