FHS' Oliver misses out on big rematch due to injury, takes second at FIGHT

The rematch will have to wait … for now. Findlay's Laney Oliver battled her way to the 190-pound championship match at the Findlay Invitational Girls High (School) Tournament (FIGHT) on Saturday. A knee injury kept the FHS sophomore from competing in the final, though, against Savannah Isaac from Toledo Whitmer, The bout would have been a rematch of last year's district and state final matches where Isaac, a two-time national champion, defeated Oliver both times. "It was not her decision and she's probably not happy," said FHS coach Ben Kirian. "With her injury, though, it's for the best. "Laney and Savannah are two of the top wrestlers in their (weight) class. I'm pretty sure they'll be meeting again down the road, probably a number of times." Forty-two teams and almost 300 wrestlers from around Ohio and across the country were at Findlay High on Saturday for the first-ever FIGHT event. The reigning girls wrestling champions from the states of Washington (Toppenish), Arizona (Liberty) and Ohio (Harrison) were on hand, well-represented by up to 14 wrestlers who have earned a national-level ranking. According to Findlay High Athletic Director Nate Weihrauch, the FIGHT event, despite being a first-ever competition, is already considered the third-largest girls prep wrestling tournament in the country. "It's great being able to bring all these great athletes and these great teams to Findlay," Weihrauch said. "Coach Kirian did a phenomenal job getting this to the forefront. It's been an exceptional opportunity to showcase our school and our community." "The tournament has been going really well," Kirian said during Saturday's finals. "There are a lot of great wrestlers here, a lot of really good competition. "A team out of West Virginia (East Hardy) got caught in an ice storm and couldn't make it. We lost some other wrestlers, too, but many of the top teams and most of the top wrestlers made it." Kirian expects the FIGHT event to become an annual event. "We hope so, that's the plan," he said. "It's great being able to bring in top teams from other states and have the opportunity to talk about what's going on in their areas. It's a great way to promote the sport." Toppenish finished as the team champion of the competition, scoring 278.5 points. Liberty (Az.) edged Harrison 163.5 to 161 for runner-up honors. Oliver pinned her way to 190-pound finals. Following a first-round bye, she floored Marysville's Desi Lee in 1:02, then scored a pin in 1:33 over Makayla Torres of Toppenish. Oliver had plenty of support. Findlay's Tylee Touhalisky placed fifth in the 105-pound division, using a bye and a pin to reach the third round. Olivia Gill scored a pin and technical fall before falling at 120, and Kate Simmons posted an 11-7 first-round decision at 155. Carmen Pizana (100), Ella Nelson (110), Taylor Nichols (130) and Graceanne Strausbaugh (145) advanced with first-round byes, while Esmeralda Schroeder (110), Emily Caton (125), Kate Whittaker (135) and Julia Bollenbacher (155) represented Findlay High in the competition as well. Several area wrestlers also took part in the event with Ada's Marley Bulerin placing fifth at 125 and Arcadia's Charlie Distel finishing seventh at 105. Liberty-Benton's Evie Parmelee opened competition in the 235-pound division with a first-round pin. Bailey Stanton (110), Gabby Sterling (145) and Jonnie Rice (155) advanced to the second round in their divisions. Ella Crist (115), Lori Sanchez (115), Nevaeh Vermillion (120), Keila Settlemire (125), Elle Farrar (130), Addy VanHorn (140) and Madisyn Seymour (140) competed for L-B as well. FIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP MATCHES 100 Makennah Craft, Jackson, pinned Mia Zuniga, Toppenish, 2:58. 105 Sophia Torrez, Toppenish, dec. Azalea Fetters, Curtis 4-0. 110 Chloe Dearwester, Harrison, maj. dec. Hayley Snyder, Warren 10-2. 115 Kira Cole, Miami East, maj. dec. Morgan Leonhardt, Gibsonburg, 8-0. 120 Lacie Knick, Northmont, pinned Vania Diego, Toppenish, 4:26. 125 Cali Leng, Marysille, dec. Raegan Briggs, Harrison, 7-3. 130 Taylor Colangelo, Liberty, pinned Sierra Wangen, Curtis, 1:13. 135 Bridgette Sotomayor, Liberty, dec. Ruby Clark, Toppenish, 2-0. 140 Kelcey Dew, Delaware Hayes, pinned Sophia Rohrs, Lebanon, 5:22. 145 Sydney Perry, Batavia, pinned Islah Alcala, Toppenish, Fall 1:12. 155 Ruby Rios, Toppenish, dec. Kylee Tait, Warren, 7-0. 170 Mallory Winner, Jay County, dec. Jocelyn Velasco, Toppenish, 4-3. 190 Savannah Isaac, Toledo, won by injury default over Laney Oliver. 235 Jocelyn Willliams, Flossmoor, dec. Jessica Edwards, Harrison, 6-2. WRESTLING COLEMAN INVITE FREMONT – Six Carey wrestlers made the finals and four won championships on Saturday when the Blue Devils placed first in the Mark Coleman Invitational at Fremont St. Joseph's. For the third straight tournament, Carey heavyweight Brock Bushong pinned every opponent he faced, including Tiffin Calvert's Cameron Bagent in 53 seconds in the 285-pound championship match. Lance Rickle at 175 and Lane Montgomery at 165 also had four pins in winning their titles. Mason Rickle had a pin and a 5-3 decision at 144. Nathan Gery (132) and Jacob Wentz (190) placed second for Carey, Nathanial Crawford (157) was third and Rylan Bergei (126) and Jadon Fraley (215) placed fourth. ALLEN COUNTY MEET HARROD – Pandora-Gilboa's Mitchell Blank won the 175-pound championship on Saturday at the Allen County Wrestling Tournament. Blank decisioned Lima Shawnee's Drew Niedermire 8-3 in the final to claim his individual title. Bluffton's Evan Grothause (157) placed third and Wyatt Knauss (113) was fourth. Bluffton was ninth and P-G tenth in the 11-school tournament. CAVALIER INVITE COLDWATER – Fostoria heavyweight Binicio Flores placed fourth and Ottawa-Glandorf 215-pounder Evan Cox was fifth at the Coldwater Cavalier Invitational on Saturday. Fostoria's Silas Raney (165) and Jose Garcia (190) placed seventh and Kaileb Schube (157) was eighth.