January 26, 2017 at 6:28 p.m.
Patriots eyeing title on Saturday
Line Drives
It’s no surprise to have a Patriot wrestler crowned a sectional champion.
The Patriots have had their fair share over the years.
But it’s been more than a decade since the Jay County High School wrestling team has earned a team title.
That streak could end Saturday as the Patriots have a chance to win its first championship since 2001 when it hosts sectional at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Here’s how.
Jay County finished a perfect 14-0 this season in dual meets, including running through the Allen County Athletic Conference undefeated for the second straight year.
After finishing fourth in the season-opening Franklin Invitational in Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 3, the Patriots ran away with the ACAC dual championship a week later and the East Central Indiana Classic tournament title it hosted just before Christmas. The following week Jay County placed eighth out of 32 teams at the Connersville Invitational.
Since then, the Patriots have won three more tournaments — the New Haven Invitational on Jan. 7, the Coldwater Invitational the following week and the ACAC individual tournament championship on Saturday.
Much of that has been in part because of four returning semi-state qualifiers in Kaimen Sanders, Tyler Leonhard, Ivan Hemmelgarn and Gaven Hare.
But freshman Mason Winner has had a huge contribution as well.
Sanders, a 126-pounder, is Jay County’s only returning semi-state qualifier who is moving up a weight class. At 120 pounds last season, Sanders, a junior, finished in third place. He boasts a 19-8 record this year with 17 pins, tied for third-most on the team. Sanders is the second seed to returning sectional champion Jon Becker of Bellmont.
Tyler Leonhard, a 152-pound senior, was second as a junior to eventual state qualifier Hunter Bates of Adams Central.
The Patriots have had their fair share over the years.
But it’s been more than a decade since the Jay County High School wrestling team has earned a team title.
That streak could end Saturday as the Patriots have a chance to win its first championship since 2001 when it hosts sectional at 8:30 a.m. Saturday.
Here’s how.
Jay County finished a perfect 14-0 this season in dual meets, including running through the Allen County Athletic Conference undefeated for the second straight year.
After finishing fourth in the season-opening Franklin Invitational in Dayton, Ohio, on Dec. 3, the Patriots ran away with the ACAC dual championship a week later and the East Central Indiana Classic tournament title it hosted just before Christmas. The following week Jay County placed eighth out of 32 teams at the Connersville Invitational.
Since then, the Patriots have won three more tournaments — the New Haven Invitational on Jan. 7, the Coldwater Invitational the following week and the ACAC individual tournament championship on Saturday.
Much of that has been in part because of four returning semi-state qualifiers in Kaimen Sanders, Tyler Leonhard, Ivan Hemmelgarn and Gaven Hare.
But freshman Mason Winner has had a huge contribution as well.
Sanders, a 126-pounder, is Jay County’s only returning semi-state qualifier who is moving up a weight class. At 120 pounds last season, Sanders, a junior, finished in third place. He boasts a 19-8 record this year with 17 pins, tied for third-most on the team. Sanders is the second seed to returning sectional champion Jon Becker of Bellmont.
Tyler Leonhard, a 152-pound senior, was second as a junior to eventual state qualifier Hunter Bates of Adams Central.
Leonhard, is 29-4 this season and one of four top seeds for JCHS.
Ivan Hemmelgarn has a chance to follow in his brother’s footsteps. Eric Hemmelgarn, a 2014 JCHS graduate, was a three-time state medalist. Ivan, a senior, was one step away from earning his first state berth last year but lost in the ticket round at semi-state.
This season, Ivan Hemmelgarn, a 160-pound senior, is tied for the team lead with 30 wins and has just three losses. He’s got 18 pins this year, has accounted for the most match points on the team, and is seeded second behind Bellmont’s Tony Busse, who is ranked 12th in the state.
Junior Gaven Hare is coming off perhaps his best win of the season in the ACAC tournament championship on Saturday, defeating Adams Central’s Brandon Schoneman — he is 78 pounds heavier and 6 inches taller than Hare — in the heavyweight tournament championship. Hare was second to Adams Central’s Nash Brunner at sectional last season at 220, and the JCHS junior is 30-4, ranked 12th in the state and is the top seed heading into Saturday’s sectional tournament.
At 145 pounds, freshman Mason Winner boasts a 27-1 record, leads the team with 20 pins and is ranked eighth in the state. He is also the top seed.
Chandler Chapman has the other top seed for Jay County. The 182-pound sophomore is 13-1, and because of byes and forfeits will advance to the semifinal round on Saturday. All he has to do is win one of his two first matches and he’s a regional qualifier.
The same is true for freshman Zakk Atkins at 113, who is 16-9 and will face Logan Mosser of Adams Central in the semifinal.
Others who could help Jay County win its first sectional title in 15 years are second-seeded Seth Fugiett (21-7) at 120, Mitchel Ferguson (16-12) at 132, Thomas Hemmelgarn (18-7) at 170 and Daniel Ostrowski (17-9) at 195.
The Patriots scored 215 points last year, finishing second behind three-time champion Bellmont (252) and Adams Central (218.5).
With a stacked lineup that has had quite a bit of success so far this season, Jay County very well could hoist the trophy on its home mat come Saturday afternoon.
Ivan Hemmelgarn has a chance to follow in his brother’s footsteps. Eric Hemmelgarn, a 2014 JCHS graduate, was a three-time state medalist. Ivan, a senior, was one step away from earning his first state berth last year but lost in the ticket round at semi-state.
This season, Ivan Hemmelgarn, a 160-pound senior, is tied for the team lead with 30 wins and has just three losses. He’s got 18 pins this year, has accounted for the most match points on the team, and is seeded second behind Bellmont’s Tony Busse, who is ranked 12th in the state.
Junior Gaven Hare is coming off perhaps his best win of the season in the ACAC tournament championship on Saturday, defeating Adams Central’s Brandon Schoneman — he is 78 pounds heavier and 6 inches taller than Hare — in the heavyweight tournament championship. Hare was second to Adams Central’s Nash Brunner at sectional last season at 220, and the JCHS junior is 30-4, ranked 12th in the state and is the top seed heading into Saturday’s sectional tournament.
At 145 pounds, freshman Mason Winner boasts a 27-1 record, leads the team with 20 pins and is ranked eighth in the state. He is also the top seed.
Chandler Chapman has the other top seed for Jay County. The 182-pound sophomore is 13-1, and because of byes and forfeits will advance to the semifinal round on Saturday. All he has to do is win one of his two first matches and he’s a regional qualifier.
The same is true for freshman Zakk Atkins at 113, who is 16-9 and will face Logan Mosser of Adams Central in the semifinal.
Others who could help Jay County win its first sectional title in 15 years are second-seeded Seth Fugiett (21-7) at 120, Mitchel Ferguson (16-12) at 132, Thomas Hemmelgarn (18-7) at 170 and Daniel Ostrowski (17-9) at 195.
The Patriots scored 215 points last year, finishing second behind three-time champion Bellmont (252) and Adams Central (218.5).
With a stacked lineup that has had quite a bit of success so far this season, Jay County very well could hoist the trophy on its home mat come Saturday afternoon.
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