MARIETTA-Mike Pahl likes first-year varsity wrestler Austin Klintworth's attitude on the mat.
"Austin hates to lose," said the Warren wrestling coach. "He's a competitor, and he got his first win this past weekend."
At Saturday's 2012 Warren Burt Builders Wrestling Tournament at the Vincent-based high school, Klintworth claimed fifth place in the 152-pound weight class when he decisioned New Lexington's Austin Syferts in a wild one 19-14.
"He just doesn't take losing very well," continued Pahl.
Overall, the Warren grapplers, the defending Burt Builders champion, finished third overall in a field of seven schools. John Glenn was first and Meadowbrook was runner-up.
"We missed tying for second place by one point," Pahl said. "Hopefully, we'll do better at Trimble."
Warren is scheduled to wrestle in the Ray Webster Invitational at Trimble High in Glouster, Ohio, at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday. Also competing in the invite will be host Trimble, Waterford, Wellston, West Muskingum, and Marietta. This will be the first time this season that the Warriors and Bill Heldman-coached Tigers will be clashing on the mat.
"It's going to be a tough meet, and I'm hoping it'll be between us and Marietta at the end," Pahl said. "We'll only get to face them one more time this season in the sectional tournament."
Pahl said that next season a tentative tri-meet including Warren, Marietta and Belpre will be scheduled.
At the Webster invite, Warren will be featuring three undefeated grapplers in 113-pound sophomore Levi Congleton (6-0), 170-pound senior Austin Antill (6-0) and 285-pound sophomore Brandon Pahl (5-0), the coach's son.
Congleton and Antill each were 4-0 in the Burt Builders tourney, while Brandon Pahl was 3-0.
Mile Pahl is counting on 120-pound senior Cory Parsons, a two-time district qualifier, to score points for the Warriors, also. Parsons was runner-up to Meadowbrook's Jarad Patterson at Burt Builders.
Warren juniors Cody Dobbs (138 pounds) and Zach Pike (182) also finished second at Burt Builders. Senior Bradon Hewitt (145), Austin Miles (160), and Klintworth each were fifth.
According to Pahl, after wrestle-offs in practice this week, some of these Warriors in the middle weight divisions may drop down a weight class for this upcoming weekend's tournament.
"We have five boys in two weight classes," Pahl said. "But that's typical for a lot of schools."
Due to injuries to Isaac Gregor (132) and Chris Massey (220), and vacancies at 106 and 126, Warren will have four openings at the Webster Invitational.
Marietta also competed last Saturday at the John Marshall Invitational in Moundsville facing Buckhannon-Upshur, Calhoun County, McGuffey, Oak Glen, and host John Marshall.
Tiger seniors Will Cogswell (182) and Nick Spurr (195) each went 4-1 at the meet. Sophomore Troy Smithberger (170) was 3-1 while sophomore Garrett Davis (160) was 3-2.
Junior Joshua Clark (106) and sophomore David Vann (113) each posted one victory at the duo.
One of Marietta's highlights at the duo meet in Moundsville was when in order Davis, Smithberger, Cogswell and Spurr each posted a mat win against Oak Glen.
Other MHS grapplers expected to wrestle at Ray Webster will be freshman Malachi Vaughn (120), junior Scott Bricker (138, freshman Anthony Winters (145), and Josh Burke (170).
Waterford's wrestling roster includes senior Hunter Munjas (170), junior Austin Lang (132), sophomore Zeb Offenberger (120), sophomore Blake Heiss (182), junior Cody Mallic (160), junior Hunter Schrader (182), freshman Weston Wagner (138), and Tim Leach (132).
The Wildcats are coached by Scott Zimmer.
