slideshow

CENTENARY, Ohio — Two out of three ain’t bad.

For the second consecutive year, the Gallia Academy wrestling team came away with top honors Thursday at the third annual Coaches Corner Classic held on the campus of Gallia Academy High School.

The Blue Devils won the 2012 title by 47 points over the 14-team field, as the hosts posted a winning team tally of 323 points. Vinton County was the runner-up with 276 points, while Chillicothe (265.5), Warren (251.5) and Logan Elm (235) rounded out the top five spots.

Circleville (230), Meigs (172), Marietta (169.5), Chesapeake (163) and Trimble (141) finished in the six through 10 positions, while Fairland (127), Waterford (109), River Valley (98) and Jackson (58) rounded out the final four spots in the team competition.

GAHS had eight grapplers earn top-four finishes in their respective weight classes, which included four individual championships and a pair of runners-up. The Blue Devils were also the only local program — with RVHS and Meigs being the others — to win an individual title at the event.

Cole Tawney, Mark Allen, Briggs Shoemaker and John Byus were the four weight class champions for the Blue Devils. Tawney and Allen respectively won the 120-pound and 182-pound divisions, while Shoemaker won the 195 weight class and Byus captured first in the 220 division.

Ben Bush (145) and Scott Warren (285) each advanced to the finals of their respective weight classes, but both ultimately came in second place. Justin Reynolds was third overall in the 170 division, while Scott Mash placed fourth in the 126 weight class.

The seventh-place Marauders had four top-four efforts, which included a trio of runner-up finishes. Gage Gilkey (126), Chris Lester (138) and Daylen Neese (220) all placed second in their respective weight classes, while Drew Grover was fourth overall in the 113-pound division.

The Raiders had one runner-up effort from Trae Cornell in the 152-pound weight class and also received a third-place performance from Jacob Kemper in the 113 division.

Gallia Academy had the most individual champions of any team at the meet. Chillicothe and Warren were next with three apiece, while Logan Elm had two winners. Circleville and Vinton County also had one champion apiece.

The Chillicothe champions were Jacob Price (138), Christian Collins (160) and Nicholas Lawhorn (106), while Warren’s winners were Levi Congleton (113), Austin Antill (170) and Brandon Pahl (285).

The Logan Elm champions were D.J. White (145) and Dustin White (152). Tyler Knul of Circleville won his title in the 132 weight class, while Austin Barnes of Vinton County came away with first place in the 126-pound division.

Complete results of the 2012 GAHS Coaches Corner Classic are available on the web at baumspage.com