Panthers finish Second in MVL

DRESDEN - Sheridan and New Lexington had their usual fight to the finish at the Muskingum Valley League Tournament on Saturday.

The Generals dropped their regular season dual match to the Panthers.

New Lexington finished with 184 1/2 points, ahead of third-place Tri-Valley (130 1/2), fourth-place Morgan (72) and fifth-place Crooksville (55). Maysville (54), West Muskingum (53), John Glenn (47) and Philo (44) rounded out the top 10.

New Lexington won the dual match with Sheridan and both finished 13-1 in the MVL, however a surprising rule change prior to the season put title emphasis on the league tournament.

New Lexington coach David Ratliff said his team gave one of its best efforts of the season, but said the inability to get pins in key weight classes proved to be the difference in the end.

The Panthers had four champions in Blake Sheppard (106), Justice Freeman (113), John Mautz (160) and Dimitri Williams (170). Luke Shively also returned from a knee injury to earn a runner-up finish at 220, a showing that included a big semifinal win against Sheridan's Owen Loughman.

The Panthers placed twelve of fourteen wrestlers.  Runnerups were Corban West (152), Antonio Villaloboz and Luke Shively.  Third place finishers were Landin Price (126), Tyler Hicks (132) and Simon Allen (138).  Fourth place finishers were Zach Glick (120) and Layne Talbot (145).

"We've got to wrestle better," Ratliff said. "I am proud of every one of our kids. We wrestled hard. We got to regroup and come back on Monday and get ready for sectionals."

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