Four years ago, Kings wrestler John Velez was too light to wrestle varsity. By gaining a semifinal berth with two wins Friday night at the Division II district wrestling meet, the 112-pounder continued to push himself toward his top goal for senior season — a state title.

        “If I wrestle as hard as I can, I can beat anybody,” Velez said quietly. “Over the summer I took my skills in the neutral position to a whole new level.”

        Velez, now 34-0, said he's learned that state titles are won from the neutral position, in which both wrestlers start standing up and work for takedowns.

        “On his feet, he's as good as anyone,” Kings coach Joe Woodall said. “He's also so quick his opponents lose their concentration and get frustrated.”

        Fourteen other area wrestlers made it into the Wilmington semifinals.

        Winning his first district match this year made Jason Lackmeyer of Purcell Marian the school's all-time win leader with 103.

        “It's not how I want to finish my career, but it's big,” Lackmeyer said.

        Lackmeyer is joined in the semifinals by teammates Jake Meinking (103), Mitchell Binford (125), and Jeremy Jimmar (189).

        Dan Lee of Ross will face Franklin's Matt Franklin in one 103-pound semifinal. John Kremer, 119, also gained a semifinal berth for Franklin.

        Kings wrestlers Jeff Williamson (125) and Jesse Catanzaro (160) also will try to reach the district finals and gain a spot in the state meet next weekend.

        Bethel-Tate's James Daugherty pinned both his 135-pound opponents to reach the semifinal.

        Aaron Keough, Clermon Northeastern's once-beaten 189-pounder, did the same.

        But reaching the semifinals does not guarantee a spot in the state meet which starts Thursday in Columbus. A number of wrestlers who lost in Friday's opening Division II rounds could still qualify with a successful run in the consolation brackets.

        St. Paris Graham took the team lead, scoring 98 points through the quarterfinal round. Franklin, Purcell and Indian Lake were tied for second with 41 points each. Kings was in sixth with 36 points.

        Semifinal consolation matches begin at 10:30 a.m. today at Wilmington. The district championship and other state qualifying contests will start at 6 p.m.

Results: Division I | Division II | Division III