Embracing a goal that it set at the beginning of its season, Jefferson’s youth wrestling team recently won the Northcoast Conference championship at Madison High School.
Jefferson rang up 186.5 points to outdistance Riverside with 150. Geneva was third with 143.5 points, Madison was fourth with 141.5 and Conneaut rounded out the top five with 126.
The championship was produced by the lineup of Jacob Edelman at 52 pounds, Hunter Ryan (56), Dakota Ryan (60), Joshua Baitt (64), Bryce Cox (70), Logan George (73), Clay Smock (76), Mitchell Skleres (86), Billy Beckwith (95), Zac Collins (120) and Michael Richter (130).
All district-qualifying wrestlers will compete Sunday at Austintown Fitch High School. Placers at that tournament will advance to the state tournament later this month.
The Jefferson program was started in the early 1980s by Jim Toukonen, Dave Lockwood and Jack Hinkle. The current coaching staff consists of head coach Mark Meyer and assistant coaches Alan George, Darren Ryan and Troy Smock, with special practices run periodically by former Jefferson wrestler and Ultimate Fighting Championship competitor Branden Hinkle. The team practices three days each week.
