Lancaster looking to win fifth straight title

LANCASTER – The tradition-rich program that is the Lancaster wrestling team just continues to build and build.

The Golden Gales have been a mark of consistency. They won their fourth consecutive Ohio Capital Conference-Ohio Division title a year ago, as well winning the school’s first ever Division I District championship, and in the process, the Gales sent school-record seven wrestlers to the state tournament.

With more than 30 wrestlers in the program and more than 80 at the youth level, Lancaster coach Dugan Bentley said the goal each year is to win a league title, win every dual match and continue to build on the tradition that has been set.

With only two seniors in the lineup, the Gales will be a lot younger than they have been in the past, but there are several key returners that should keep Lancaster at the top.

“We have a young group with a lot of freshman and sophomores, but we have guys that have high expectations at the state and national level,” Bentley said. “However, being an OCC champion and winning all our duals is huge, and I think from the team perspective that is one of the main focuses.

“We have built a nice tradition, our youth numbers are great, and we’ve got a lot of people that are excited about the program. The pride we put on the line is something we take seriously, and we hold the kids to high standard. It does make things easier when you have the kind of tradition that we have. We just want to continue to build on it.”

Some of the top returners for the Gales include junior Logan Agin, sophomores Jacob Reed and Titan Johnson, Cray Miller and Dylan Strang.

Agin, is not only a two-time state placer, but he is the top wrestler in his class in the state. After placing fourth as a freshman, Agin finished third a year ago. He lost a gut-wrenching 1-0 match and then fought his back to for his third-place finish.

Will this be the year Agin gets over the hump and brings home that elusive state championship? There is no doubt is primed ready to get it done.

“He understands that he is on a level that is beyond his competition at the state level,” Bentley said “He has beaten all these kids and placed higher than them at many events, but the state tournament in March is a different beast and you have to have a great weekend when you get there. The last two years, it wasn’t his best weekend. He wrestled well, but he had a little letdown and that was the difference.

“At the state tournament he has lost three total matches by one point each. This year, he knows the things he must work on.”

While it will be a tough climb to win another district title, the Gales are the favorites to win another conference championship. Bentley has provided a blueprint of what it takes, and his team follows his lead.

The Gales have a competitive schedule throughout the season to prepare them for the postseason.

“We definitely preach that it’s not about December or January,” Bentley said.  “It is about the culmination of practices and matches and experiences that allows us to identify what we need to work on and try to individualize our technique and make sure that we are peaking, mentally and physically at the right time.

"Our job is to give them opportunities to get better and the one’s that take advantage of it and are coachable and work hard, they are going to be ready in March.”

twilson@lancastereaglegazette.com

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Twitter: @twil2323