Area wrestlers go 8-2 in Div. III action

Area wrestlers went 8-2 in the opening round of the Div. III state tournament in Columbus on Thursday.

The biggest win went to Girard's Nico Francis, who scored a 15-2 majority decision over Norwalk St. Paul's Michael Cawley at 152 pounds. Cawley had been the projected state champion.

Here's the rest of the the afternoon results in Div. III.

Brookfield: Dann Miller dec. Lucas Freeman (Bluffton) 7-3, 140

Girard: Tony Cardiero tech. fall Jordan Cowell (Archbold) 15-0, 130; Nico Francis maj. dec. Michael Cawley (Norwalk St. Paul) 15-2, 152

Jackson-Milton: Vinnie Pizzuto tech. fall Alex Carroll (Galion) 18-2, 103; Tim Wiseman maj. dec. Brandon Booker (Cin. Purcell Marian) 12-2, 112; Santino Pizzuto dec. Alex Glenn (Tontogany Otsego) 9-3, 119; Riki Reynolds (Marion Pleasant) tech. fall Johnny Matacic 18-3, 125; Dan Clawson dec. Jeff Beatty (Col. Ready) 6-1

South Range: Beau Bowden maj. dec. Geoff Hainline (Norwalk St. Paul) 12-4, 171

Wellsville: Justin Cheesman (Ashland Crestview) dec. Ryan Crabtree 12-9, 189