West Holmes Wrestling Places Third at Berkshire Battle With 12 Top-Eight Finishes
Local readers will learn how West Holmes scored third at the Berkshire Battle as 12 wrestlers placed in the top eight and what that means for the program and community.
1. Wyatt Crabb, junior, 106 pounds (third place)
Wyatt Crabb went 3-2 and recorded two falls to secure a third-place finish, giving the Knights an early lift in the team standings. As a junior, Crabb’s ability to finish with falls demonstrates mat maturity that will matter in league duals; local fans can expect him to be a dependable scorer as West Holmes pushes through the conference season. His placement helped set the tone for a deep showing from the roster.
2. Liam Angle, sophomore, 120 pounds (third place)
Sophomore Liam Angle posted a 3-2 mark with three pins en route to third place, a performance that signals rapid development for an underclassman. Three falls in a 20-team field show Angle’s aggressiveness and offer a preview of the Knights’ future core, important for Holmes County’s wrestling pipeline and sustained competitiveness. Angle’s success should encourage younger wrestlers in the community to aim high.
3. Gabe Umstead, senior, 132 pounds (third place)
Senior Gabe Umstead finished 4-1 with one fall to claim third, providing veteran leadership and steady points for West Holmes. A 4-1 tournament line in that weight class reflects consistency when every team match matters, and his senior presence anchors younger teammates in pressure situations. Umstead’s result will matter both for seeding in sectional play and for locker-room mentorship as postseason approaches.
4. Lincoln Goans, junior, 175 pounds (third place)
Lincoln Goans went 4-1 with three falls to take third at 175, delivering high-value victories in a physically demanding bracket. Three pins from a junior at a middle-heavy weight indicate both conditioning and an ability to capitalize late, traits that translate into dual-meet wins. His performance is a community point of pride for families who follow larger weight classes and the program’s depth.
5. Camden McCluggage, senior, 190 pounds (third place)
Camden McCluggage closed with a 4-1 record and two falls to earn third place, reinforcing West Holmes’ strength in the upper weights. As a senior producing key victories, McCluggage contributes critical team stability and helps offset the turnover the program faces each year. His placement also highlights that the Knights can score across weight divisions, a crucial factor in team tournament formulas.
6. Easton Ross, sophomore, 215 pounds (third place)
Sophomore Easton Ross recorded a 4-1 ledger with three falls to take third at 215, an encouraging sign for the Knights’ future in the heavyweight-adjacent classes. Ross’s combination of youth and decisive wins boosts expectations for the next two seasons when he can build on this experience. As coach Scott Vaughn observed, “I’m pretty proud of how we competed today. Each one of the guys battled today. Placing 12 of 13 guys was great, especially going 11-1 in the final round. I always like seeing a good overall record in the final round of the tournament. That shows that they are engaged, in shape and taking care of themselves throughout the tournament. Finishing the tournament strong also proves how much these guys like to compete. They aren't just happy to place. They want to win every match.”
7. Oliver Hiller, sophomore, 144 pounds (fifth place)
Sophomore Oliver Hiller went 3-1 and finished fifth, supplying valuable mid-card points that bolstered West Holmes’ team total. A winning record for an underclassman at 144 suggests upside as he gains tournament experience against regional rivals. Hiller’s placement contributes to the program’s depth, helping the Knights sustain scoring across a full lineup.
8. Noah Grassbaugh, sophomore, 150 pounds (fifth place)
Noah Grassbaugh finished fifth with a 3-2 record and three pins, turning several bouts into high-impact victories for the Knights. Three falls at 150 pounds is a strong indicator of match-closing ability, which carries extra weight in tournaments where bonus points shift placings. His result helps illustrate why West Holmes can finish near the top in large fields.
9. Dylan Sours, senior, heavyweight (fifth place)
Senior Dylan Sours went 3-2 with three falls to earn fifth place in the heavyweight bracket, supplying crucial late-match intensity. Upper-weight finishes often swing dual meets and tournaments; Sours’ capacity to secure three pins provides those swing outcomes. For the community, a senior like Sours finishing strongly underscores the program’s tradition of toughness.
10. Finnigan McClintock, freshman, 165 pounds (sixth place)
Freshman Finnigan McClintock placed sixth with a 3-2 record and three pins, a notable result for a first-year varsity competitor. Early success at this level speaks to floor time investment in youth and the Knights’ ability to transition middle-school talent to varsity impact. McClintock’s podium finish adds to a positive long-term trend in Holmes County youth development.
11. Oliver Roberts, sophomore, 138 pounds (seventh place)
Oliver Roberts finished seventh at 138 after going 2-3 with two falls, showing resilience in a tough bracket. While the record is mixed, Roberts’ ability to record falls in hard-fought matches hints at growth potential heading into duals and sectionals. His result contributes to the overall statistic that 12 of 13 varsity participants placed, a metric coaches and community supporters will note.
12. Logan Leyda, freshman, 157 pounds (seventh place)
Freshman Logan Leyda placed seventh at 157, rounding out the 12 top-eight finishes for West Holmes’ varsity contingent. A top-eight finish as a freshman in a competitive field sets a foundation for future contribution and underscores the Knights’ depth across age groups. Leyda’s placement helps the team secure third place overall in the 20-team Berkshire Battle, a strong indicator of program health.
West Holmes’ third-place team finish in a 20-team Berkshire Battle field underscores not only individual achievement but the program’s structural depth, 12 of 13 varsity wrestlers placed and the Knights went 11-1 in the final round, per coach Vaughn’s assessment. That distribution of placers matters for sustained success: it reduces reliance on one or two stars and magnifies the value of consistent participation, coaching, and community support.
Beyond varsity: junior varsity and middle school takeaways West Holmes’ broader program also showed depth that day. In junior varsity action at the Northridge Invitational, sophomore Wade Miller (157) placed fifth with a 4-1 record and two falls, while Ashton Cornwell (106, 2-2, one) and Calvin Pendlebury (132, 2-3) finished sixth. At the middle-school invitational hosted by West Holmes, the program placed 13 wrestlers on the podium and finished fifth as a team; eighth-grader Rowand Mathie went 4-0 with two falls to claim his championship. Coach Justin Wilcox praised the middle-schoolers’ resilience after illness affected several starters that week, commending those who competed strongly despite challenges.
Practical takeaway for Holmes County families and supporters A third-place team finish built on 12 top-eight placers is evidence that investment in coaching, youth programs and consistent community attendance pays dividends. For parents and boosters, doubling down on youth participation, mat time and conditioning will keep this pipeline strong; for local businesses, continued sponsorship and support can amplify recruiting and facilities improvements that sustain the Knights’ competitiveness for years to come.
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