Thursday, February 08, 2001
No. 1 Moeller wrestlers beat No. 3 Fairfield
By Chris Yeager
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Mike Wahoff, a co-captain of the Fairfield wrestling team and a 145-pound state contender, was proud of his teammates despite Tuesday's 29-26 loss to Moeller, which is tied with Harrison for No.1 in The Enquirer's area coaches poll.
“Even when the match got out of reach, we kept going hard,” Wahoff said of the Indians, who are ranked No.3.
Moeller is ranked second in Ohio, with Fairfield No.8.
Wahoff had reason to be proud of himself after defeating another state hopeful, David Blanks, 7-4.
While happy to leave the Indians gym with the victory, Moeller coach Jeff Gaier was lukewarm about his Crusaders' performance.
“I don't think we wrestled particularly well,” Gaier said. “But some of that was because Fairfield wrestled smart. You know with Fairfield, every match will be tough.”
Crusaders co-captain Jeff Ostholthoff clearly was unhappy with his team's result.
“I think we went in overconfident, even though we knew they'd be ready to go,” a 160-pound senior Ostholthoff said. “But to win by just three, we're not happy at all.”
Moeller jumped out to a quick 9-0 lead after two matches and never trailed. Fairfield, which was behind by 15 points with two matches remaining, got quick pins from its final two wrestlers, 215-pounder Brandon Rowland and heavyweight Sean Gill, to gain 12 points and cut the final margin to three.
Even though the Indians lost, they remained positive.
“I think this was one of the greatest high school matches around here in a long time,” Fairfield coach Ron Masanek said. “They've got some real stars and they've beaten up on some people, but they didn't beat us up.”
103—Goode (M) p. Willcocks 1:53, 112—
Cottone (M) d. Ocasio 10-3, 119—Hahn (F) tf. Candy 3.00, 125—Zinkan (M) d. Wisor 13-5, 130—Cornwell (F) d. Meyer 12-7, 135—Baria (M) d. Stehlin 16-5, 140—Zinkan (M) d. Eynon 10-4, 145—Wahoff (F) d. D. Blanks 7-4, 152—M. Blanks (M) d. Gadson 9-7, 160—Elsen 9F) d. Ostholthoff 7-5 ot, 171—Lukens (M) d. C. Lawson 5-2, 189—Creeden 9M) d. J. Lawson 5-3 ot, 215—Rowland (F) p. Bonn 5:29, Hwt—
Gill 9F) p. Kromer 2:51.
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No. 1 Moeller wrestlers beat No. 3 Fairfield
