Thursday, February 17, 2000
Moeller wrestlers look for 4th title in row
BY MARK SCHMETZER
Enquirer contributor
The Moeller Crusader wrestling team, which captured a third consecutive Division I sectional championship at Fairfield last year, will try to make it four in a row this weekend.
Moeller, the No.1 team in The Enquirer's Division I coaches poll, also is the top-seeded team in this season's sectionals, scheduled to begin Friday at two sites, Fairfield and St. Xavier. The championship finals are scheduled to start at both sites at 6 p.m. Saturday. Moeller is the top seed at St. X; second-ranked and second-seeded Fairfield is the top team at Fairfield.
“I think we've got a good mix of schools here,” Fairfield Athletic Director Bill Stewart said. “With a lot of (Greater Miami) Conference schools here, that makes for an even more competitive weekend.”
No.4 Harrison, No.6 Oak Hills and No.8 Princeton are the other seeded teams at Fairfield, which will have six GMC teams on hand. The other two local GMC teams, No.7 Lakota West and Milford, and all four Greater Cincinnati League South teams, including No.3 Elder and No.5 St. Xavier, will be at St. Xavier.
The Division II and Division III sectional tournaments also will be contested at two sites each, but they will start and finish Saturday.
Loveland, a Division I team last year and the top-ranked team in The Enquirer's Division II-III coaches poll, is the No.1 seed in the Division II sectionals. The Tigers will compete at Mason against third-seeded Purcell Marian, seventh seed Norwood and eighth-seeded Taylor. No.2 Franklin heads the list of teams at Wilmington.
“I think our sectional balances out pretty well,” said Wilmington coach Jeff Wiederhold, whose Hurricanes were seeded fourth. Springboro was fifth and Kings sixth.
The Division III sectionals are scheduled for Batavia High School and Lakota Freshman School. Madeira, ranked third in the Enquirer's II-III poll, is the top seed and will compete at Batavia, where the Mustangs won last year. No.2 seed Reading is scheduled to wrestle at Lakota. The Blue Devils are the defending champions at that site.
The Fairfield sectional starts at 4:30 p.m. Friday and resume Saturday at 10 a.m. with the finals at 6 p.m. The St. Xavier tournament starts at 6 p.m. Friday and continue at the same times as the Fairfield tournament Saturday.
All four Division II and Division III sectionals starts at 10 a.m. Saturday. The Division II finals and Division III finals at Batavia are scheduled to start at 5 p.m. The Lakota Division III finals will start about about 2 p.m.
Tickets for individual sessions are $5. Division I all-session passes available for $12.
Sports Stories
Reds have own great expectations
Sanders still at half speed
Selig's comments not promising for Rose
Griffey merchandise a big hit
Bengals: Booker signing 'sends message'
Booker had long trip home
Search on for stadium solutions
Stadium just more bad news for football fans
Debacle could delay other projects
Commissioners learning costly lessons
Lessons will be put to use on Reds park
County signs up public relations support
Let's recruit Mike Brown for our team
UC: Polls, streaks no pressure
A-10 looking into fight at Xavier game
