The Washington Blue Lion wrestling team continued to prove they have some top caliber performers on a team that scores best in big events.

Entering the 22nd annual McDonald’s/Miami Trace Invitational against very tough competition featuring many of the top Southeast and Southwest Ohio Division II wrestling teams, they were one of six teams with a legitimate shot of capturing a team title.

Minus three key starters, Washington still managed to have one of their best showings at the tournament in school history. Three Blue Lions reached the finals by winning their four man pools and being placed on the brackets of the championship semi finals. All three pounded their semifinal opponent to move on to the championship match.

Kole Trigg (112), Paul Gryniuk (171) and Riley Shaw (215) advanced to the finals with convincing wins in the semi finals after going 3-0 in their respective pools.

Head coach Louis Reid was excited for his team after the tournament.

“This was one of our best finishes ever in this tournament,” Reid said. “We had three champions and a total of five placers here today. We lost some key early round matches I thought we should have won but we had a great third round to move from eighth to six place.”

Kole Trigg became Washington’s first ever freshman champion by winning the 112-pound class in impressive fashion. The young wrestler upset number one seed Josh Dinguss of Athens in the semi finals with a pin in 5:27. Dinguss had defeated Trigg early in the season at a preview by a 10-0 score.

Coach Reid identified an important factor in the result this time.

“We know Kole has a lot of ability,” Reid said. “He owned this match against Dinguss. He turned a corner with this win giving him a whole lot of confidence. He really handled his finals opponent from Greenville.” Trigg defeated Nelson Roberts of Greenville by a 10-3 score to take first place. Trigg is 21-6 on the season. 


Paul Gryniuk pummeled all five of his opponents by pin. The 171-pound junior never reached the second period of any of his matches dispatching each of them well before the end of the first period. The championship gives him his second McDonald’s/Miami Trace title. He won the 160-pound weight class in 2009. In the finals, Gryniuk defeated Cole Brickler of Circleville with a pin in 1:20.

“Paul was very impressive,” Reid said. “He was just rolling through opponents. He really wants to be on the podium at the State Tournament. He works very hard in the practice room. He pushes others to get better.” Gryniuk is 32-1 on the season losing only to one of Graham’s well-heralded State finalists, Huston Evans.

Riley Shaw was nearly as impressive in conquering all of his opponents with relative ease. Shaw pinned his way through the pool before beating Taylor Golden of Sheridan in the semi finals by major decision 26-13 win.

There was a heart-stopping moment when Golden launched Shaw to his back from the feet creating quite a stir among the crowd and especially Sheridan’s coaching staff. The 27-3 Golden is quite an accomplished wrestler and nearly pinned the redoubtable Shaw.

The Blue Lion sophomore rose to the occasion arching off his back and coming back strong to win by 13 points. His finals opponent, Caleb Cooper of McClain, defended Shaw reasonably well before succumbing to a 12-3 major decision.

Shaw improves to 27-3 on the season. His only losses are to McIntosh in an early dual, a GMVWA finals loss to a Division I State qualifier, and a recent close loss to returning State Champion, Corby Running, of Clinton-Massie, by an 8-6 score.

“People forget Riley is only a sophomore,” Reid said. “He is having a great season. We think he has a good shot at being the first Washington wrestler in 22 years to win a District title. The (Blue Lion) to win an individual District title is our assistant coach, Shane Paul.”

Dominic Dicamillo (119) and Ben Parks (152) both placed at the event. Dicamillo went 2-1 in his pool before winning his final two bouts in the consolation rounds to complete his day in fifth place. He defeated Jay Dilley of Amanda by major decision in his final bout for fifth place.

Parks entered the tough 152-pound class winning his pool with two falls. He then ran into Tyler VanHorn of Amanda who entered with a 24-4 record. VanHorn overpowered the junior Blue Lion to win a 20-10 major decision. Parks would be nipped in the third place match against Hysell of Westfall by a 6-5 score to end his tournament in fourth place.

“Dominic has wrestled well all year for us,” Reid said. “He had some nice wins in the consolations. He and Kole Trigg really push each other. Ben was in a loaded weight class at 152 pounds. He is doing well. He was fifth here last year.”

Also competing for Washington was Adam Hinkley at 103 pounds. He went 0-3.

Adam Smith won a bout in the pool version of the tournament at 125 pounds. He defeated Ben Eckleman of Wellston by a 9-6 score to go 1-2 on the day.

Ron Woods competed at 125 as well for the Blue Lions going 0-3. Brandon Davis helped out by moving up to 130 pounds. He wrestled at 103 last season and has been as low as 112 pounds this season. He was 0-3.

Jimmy VanDyke won a bout at 135 pounds with his 6-0 win over Knotts of Wellston by a 6-0 score. Adam Cook went 1-2 earning a pin at 140 pounds in pool action over Joe Roeder of Circleville.

Heath Klontz won a 13-0 major decision in his pool against Barber of McClain. VanDyke, Cook and Klontz were all three 1-2 in their respective pools. Skylar Fox was 0-3 at 160 pounds.

Tyler Riley worked his way through a competitive wrestle off system in his own practice room to be able to participate in the tournament. He made good use of the time by going 1-2 with a 13-2 major decision win against Caskey of McClain. Mitchell Lindsey was 0-3 at heavyweight.

Three individual champions tied both Goshen and Greenville for the most weight class title winners by any team in the tournament. Next up for the Blue Lions is their own dual meet tournament this upcoming weekend.

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