Findlay hosting huge wrestling tournament

FINDLAY — When it comes to girls high school wrestling, Findlay will be in the national spotlight once again when the fourth annual Findlay Invitational Girls High School Tournament (FIGHT) is held Friday and Saturday at the University of Findlay's Koehler Fitness and Recreation Complex. Some years back, Findlay High wrestling coach Ben Kirian had the idea of staging a girls wrestling tournament that would attract many of the top individuals and elite programs from not only Ohio but across the country as well. The first FIGHT tournament (2022) drew over 200 wrestlers, the second around 400. Last year, seventy-seven schools and over 500 wrestlers took part in the event, which is believed to be the largest in-season girls wrestling tournament in the country and second only to the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals, held every summer in Fargo, N.D., as far as attendance and competition. "We have 81 teams attending the FIGHT this year, and at the close of entries last night (Tuesday) we were at 621 girls," Kirian said. "Last year we had roughly the same number of teams, but about 80 less girls." Olentangy Orange, two-time OHSAA state champion, won last year's FIGHT tournament and is back to defend its title. Harrison, which scored 135.5 points to edge Lebanon by one point (134.5) for FIGHT runner-up honors, is also back, along with OHSAA state runner-up Marysville, perennial Ohio prep powers like Delaware Hayes and Massillon Perry and many of the top programs from Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Kentucky. Findlay, which was fourth in the OHSAA championships, was fifth in the 2024 FIGHT standings. Two FHS wrestlers – Laney Oliver at 190 and Kate Simmons in the 170-pound class – used strong showings in the FIGHT event as springboards to state championships later in the season. Julia Bollenbacher, a senior this year, was fifth in the FIGHT meet a year ago. Senior McKenzie Milam, junior McKanna Hanes and sophomore Dhani McCray also competed in last year's tournament. Several area schools who participated a year ago – Liberty-Benton (36th place), Carey (41st) Elmwood (47th), Arcadia (66th) and Riverdale – will also be represented in the brackets. L-B's Evie Parmelee, an Indiana Tech recruit, was sixth in last year's state tournament and may be one of the higher seeded wrestlers in the 235 division, along with Elmwood's Libbie Tyson at 125. This year's FIGHT tournament will also be a homecoming for one coach. The school making the farthest journey will be Liberty Common High School from Fort Collins, Colo. The school's athletic director and wrestling head coach is Franklin Russel, a Findlay High grad who wrestled for Kirian during his days at FHS. Bowling Prep Bowling FINDLAY – Findlay High's boys and girls bowling teams swept Marion Harding on Wednesday, the boys beating the Presidents 2,285 to 1,942, and the girls scoring a 1,742 to 1,437 victory. Karter Tiell led the FHS boys team with a 222 game and 397 series. The Trojans (3-3) also posted a season-best baker series of 578. Karlie Jarrell and Vanhpeng Phounsavath rolled games of 165 and Phounsavath had the high series (304) in the girls portion of the meet. The win upped the Trojans record to 4-2. Local Sports Bowling SPORTSMAN LANES PRIME TIMERS LEAGUE High game: (men) Neill Otto 247; (women) Debby Schade 184. High series: (men) Otto 636; (women) Pam Oates 509. MORNING GLORIES LEAGUE High game: Heather McGrain, Cherry's, 200. High series: McGrain & Pam Oates, LaRiche, 508. SUNSETTERS LEAGUE High game: Beth Langrill, Long Family Farms, 202. High series: Sheryl Schafer, Brinkman's, 518. Schedule Thursday's Events GIRLS BASKETBALL Anthony Wayne at Findlay Ada at Elmwood (BVC) Arcadia at McComb (BVC) Pandora-Gilboa at Leipsic (BVC) Liberty-Benton at Vanlue (BVC) Van Buren at Arlington (BVC) Columbus Grove at Convoy Crestview (NWC) Ottawa-Glandorf at Kenton (WBL) Upper Scioto Valley at North Baltimore Cory-Rawson at Lake Mohawk at Riverdale