Patriots aim to repeat as sectional champs

Last year the Patriots accomplished something that hadn’t been done in nearly two decades.

They won a sectional title.

A week later, they were runners-up at regional. They sent eight athletes to semi-state and had two state medalists.

Most of that firepower is back. The next goal, repeating.

“We’re going to try to one-up ourselves, try to defend that sectional title which is going to be a really tough thing to do,” said Jay County High School wrestling coach Eric Myers, whose team begins its season Tuesday at Centerville. “We want more regional qualifiers, more semi-state qualifiers and definitely more state qualifiers.” 

Jay County’s sectional championship last year was its first since 2001. The last time the Patriots won back-to-back sectional titles was in 1998.

“We have to present ourselves another challenge, that way we don’t get complacent,” Myers said.

Leading the charge is two-time state medalist Mason Winner. He was seventh at 145 pounds two years ago, becoming the first freshman state medalist in program history, and last year he finished eighth while jumping two weight classes to 160.

Again he’ll climb two weight classes to 182 and has his sights set on the top of the podium.

“Win a state title,” Winner, a junior, said of his goal this year. “I made a promise to my grandpa before he passed away. I plan on keeping it.”

Adjusting to the style of yet another higher weight class will be Winner’s toughest challenge. But the knowledge and technique he possesses for someone his age baffles even his coaches. It’s an attribute Myers believes Winner can use to his advantage.

“I think this time presents a different challenge in that … it’s a different style that he’ll have to get used to,” said Myers, whose squad won the Allen County Athletic Conference team dual tournament championship for the third year in a row last season. “I think he’s built for that and at 182 his high level of technique will shine a little bit more than it has before.”

George Lykins, Thomas Hemmelgarn, Jordan Schricker, Zakk Atkins and Chandler Chapman are returning semi-state qualifiers. (Chapman will not be eligible until the final tournament of the regular season — Jan. 12 at Coldwater — after he was arrested in September. His case is currently going through legal proceedings.)

Myers touted the progression of Lykins, who was a JV wrestler as a sophomore and jumped to semi-state a year ago, and the work ethic of Hemmelgarn.

Schricker had a surprise run to semi-state, and Myers is hoping he as well as Hemmelgarn and Lykins can make the next step.

“I tell these guys that I watched kids in the past that have not had a whole lot of success and they continue to work hard,” Myers said. “Once they get a little bit of confidence it goes a long way.

“Being that close to the state finals (Schricker) realized how close he is. I think he thought he was a lot further off than he was to being a state qualifier.”

Myers said Atkins, who was a regional runner-up and reached semi-state at 120 pounds, didn’t have a consistent practice partner last year, but freshman Blayne Daniels steps in this year to give the junior a challenge. 

Cameron Gage and Daniels will fill in the 132-138-pound range, while Jayden Maymi and Dylan Garringer are in the mix in the lower weights with Dylan Racster and Ian Liette.

“Blayne Daniels had an awesome middle school wrestling career,” Myers said. “Out of the freshmen that are coming in, we may have three freshmen in the lineup at one point.

“Blayne is probably the most heralded. He had a lot of offseason success. I really look forward to him doing some really good things this year.”

Gaven Hare, a two-time state qualifier at 220 pounds and medalist last year, leaves a void at the top of the Patriots’ lineup Myers hopes to fill. Also gone is 182-pound semi-state qualifier Mitchel Frasher.

“Those guys (are) tough to replace,” Myers said. “Right now we’re working through replacing some of that leadership, looking for guys to step up (and) lead the room.

“We didn’t have a huge senior class there, but just taking a few guys out of the room just gives the room a different feel. Not necessarily better or worse, just a different feel.

“We’re getting used to that and feeling things out and finding our identity.”

Myers said Dawson Frasher and Cooper Jacks will be competing for varsity spots in the heavier weights.