Girls wrestling: Columbia dominates in tournament win

WESTFIELD TWP. — It was Columbia's day to celebrate at the LCWCOA Tournament on Saturday, finishing in first place, a whopping 70.5 points ahead of second-place Avon Lake, and more than 100 points ahead of every other team. The Raiders had four weight-class winners, most notably seniors Youstina Hanna at 140 pounds, Gabby Grace at 145 and Alyssa Keener at 235, as well as junior Annabella Naticchioni at 190. They also had two second-place finishers, Piper Erman at 110 and Claire Ondrejko at 125, who picked up her 100th career win during the tournament. "This group of seniors has accomplished a lot," said Columbia coach Marti Belfi. "Now, they're back-to-back conference champs, which is a big deal. They've prepared for it, and we're glad to get the win." Grace was particularly impressive, working through a shoulder injury to pick up four pins in four matches. "I just tried to ignore it," Grace said. "Last year, I took second, and I tried to keep a mindset that I was going to place higher this year. I know I can beat anybody with that mindset, and having the girls on the side of the mat cheering me on makes me a lot better." Saturday's tournament provided a nice change of pace for the Raiders, who are often facing schools that bring full rosters to tournaments, as they had more wrestlers competing than any other school. "Today we had the most complete lineup we've had all season," Belfi said. "And that's where these girls are ready to compete. I think they actually kind of wear that underdog badge, and they rise to the occasion, week after week, season after season, event after event, they're ready to go." Avon Lake finished 37.5 points ahead of third-place Midview despite each bringing six wrestlers. The Shoregals had three weight-class winners, all underclassmen, with freshmen Virginia Jordan at 105 and Kaylen Martin at 135 and sophomore Bianca Craig at 120. The 120-pound division had eight wrestlers, more than any other weight class, and Craig emerged victorious with three pins, a decision and a default victory in the final. "At the end of some of my matches, I realized that I had to take a shot," she said. "I couldn't wait for them to shoot on me, so I started taking shots and I started taking them down, and it helped me out a lot." Saturday's win continued what has been a solid season for Avon Lake, which has routinely finished near the top in tournaments despite its limited numbers. "I love this team so much, and I'm so glad that we all got to participate," Craig said. "I'm really looking forward to the tournaments to come. We're a small team, but we can do well at tournaments." Perhaps the most impressive performance of the day came from Black River's Taylor Owen, who recorded four pins, all under two minutes, and a technical fall, on the way to the title at 155. "I was just focused on wrestling my hardest, no nerves, no fear," Owen said. "Today, I was just focused on getting after it, pinning my way through and trying to get the win." TEAM STANDINGS: 1. Columbia 202, 2. Avon Lake 131.5, 3. Midview 94, 4. Cloverleaf 86, 5. Keystone 81.5, 6. Vermilion 69.5, 7. Oberlin 66, 8. Wellington 46, 9. Black River 44.5, 10. Firelands 39, 11. North Ridgeville 38, 12. Clearview 10, 13. Lorain 0. INDIVIDUAL PLACERS: 100: 1. Rose Boyer (Oberlin), 2. Amira Owens (Avon Lake), 3. Morgan Stoner (Columbia), 4. Minerva Ocasio (Clearview). 105: 1. Virginia Jordan (Avon Lake), 2. Makenzie Skolkak (Midview), Hailey Grant (Black River). 110: 1. Skye Price (Midview), 2. Piper Erman (Columbia), 3. Ava Bunn (Vermilion). 115: 1. Aubree Costlow (Midview), 2. Mackenzie Feltis (Vermilion), 3. Lillian McFarland (Oberlin). 120: 1. Bianca Craig (Avon Lake), 2. Azariah East (Oberlin), 3. Gianna Sanfilippo (North Ridgeville), 4. Rylee Kolmorgen (Wellington), 5. Anaiyah Campbell (Firelands), 6. Jianna Gray (Columbia), 7. Ace Miller (Keystone), 8. Karina Herrera (Clearview). 125: 1. Berkeley Craddock (Cloverleaf), 2. Claire Ondrejko (Columbia), 3. Bridget Carbaugh (Avon Lake), 4. Brooke Wade (Keystone), 5. Nyomi Colon (Firelands), 6. Adelina Robinette (Wellington). 130: 1. Mikaela Schofield (Keystone), 2. Rylee Post (Avon Lake), 3. Kathryn Hrpcha (Vermilion). 135: 1. Kaylen Martin (Avon Lake), 2. Kyriana Grahn (Keystone), 3. Carrigan Baltic (Cloverleaf), 4. Kayleigh Bratcher (Cloverleaf), 5. Sophia Juliani (Columbia). 140: 1. Youstina Hanna (Columbia), 2. Aubrey Willig (Cloverleaf), 3. Kaley Sheppard (Cloverleaf). 145: 1. Gabby Grace (Columbia), 2. Amelia Ryncarz (Cloverleaf), 3. Jenah Gluckle (Cloverleaf), 4. Alaina Malone-Brown (Midview), 5. Kara Sleasman (Wellington). 155: 1. Taylor Owen (Black River), 2. Cailyn Demagall (Columbia), 3. Emma Wilson (Keystone), 4. Nyla Campbell (Firelands), 5. Summer Massey (Midview), 6. Pheobe Harrison (Oberlin). 170: 1. Faith Sergent (Vermilion), 2. Jasmine Razo (Columbia), 3. Collins Bizub (North Ridgeville), 4. Hannah Gott (Wellington), 5. Anna Baker (Midview), 6. Emma Taylor (Wellington). 190: 1. Annabella Naticchioni (Columbia). 235: 1. Alyssa Keener (Columbia), 2. Jurnee Goulbourne (Wellington).