Dutch wrestlers continue their successes in off-season

High school wrestlers at team state championships in February. Many of these teammates have gone on to success in the off-season as they prepare for next year’s competitive season. Photo courtesy of Emma Woods.

submitted by Coach Steve Vlcek

The Manchester Wrestling program sent five wrestlers down to a very good national tournament in West Virginia, the TOC Classic.

Youth wrestler Colt Vannier wrestled very well but came up short in his three matches. Colt continues to work hard and wrestle against some of the best in the country.

Senior Mason Schmidt had a great weekend, going 4–2 in his division and placing fourth, defeating an Ohio State champ on the way. On Sunday, he went 4–2 also, as his team went 3–3.

Sophomore Sammy Stewart had a real tough bracket, losing to a state champ from Pennsylvania in the semis in a close match. He came back strong, finishing in third place, going 6–1 on the day. In his third-place match, he defeated a two-time Illinois State champ to bring home third.

Freshman Blake Sloan had an even longer road to his third-place finish, losing a tough 6–5 decision in the quarter-finals, then stormed his way back, winning five consecutive matches to take home third place. On Sunday, Blake’s team went undefeated, going 4–2 on the day, including defeating the kid who won his bracket on Saturday.

Sophomore Dylan Gauss, wrestling in his first National Tournament, had a terrific weekend. After losing his first match 2–0, he came back strong, going 5–2 on the day and finishing fifth. Along the way, he avenged his first match loss in the fifth-place match. Dylan also wrestled on the same team as Blake. Even though he didn’t win a match, he was in all his matches; a great finish for his first Big Tournament.

This group will be wrestling throughout the spring and summer and will be making some noise as they work hard to get better for next year’s season.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.