DARKE COUNTY – After playing well the past couple years, this week’s Daily Advocate athletes of the week both really are starting to blossom this season.
This week’s Daily Advocate athletes of the week are Versailles wrestler Bo Bey and Bradford girls basketball player Mackenzie Weldy.
Bo Bey helped lead Versailles to a pair of wins against Milton-Union and Dixie in the Ohio High School Athletic Association dual team tournament regional quarterfinal on Wednesday. In the 182 pound class the junior pinned Milton-Union sophomore Chance Chapman in 1:09 and then pinned Dixie sophomore Austin Brooks in 2:43.
“He’s been real solid,” Versailles wrestling coach A.J. Bey said. “He’s probably been one of our most solid kids from start to finish. He’s wrestling really well right now.”
Bo Bey is third among Darke County wrestlers with 29 wins this season, just one behind teammates Tanner Bey and Kyle Gigandet. He’s also third in the county with 14 pins, third with 13 near falls and fifth with 40 takedowns.
“He comes in and works hard every day,” Coach Bey said. “Just a solid kid.”
Bo Bey has been a solid contributor for Versailles throughout his high school career, but he’s really starting to take off now as a junior.
“He’s in his weight class now,” Coach Bey said. “The last couple years he was wrestling up a couple weight classes because that’s where we needed him. He’s in a weight class right now that he competes real well.”
Weldy also really is coming on strong as of late. Last week the senior set a Bradford record with 22 rebounds in a game against Newton.
“She’s capable of eating up a lot of space down low,” Bradford girls basketball coach Patrick McKee said.
For the season Weldy is second among all Darke County girls with 8.6 rebounds a game. She’s also ninth in the county with 11.1 points a game.
She’s a versatile player who can score inside or outside, rebound, handle the ball and defend.
“It really opens up a lot of options when you have someone like that on your team who can do some different things,” McKee said.
Weldy is capable of defending post players or guards, McKee said, which is one of the most impressive things about her.
“She really came on strong lately. She’s stepping up not only on offense but also on defense,” he said. “I think her defense has also helped spark her offense.”
Weldy always has been very knowledgeable and a hard worker. Now she’s becoming more confident and more vocal, too.
“We’re finally getting her to step out, branch out and be that vocal leader,” McKee said.
