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New Franklin, Ohio —
It has been a difficult season on the mats for the Manchester wrestlers as illnesses and injuries have hit the team hard in the early going. The Panthers are scrapping to field a team.
The red and black had to opt out of the Canfield Duals (Dec. 15) and the tri-match against Tuslaw/Fairless (Dec, 12). However, the Panthers appear to have cleared most of those hurdles to return to some normalcy.
Manchester competed recently at the Plymouth Duals and the Panther Invitational.
The team put together a fine showing at the Panther Invitational with a second-place team finish and three individual champions.
Manchester scored 205 points at the tourney, while Massillon Perry (Gold) tallied 252 points. Orrville was third with 196 and Akron Ellet fourth with 178.
Winning their respective weight classes were junior Bobby Bowen (120 pounds), sophomore Drew Brasiel (145) and junior Jake Hanzel (285).
Bobby Bowen and Hanzel both compiled 5-0 records, while Brasiel was 4-1. Bowen also was voted by the coaches as the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament.
Others placing for the red and black were freshman Joey Bowen (106) at second with a 4-1 mark, freshman Paul Dies (160) at third with 4-1, Issac Highman (170) third in the round robin format, and senior Adam Zechman (152) fourth at 3-2.
“I was very proud of our team overall finishing second again not having competitors in four weight classes,” said head coach James Easterling. “I was especially proud of our captains. Each had to overcome some
obstacles en route to their titles.
“Bobby (Bowen) has been out the past few weeks with an illness. He demonstrated true mental toughness and leadership, not only getting well but preparing himself for this tournament and then going 5-0 with all pins to win his weight class,” Easterling said.
He also praised other finishers on the team.
“Drew (Brasiel) overcame a loss to a tough wrestler from Dalton in the round robin preliminary and defeated him for the title in the finals,” Easterling said. “With Jake (Hanzel), he fought hard in his final having to wrestle a full match against his opponent from Perry to win 2-0. Jake has not been scored on in his first 12 matches. Paul (Dies) had a nice tournament finishing third, and our only senior, Adam (Zechman), contributed to the team score with a fourth-place finish. He has worked hard all season long.”
At the Plymouth Duals, the Panthers lost a pair of decisions and fell to Upper Sandusky and host Plymouth.
Joey Bowen, Brasiel and Hanzel won both of their matches. Hanzel also registered a pair of pins.
Freshmen Tim Clark and Trevor Ulman had 1-1 marks. It was Clark’s first taste of varsity action, as he was filling in for Bobby Bowen.
“While we did lose to both teams, we are giving each team a 24-point head start with our forfeits in four weight classes,” Easterling said. “In the end though, we are able to learn a lot about our younger wrestlers.”
It has been a difficult season on the mats for the Manchester wrestlers as illnesses and injuries have hit the team hard in the early going. The Panthers are scrapping to field a team.
The red and black had to opt out of the Canfield Duals (Dec. 15) and the tri-match against Tuslaw/Fairless (Dec, 12). However, the Panthers appear to have cleared most of those hurdles to return to some normalcy.
Manchester competed recently at the Plymouth Duals and the Panther Invitational.
The team put together a fine showing at the Panther Invitational with a second-place team finish and three individual champions.
Manchester scored 205 points at the tourney, while Massillon Perry (Gold) tallied 252 points. Orrville was third with 196 and Akron Ellet fourth with 178.
Winning their respective weight classes were junior Bobby Bowen (120 pounds), sophomore Drew Brasiel (145) and junior Jake Hanzel (285).
Bobby Bowen and Hanzel both compiled 5-0 records, while Brasiel was 4-1. Bowen also was voted by the coaches as the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the tournament.
Others placing for the red and black were freshman Joey Bowen (106) at second with a 4-1 mark, freshman Paul Dies (160) at third with 4-1, Issac Highman (170) third in the round robin format, and senior Adam Zechman (152) fourth at 3-2.
“I was very proud of our team overall finishing second again not having competitors in four weight classes,” said head coach James Easterling. “I was especially proud of our captains. Each had to overcome some
obstacles en route to their titles.
“Bobby (Bowen) has been out the past few weeks with an illness. He demonstrated true mental toughness and leadership, not only getting well but preparing himself for this tournament and then going 5-0 with all pins to win his weight class,” Easterling said.
He also praised other finishers on the team.
“Drew (Brasiel) overcame a loss to a tough wrestler from Dalton in the round robin preliminary and defeated him for the title in the finals,” Easterling said. “With Jake (Hanzel), he fought hard in his final having to wrestle a full match against his opponent from Perry to win 2-0. Jake has not been scored on in his first 12 matches. Paul (Dies) had a nice tournament finishing third, and our only senior, Adam (Zechman), contributed to the team score with a fourth-place finish. He has worked hard all season long.”
At the Plymouth Duals, the Panthers lost a pair of decisions and fell to Upper Sandusky and host Plymouth.
Joey Bowen, Brasiel and Hanzel won both of their matches. Hanzel also registered a pair of pins.
Freshmen Tim Clark and Trevor Ulman had 1-1 marks. It was Clark’s first taste of varsity action, as he was filling in for Bobby Bowen.
“While we did lose to both teams, we are giving each team a 24-point head start with our forfeits in four weight classes,” Easterling said. “In the end though, we are able to learn a lot about our younger wrestlers.”
