Five champions give Licking Valley LCL title

NEWARK - The end of the line for Jaqui VanMeter is coming far faster than he wants.

On Saturday, Licking Valley's senior heavyweight had to make the most of his time left. Competing with a torn labrum in his left shoulder, he won his third consecutive Licking County League title and helped the Panthers win their second consecutive team title at Newark Catholic.

"It was the biggest thing ever. I have been thinking about it all year," said VanMeter, who made quick work of his opponents with four first-period pins. "My dad let me do this one just for myself to be a three-timer. I gladly appreciate that. I am just astonished."

Valley won five weight classes, totaling 319 points. Also winning titles were Addison Fogle (120); Jake Martinez (138), the tournament's most valuable wrestler; Anthony Moran (160); and Ethan Fout (170).

VanMeter entered the season as one of the state's top-ranked heavyweights. His injury, however, likely will deny him a chance to make a return trip to the Division II state meet. He might wrestle in the sectional tournament in two weeks but certainly would be at a disadvantage if he qualifies for the district.

"I can't even be more proud of my team," VanMeter said. "I will always remember this: winning with my best friends."

Fogle, Martinez and Fout each beat returning state qualifiers in the finals. Fogle beat Utica's Matt Seifert 6-2, Martinez 13-4 against Johnstown's Hayden Bullard, who earlier earned his 150th career win, and Fout 7-5 against Licking Heights' Joey Harrell.

With Valley bruised and battered from football season, the Panthers did not have an opportunity to wrestle anything resembling a full lineup until recently. The Panthers still are not at 100 percent, but they now are competing like one of the most feared teams in central Ohio.

"It gives you a little confidence booster wrestling good kids like that," Fout said. "(Harrell) is a great kid to wrestle with and fun to be around. ... I got the takedown and near-fall, so that was the deciding factor."

Watkins Memorial placed second (276). Winning titles were Alec Fulwider (113), who held off Lakewood's Ray Huber in the finals 4-1, Alex Lieb (126), Max Boyd (182) and Jack May (215), who pinned Valley's R.D. Stansberry.

Granville placed third (187) despite competing without standout Luke Mendicino, who is ill. Keegan VanMeter (145) and Alex Eckels (195) won titles for the Blue Aces. VanMeter beat Valley's Maaliq Elliott 12-2 for the title.

"It's a lot of hard work, getting up to run before school and watching you eat all week," said VanMeter, who has wrestled most of the season at 152.

Northridge flexed its muscles, too, placing fourth (153.5) with just eight competitors. Freshman Klay Reeves (106), 5-0 with two pins and a technical fall, Forest Belli (132), 4-0 with three first-period pins and Steele Strout (152), who beat top-seeded Zach Bartley, of Utica, won titles.

"It's cool we can come and compete like this," Strout said. "We had four kids in the finals out of our eight? That's pretty good. We don't have as many numbers, but we have a lot of quality."

Strout had his 2014-15 season cut short by injuries he suffered in a car accident. He was forced to sit and watch two competitors he had beaten earlier in the season reach the Division III tournament.

That provided him all of the motivation he has needed this season.

"Seeding doesn't really bother me," Strout said. "I don't have any of the criteria at all, so this whole year I am used to being the lower seed and coming in and beating some of the top seeds."

Richie Stalnaker, who had a solid match against Lieb, earned a runner-up finish (126) to lead the host Green Wave.

ksnyder@newarkadvocate.com

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