COLUMBUS – Versailles’ three state-qualifying wrestlers couldn’t achieve their goals of placing at the Ohio High School Athletic Association state meet.
Senior Corey Dieringer was able to win a match in the Division III state tournament while senior Kyle Gigandet and junior Tanner Bey both lost their matches on Thursday at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center.
Dieringer began the tournament with a 6-2 loss to Galion’s Drake Barnett in the first round of the 160 pound class. The first-time state qualifier then beat Rittman’s Manuel Garza 11-5 in the first consolation round.
“That’s going to be huge,” Versailles wrestling coach AJ Bey said following Dieringer’s victory. “It’s a huge confidence booster going into the next round. Hopefully he can get another one and stand on the podium.”
Dieringer came up just short in his next match on Friday, losing 6-4 in overtime to Cadiz Harrison Central’s Antony Risley to end his tournament run.
Versailles’ Kyle Gigandet, a two-time state qualifier, started out the tournament by being pinned by Mogadore’s Paul Skye in 5:06. The season ended for the Versailles senior when he was pinned by Toronto’s Drew Lowery in 4:57 in the first consolation round of the 195 pound class.
“Two tough matches,” Coach Bey said. “Kind of lost a little bit of the third period in both of them whatever but he had a great career at Versailles, great kid. Little disappointing. We thought he could place here.”
In his first state tournament appearance junior Tanner Bey lost 7-0 to Grandview Heights’ Brendan Fitzgerald in the first round of the 138 pound class. He then lost 6-0 to Gibsonburg’s Hugo Villerreal to end his season.
“You could tell I think he was a little nervous,” Coach Bey said. “Gets a little more mat time in next year and hopefully he’ll get back down here.”
For complete results from the state wrestling tournament, visit the OHSAA website at http://ohsaa.org/.
