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Canfield Wrestling Club’s Caden Kohout placed second in the 110 pound weight class at the Ohio Youth Wrestling Association 2017 State Wrestling Championship.
Kohout started the tournament with a 30 second pin of Blake Ward from Midview. In his second match he hung on to a one-point lead, 5-4, to make the semi-final round.
In the semi-final bout Kohout scored a quick five points with his trademark barrel roll. A couple penalty points added to the lead for a 7-0 win. The finals match saw Kohout lose by technical fall to Luke Vanadia of Brecksville.
Also qualifying for the state meet were Ty Stricko at 70 pounds and Hunter Newell at 79 pounds. Stricko had won the District meet at Fitch the week before, but ran into a tough bracket at the state meet. He lost in the first round in double overtime to Dylan Rhoads of Louisville. Stricko bounced back with a 10-0 win before falling to Kolton Barker of Carrollton. Newell was unable to participate in the state meet due to an injury.
Kohout and Stricko are sixth-grade students at Canfield Village Middle School. Kohout has wrestled in the Canfield club for six years. This was his second trip the state meet, qualifying in 2016. Stricko has wrestled for four years and this is his first trip to the state meet. All three wrestlers will compete in middle school next season.
Kohout, Stricko and Newell along with five other Canfield teammates have also qualified for the OAC Grade School State Tournament to be held at the Covelli Centre on March 25 and 26.