Mark’s Musings – March 15, 2017

Mark Fortune

Seven area wrestlers earned their way to compete at the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament held in Columbus over the weekend. River View competed in Division II while Coshocton and Ridgewood competed in Division III. Ridgewood senior Colton Bethel capped off a spectacular wrestling career for the Generals and earned All-Ohio honors with a fifth place finish. River View junior Sam Mitchell represented the Black Bears in the 285 pound weight class and earned All-Ohio honors with a sixth place finish. Devin Klein is the head coach for the Black Bears.

Coshocton had three wrestlers compete at the state meet. Freshman Lucian Brink in the 106 pound weight class won his first match over Jake White of Manchester and lost in the next two rounds. Sophomore Austin Guthrie competed in the 113 pound weight class and lost his first match then won his second match over J. P. Hlifka before falling in the consolation round. Sophomore Blake Barrick competed in the 120 pound weight class and was defeated in his first two matches. Sean Collins is the head coach for the Redskins.

Ridgewood also sent three wrestlers to the state tournament. Senior Colton Bethel wrestled in the 106 pound weight class and placed fifth overall, earning a spot on the podium with the honor. Bethel defeated Devan Hendricks of Jamestown Greenview to earn his place among the All-Ohio wrestlers in his weight class. General senior Javen Merrill lost his initial match to the 160 pound class first place finisher James Limongi in his weight class of 160 pounds and then fell to Seth Henderson in the consolation match. Senior Kasey Bethel competed in the 170 pound weight class and fell to Christian Blank in the consolation round after losing in the first round. Chad Massie is the head coach for the Generals.

Congratulations to all of these young men, their coaches and families on representing our community in Columbus this past weekend!

So it appears that we are going to build the wall after all. I can see the political cartoons now. You may not know this – but The Beacon has access to eight different editorial – or more commonly called – political cartoons – each week. We have space to publish one and each week we select the one that we feel is perhaps the least offensive. I can tell you that they have all taken a distinct political spin so the choices range from difficult to almost impossible. But we do our best each week.

Here is what I envision coming soon – and maybe it is already out there and I just missed it. I see our President on top of the wall – or more likely – lying on the ground beside the wall – all busted up in pieces like Humpty Dumpty. Now mind you – I am not aligning myself one way or the other on this wall thing – that is just what I see coming. It would just be too easy for the cartoonists. I will let you know.

Who is your top pick for the big tournament? Men’s, women’s? Will Villanova repeat for the men while UConn takes the title – again – for the women? As I write this on Monday, the Ashland Lady Eagles are one win away from making the Elite Eight in Division II.

Category: Mark's Musings, Opinion