Licking County’s best wrestlers have eye on state success in 2023

On Dec 9, 2022

NEWARK — Utica’s Clayton Smith and Granville’s Carson Miller, returning All-Ohioans, lead a star-studded group of Licking County wrestlers hoping to reach the top in March.

Not only does Licking County return seven wrestlers looking to take another shot against the state’s best, many more have aspirations of reaching the season’s final weekend.

Granville

The Blue Aces are led by star senior Carson Miller, who is pursuing a Division II state title after placing fifth at 190 pounds last season. The rest of the lineup is building off a strong finish last winter. Junior Peyton Costa, a returning state qualifier, and sophomore Andy Sanchez lead the lightweights with seniors A.J. Jones and Keagan Finley in the middleweights.

Heath

Sophomore Jakhi Royster is off to a promising start in the middleweights for the young Bulldogs. Juniors Daylen McIntyre and Reece Shriner provide power in the heavyweights.

Johnstown

Senior Derrick Grigsby in the heavyweights leads a small group of Johnnies. Juniors Camren Davis and Myles Kuhn join senior Hayden Wood in the middleweights.

Lakewood

Junior Keegan Jacks at heavyweight went toe to toe with some of the best in the state, and the goal now is to represent the Lancers the final weekend of the season. The Lancers have talent throughout with seniors Caleb and Corey Rafferty leading the lightweights and senior Josh Taylor talented middleweights.

Licking Heights

The Hornets lean on juniors Richard Storts in the lightweights and Michael Landry in the middleweights to lead a young lineup that includes sophomore Ryan Cote and junior Alex Merriman in the lightweights.

Licking Valley

The Panthers have a deep lineup that will be a bear as the season develops. Freshman Noah Curry is a standout lightweight, who combines with sophomore Mason Hornfeck. Senior Devyn Boyd and sophomore Luke Conaway lead the middleweights, and seniors Bryce Justice and Theo Walsh are powerful in the heavyweights.

Newark

Senior Jibreel Smith blazed a trail to the Division I state meet last season, and several of his fellow Wildcats have aspirations of joining him. Smith and classmate Ray Taylor at the lightweights, senior Calvin Untied and junior Eli Justice middleweights and sophomore Kallan Baker and senior Reece Redman heavyweights anchor a lineup that again could contend for an Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division title.

Newark Catholic

Junior Brian Luft and senior Brendan Sheehan, two-time Division III state qualifiers, headline the Green Wave, who have plenty of talent despite a small roster. Senior Nico Richards is battling to get over the hump to the state tournament in the middleweights, and senior Griffin Halenar, a Division II state qualifier for Bishop Hartley last season, will join classmate Tanner Wert in the heavyweights.

Northridge

Senior Michael Fister is a returning Division III state qualifier for the Vikings, and classmate Haedyn Parman also is knocking on the door. That duo and sophomores Carter Yorde and Treven Angus provide a powerful group of lightweights heading into the middleweights.

Utica

Utica senior Clayton Smith has hopes of climbing to the top of the podium after placing fourth at 144 pounds during the Division III state tournament last March. He and senior Zachary Cyphers in the middleweights have promising talent around them with sophomores Anthony Unger and Breyden Hill in the lightweights and Brandon Thornsberry in the heavyweights.