Similar to an old locomotive barreling down the tracks, the Miami Trace wrestling team ran out of steam just before the end of the line.

The Panthers have used a great deal of momentum lately to carry them to a team championship at Beavercreek and a high place finish at one of the most regarded wrestling tournaments throughout Ohio; the Top Gun Tournament.

That same inertia propelled them through the first three rounds of the McDonald’s/Miami Trace Invitational as they held a slight lead over newcomer Greenville as well as Athens, Sheridan and Amanda-Clearcreek. The Washington Blue Lions lurked close behind.

The semi finals, known as the money round, where many team titles are won or lost in the sport of wrestling, was the telling point of the tournament for two teams.

Greenville sped through the round winning seven times in nine bouts sending those grapplers on to the finals with key team points earned. The Panthers would lose six of their nine matches along with their hopes of regaining ownership of the team championship trophy.

Although the round did not go as well as hoped, the Panthers regrouped and continued winning to ensure at least a runner up finish in the 18-team tournament for the second year in a row. Greenville scored 315 points to Miami Trace’s 287.5. Last year’s team champion, Athens High School, was third with 278 points.

Head coach Jack Anders was realistic in commenting on his team’s performance.

“We wrestled to our ability this weekend,” Anders said. “We were second in a tournament we really wanted to win. We knew there were six teams with a chance to win this tournament. We wrestled up to our potential. Everyone contributed. Even our extras who got in the tournament won matches for us.”

Jordan Fraley (145) and Travis McIntosh (189) both won titles at the event. It was a second McDonald’s/Miami Trace title for both wrestlers. Fraley captured his first last season while McIntosh won as a freshman but was upset in the finals last season by Joey Young of Athens in the finals.

Fraley went 3-0 in his pool winning by two pins and a major decision. He then pinned Dillon Pinkstock of Amanda in the semi finals before ending the undefeated season of Westfall’s Vincent Pickett by defeating the 30-0 wrestler by a close 3-1 decision. The victory upped Fraley’s record to 27-4.

McIntosh had little problem in the pool rounds winning all three with first period pins. He needed just 41 seconds in the semi finals before pinning David Prewitt of Goshen. He faced Kaleb Miller of Amanda in the finals winning a 9-4 decision over the 27-3 Miller. The two had squared off at the State Tournament last year with McIntosh winning by pin. McIntosh is now 27-2 on the year.

Nathan Bowers went 4-1 on the day winning his pool with a 3-0 record. He had an important hard-fought battle in his pool against Raymond Ety of Sheridan. Bowers emerged victorious with a 6-4. Jeremiah Weekley of Circleville would end Bowers’ hopes of repeating as an individual champion of the tournament in the finals with a 6-3 decision over the Panther. Bowers is 20-7 during his sophomore season.

Six other Miami Trace wrestlers won their respective pools to reach the semi finals. Dustin McFadden (119), Codey Neff (125), Keaton Webb (130), Jamie Pack (140), Cody Snyder (160) and Chuck Bolen (171) all won their respective pools earning placement on the championship bracket.

It would prove very difficult for the six Panthers in this round.

Dustin McFadden took Troy Riffle to the wire but came up just short in a 7-5 loss. Neff lost by injury default to Ben Edwards of Greenville. Webb would be outdone by Jordan Ott of Painty Valley with a 9-2 decision. Jamie Pack was pinned by Ethan Stull of Greenville in 1:17.

Snyder was injured mid way through the second period while trailing two time McDonald’s/Miami Trace champion, Chaz Gresham, of Goshen.

Bolen, a senior, lost to Cole Brickler of Circleville by a 14-6 major decision. Only Keaton Webb would be able to pick up a win in the third place match. He defeated Dez Hauber of Westfall with a 9-2 decision. The five other wrestlers all placed fourth.

Shawn Smith placed fifth at 112 pounds. He lost in the pool round to number one seed, Josh Dinguss, by a 9-4 score before reeling of four consecutive wins. He finished the day with a pin over Aaron Huffman of Westfall in 4:19.

Derrick Melvin went 1-2 at 103 pounds. He defeated David Meadows of Circleville in the third round of the pool with a 14-5 major decision to give the Panthers valuable team points.

Tyler Daniels, competing at 140 pounds, picked up a pin in round three over David Sime of Westfall in 1:18. He was 1-2 on the day. 152 pound Josh Teasley and teammate Nick Gilbert competed for the Panthers at 152. Teasley went 1-2 with a pin against Jacob Unger of Greenfield in 1:42.

Gilbert went 2-1 in the pool to earn advancement to the consolation bracket. Gilbert won his first match in the consolations with a fall over Aaron Fleming of Westfall before being defeated by Chris Holiday of Athens in the fifth place match by a 12-0 score.

The Panthers had a pair of extras in the 189 pound class. Derek Muncie and Tyler Havens both went 0-3. Wes Keaton (215) won a match in his pool against Athens’ Tyler Sorrell by a 6-3 score. Jake Ault went 0-3 at heavyweight.

“This was a good tournament to have especially in preparation for the Sectional and District tournaments,” Anders said. “Competing here is very helpful. We will see most of these competitors again.”

It was yet another very competitive McDonald’s/Miami Trace Invitational Wrestling Tournament which always been an excellent preparatory event for the rigorous stretch to the State Championships. Miami Trace must regroup and get healthy in the next two weeks leading up to the SCOL Tournament in Hillsboro. That will be a challenge given three separate dual meets this week on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. A new head of steam is needed to carry on the momentum gained throughout the season.

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