This past weekend Elijah Showalter (209 lbs) and Adyn Lambert (176 lbs) represented Logan-Hocking Middle School in the Ohio Athletic Committee Boys Jr High State Wrestling Tournament held at the Covelli Center in Youngstown. To participate in the event, both boys had to qualify by placing in the top six at a district tournament held back in February. Despite going 0-2 Lambert, a first-year wrestler, held his own dropping his first match 7-3 to Levi Keyes of Hilliard followed by another 4-2 loss to Dylan Hershberger of Grover Hill. Even though he didn't win a match, for a first-year wrestler to qualify and wrestle competitive matches at the state tournament, that's a pretty good accomplishment.
Elijah Showalter finished the weekend 2-2 at 209 lbs. Showalter dropped a close opening-round bout via 6-5 decision to Mason Garno of Tiffin. He then rebounded with a second-period pin over Nolan Nash of Amherst followed by a 2-1 decision over Beckett McMullin of New Albany. Eli dropped his final match 6-0 to Robert Stewart of Oregon Clay. With just one year of experience prior to this season, for Eli to wrestle competitive matches and get some wins at the state tournament is very exciting. Both boys have bright futures ahead of them and I expect them both to win a lot of matches when they take the mats for Logan High School during the next four years.