Another step in the right direction for West Holmes wrestlers
West Holmes hosted the sixth annual Marine Corps Memorial Tournament, sponsored by the Marine Corps, on Saturday, Jan. 28 in the Dungeon.
Placing four champions, Tyler Brown (113), Max Rohskopf (138), Justin Stitzlein (152), and Marshall Overholt (160), the Knights managed to take the tournament with 235 points.
“Our big two right now, Max and Justin, did what they were supposed to. Marshall had a good tournament here, and Tyler winning was awesome. We had four champs here today and it’s been awhile since we’ve been able to do that,” commented head coach Jeff Woods.
Brown, a senior, explained his first championship at the tournament. “Compared to all my other years wrestling this is definitely the best, and Jeff and Greg have taught me a lot that I didn’t even know. I progressed more this year and I doubled any other records I’ve held. I’m now 17-4. All other years I’ve had losing records. This year I’m just focused on State.”
Progressing is what the Knights plan to do, with the State tournament in mind for everyone. Each win is a step in the right direction.
“Our schedule is catered for being the best we can be at Sectionals so we have tough tournaments all year long (Medina Invitational, Top Gun, etc.),” commented Woods. “This tournament isn’t as big as the other tournaments but it can build some confidence going into the conference tournament in the next few weeks. Hopefully this will get us going in the right direction.”
Assistant coach Greg Woods explained that every match counts for the Knights and although everybody on the team is working on something different, most minds are just focused on the State tournament.
State is the biggest goal the team works on, every year and all year, Jeff Woods explained. “Everything we do all year long is to get to the State tournament in Columbus.”
Last year West Holmes saw two Knights go to the State tournament at Columbus in Stitzlein and Rohskopf, and a repeat trip is just what both are gearing toward.
“I keep practicing hard and staying sharp, pretty much the same thing I’ve been doing. I wrestle all year long, lift, and go to practices in Perry and Wadsworth. There’s been a lot of good competition at all tournaments, even here, and it’s preparing me for tough match-ups on the journey to the State tournament,” said Rohskopf, who pinned all four of his match ups before the championship round on Saturday, and eventually beat State qualifier Brain Spangler, from Keystone, to grab the top spot on the podium.
The younger Knights also showed major improvements, with multiple placings across the podium for the team, including a third-place finish for sophomore Raymond O’Donnell, and a fifth-place finish for young Knight Tyler Nichols.
“I think all of the younger kids are improving and seeing what it takes to get to the top. Kids like Raymond and Tyler are stepping up. The younger wrestlers were thrown in the lineup this year and didn’t have a lot of varsity experience or if they did they didn’t win a lot, so this is definitely preparing them for future years,” said Jeff Woods.
The successful Knights’ effort was shown in the Dungeon at the Marine Corps Memorial Tournament. Now comes the time to prepare for Sectionals for Jeff Woods and his team.
Placing four champions, Tyler Brown (113), Max Rohskopf (138), Justin Stitzlein (152), and Marshall Overholt (160), the Knights managed to take the tournament with 235 points.
“Our big two right now, Max and Justin, did what they were supposed to. Marshall had a good tournament here, and Tyler winning was awesome. We had four champs here today and it’s been awhile since we’ve been able to do that,” commented head coach Jeff Woods.
Brown, a senior, explained his first championship at the tournament. “Compared to all my other years wrestling this is definitely the best, and Jeff and Greg have taught me a lot that I didn’t even know. I progressed more this year and I doubled any other records I’ve held. I’m now 17-4. All other years I’ve had losing records. This year I’m just focused on State.”
Progressing is what the Knights plan to do, with the State tournament in mind for everyone. Each win is a step in the right direction.
“Our schedule is catered for being the best we can be at Sectionals so we have tough tournaments all year long (Medina Invitational, Top Gun, etc.),” commented Woods. “This tournament isn’t as big as the other tournaments but it can build some confidence going into the conference tournament in the next few weeks. Hopefully this will get us going in the right direction.”
Assistant coach Greg Woods explained that every match counts for the Knights and although everybody on the team is working on something different, most minds are just focused on the State tournament.
State is the biggest goal the team works on, every year and all year, Jeff Woods explained. “Everything we do all year long is to get to the State tournament in Columbus.”
Last year West Holmes saw two Knights go to the State tournament at Columbus in Stitzlein and Rohskopf, and a repeat trip is just what both are gearing toward.
“I keep practicing hard and staying sharp, pretty much the same thing I’ve been doing. I wrestle all year long, lift, and go to practices in Perry and Wadsworth. There’s been a lot of good competition at all tournaments, even here, and it’s preparing me for tough match-ups on the journey to the State tournament,” said Rohskopf, who pinned all four of his match ups before the championship round on Saturday, and eventually beat State qualifier Brain Spangler, from Keystone, to grab the top spot on the podium.
The younger Knights also showed major improvements, with multiple placings across the podium for the team, including a third-place finish for sophomore Raymond O’Donnell, and a fifth-place finish for young Knight Tyler Nichols.
“I think all of the younger kids are improving and seeing what it takes to get to the top. Kids like Raymond and Tyler are stepping up. The younger wrestlers were thrown in the lineup this year and didn’t have a lot of varsity experience or if they did they didn’t win a lot, so this is definitely preparing them for future years,” said Jeff Woods.
The successful Knights’ effort was shown in the Dungeon at the Marine Corps Memorial Tournament. Now comes the time to prepare for Sectionals for Jeff Woods and his team.
Published: January 28, 2012
