Jefferson’s Collin McConnahea wrestles Gunner Loughman of Heath.

Of the five Tri-County athletes that made it to the state meet, only one, Jefferson senior 195-pounder Colin McConnahea, won his first match in the Division III ranks.
Of the other four — Jefferson seniors Quinten Wessell (220) and Geoff Ketcham (285); St. John’s senior 170-pounder Will Buettner, all Division III; and Elida senior 132-pounder Nick Pauff in Division II — they all fell in the first round Thursday afternoon and then were eliminated later in the evening.

McConnahea bested Gunner Loughman of Heath 7-1.

“You’re really nervous when you get out there before you start to wrestle. I just told myself to just wrestle, much like I did after I lost my first match at Districts last week,” he said. “The nerves went away quickly and I just wrestled my match. I felt pressure lift off my shoulders last week — not having to stay undefeated and still advancing — and I feel even less right now. I got my first match in, wrestled well and moved on. I can just relax and get ready for tomorrow.”

He advanced to tangle with Dalton Ishmael of North Baltimore this morning, with 10 a.m. the first matches.