“This is probably the biggest win of my career because it topped off the triple crown for this year,” said Sams, who also won Greater Miami Conference and sectional titles prior to capturing the Division I 138-pound district championship Saturday night with a 9-3 victory against Middletown’s LaTrell Davis at the FHS Arena.
“The past few years I’ve just been happy to qualify to state,” Sams added. “This year, I’m really looking to do something, and that one seed really sets me up to do something.”
The top four finishers in each weight class advanced to the state tournament, which will run Thursday through Saturday at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
Joining Sams at state for a second consecutive year will be senior Jake Neyer, who placed second at 145, and junior Greysun Barden, who took third at 113.
Senior Marqis Nash (132) and junior Stephen Ludwig (182) each finished fifth to earn state-alternate status and help the Indians place second behind Moeller in the team standings, the program’s highest finish in more than a decade.
“You don’t like to sound like sour grapes, but (Moeller) gets to pick all the best kids around, so we feel like we’re the best public school in Southwest Ohio,” FHS coach Ron Masanek said. “Our kids are really proud of this. They wrestled really well.”
Hamilton and Lakota East also qualified a pair of wrestlers, while Lakota West and Edgewood each will send one.
West senior Nick Bloch (132) and Big Blue senior Jake Venable (220) each placed third.
“This is the highlight of my athletic career,” said Venable, who beat Springfield’s Devin Nye 6-4 less than 24 hours after Nye had pinned him in a second-round match.
“This time I played my game instead of his,” Venable added. “He’s good on the mat. Well, he’s good all over, but his game is on the mat, so I got a couple of quick takedowns and then tried to hold him up the rest of the match.”
Venable and senior teammate Gage Asher (fourth, 138) will be making their first appearance at state, as will Lakota East junior Jacob Burton (fourth, 195) and Edgewood senior Jordan Puska (fourth, 120). Lakota East junior Austin Daly (fourth, 113) and Bloch are heading back for the second year in a row.
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