Jaxson Boozer was Warren’s soul competitor in the morning session in the 8-and-Under Division. Placing fourth in his bracket, Boozer dominated his first two opponents with double-leg takedowns and counter sprawl go-behinds. From the top position he displayed a formidable half-Nelson and off the bottom, he was difficult to keep down as he escaped using hand control and stand-ups. As he advanced through the bracket, he faced some very skilled competitors, losing several close decisions but never surrendering a fall.

Starting off the afternoon session, Ethan Gustafson in the 10-and-Under Division dropped his first match before picking up back-to-back wins by fall and decision against two very experienced wrestlers. The first opponent fell to a cow catcher after Gustafson countered a shot. The second opponent leading 4-1 in the final period gave up an escape and takedown to Gustafson tying the match. As the Warren coach yelled to let the other wrestler up and try for a takedown to win, Gustafson had other ideas. Off the whistle he chopped the bottom man’s arm, gathered the far wrist as he sunk in a bar, stacking his opponent for two near-fall points as time expired. The victory ultimately gave him third place.

Timothy “Lucas” Cope ripped through three of his four opponents by fall. His unorthodox style combined with a technically sound half-Nelson made for a difficult riddle to solve. His increased attention to detail in the wrestling room paid off as he earned the second-place spot on the podium.

KWC’s Owen Damcott provided a very unpleasant afternoon for his opponents with two falls and two technical falls en route to a second-place finish. His signature high-crotch takedown was unstoppable. From the top position, any opponent that countered his cross-face butcher ended up in an even worse predicament, a cradle. His only loss came after giving up a reversal late in the third period to the eventual champion.

Owen Damcott pins a Port Allegany opponent in a cross-face cradle. Submitted Photo

Wyatt Wilson, also wrestling for KWC, had one of the most exciting finishes of the tournament as he battled his way to fourth place. After a beautiful high-crotch shot, his opponent tried a Bo Nickal elevator, flipping Wilson completely over. Keeping his cool, Wilson maintained his position and still managed a defensive pin trapping his opponent behind him in a pseudo-Peterson roll.

Also placing fourth for KWC, Parker Kiser drew a defending state champion in his second match. Although he did not come away with the victory, he scored impressive takedowns with a beautiful double leg and also sagged on the champ during an attempted cement mixer.

Finally, Warren’s Noah “Big Papi” Pape placed third. With two first-period pins under his belt, Pape also faced a defending state champion.