Loc Webber captures title to lead Dublin Coffman, central Ohio wrestlers at nationals
In what Dublin Coffman wrestling coach Chance Van Gundy called a benchmark performance for his program, the Shamrocks led central Ohio in the U.S. Marine Corps Junior and 16U Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
Six wrestlers earned All-American honors for the Shamrocks, including eighth grader Loc Webber, a future Coffman student who won the 16U Greco-Roman title at 88 pounds.
The top eight wrestlers in each weight class earned All-American recognition. The event began July 15 and concluded Sunday.
“I’m very proud of the program,” Van Gundy said. “Six All-Americans is no joke. It’s very difficult to bring back hardware from there, and having six different kids do it is something special.”
Webber, who is home-schooled but plans to attend Coffman as a freshman, defeated Vincent DeMarco of Illinois by technical fall (8-0) in the final.
“That was my first time (competing) in Fargo,” Webber said. “This was a big goal of mine. It’s great. It means a lot to me and my family. ... It’s probably the biggest win in my career.”
After going 2-2 at 88 in the freestyle competition, Webber went 4-0 in Greco-Roman.
“He was disappointed with his freestyle finish,” Van Gundy said. “He didn’t place, and we all know he was good enough to (be an) All-American, if not win it in freestyle. I think it added an extra spark and motivated him for Greco.”
Webber is the son of Coffman assistant coach Jeremiah Webber, who was in his son’s corner for the Greco-Roman final.
Also in the freestyle competition for Coffman, sophomore Grayson Woodcock finished second at 152, Ethan Birden was third at 160 and Omar Ayoub was fifth at 138. Birden (Ohio State commit) and Ayoub (Nebraska commit) are seniors who won Division I state championships as juniors.
Also in Greco-Roman for Coffman, Eli Esguerra was fourth at 152 and Blaze Van Gundy, the coach’s son, was fifth at 120 in 16U. Both will be freshmen.
The Coffman competitors are members of the Beast Mode Wrestling Club.
In other Greco-Roman action involving central Ohio competitors, Highland’s Konner Blaney was second (106) and Jonathan Alder’s Anthony Kroninger (170) and Mount Vernon’s Alex Taylor (220) were third. Taylor also was second in freestyle at 220.
In the Greco-Roman team competition, the Ohio 16U team tied Pennsylvania for fourth (110) behind champion Illinois (213) and the Junior team finished 18th (26).
In the freestyle competition, Ohio finished fourth (146) in the 16U tournament and ninth (67) in the Junior division.
In the Junior girls tournament, Marysville’s Cali Leng placed seventh (122) as Ohio finished 14th (45).
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Central Ohio eighth grader wins title at wrestling nationals
