With the Great Lakes Conference getting its entire dual slate knocked out Dec. 22 at North Olmsted, Westlake and Buckeye faced off for the conference dual title.
The Demons went 4-0 in the West Division pool, with the East Division’s Bucks doing the same.
Buckeye was no easy task, with the 2023 Division II state duals champions handling Westlake, 71-12, in the final. The Bucks have two returning state champions and two state top-four finishers from the individual tournament last March.
Outside of veterans like state qualifier Brad Cerankosky (113 pounds) and other key lightweight wrestlers such as Tanner Moore (132) getting pinfalls, or even Brogan Hatrup and Chase Morgan, it was a great learning experience for Westlake’s younger wrestlers to go toe-to-toe with one of Ohio’s better programs.
PHOTOS: Great Lakes Conference Duals wrestling, Dec. 22, 2023
“We weren’t really sure where we were going to stack up because this was a new year and a new conference,” Westlake coach Mike Carpernter said. “We have a lot of new faces in the lineup. A lot of guys in their first year of varsity matches, guys that were either (junior varsity) or freshmen this year.
“We had a few rounds that went well for us in the beginning, but Buckeye is one of the best in the state for a reason. We knew that last year and we knew that this year that they’re a great team and a great program. Hopefully, we can learn something from it and try to improve from that.”
Tanner Moore, one of two lineup anchors in the lighter weights, had a rough go of his match at the start. Seemingly on the verge of getting taken down early, Moore kept his wits about him and found a way to get back to neutral and get a pinfall midway through the second period.
Didn't do a lot of posting form the GLC Duals at North Olmsted Today.
Buckeye took down @DemonsWestlake in the dual match finals. One of two wins in those finals by the Demons were 132-pound junior Tanner Moore. Got his guy by 2nd period pin. @MJournalSports @DemonAthletics pic.twitter.com/Y9BcAkxTPr
— Sean Fitzgerald (@fitzonsportsbsr) December 23, 2023
Moore’s composure as a young junior leader and a district placer nine months ago showed, and he’s one of the example setters for his teammates. There’s more to work on, but a lot of positives can be taken from going up against the battle-tested Bucks.
“Our lighter weights, we’ve just been pushing hard to keep the pace up,” Moore said. “Our heavier weights are improving every day compared to the start of the season. We’re a really young team – all freshmen and sophomores, a couple of juniors and two or three seniors. We’ll keep getting better and we’ll come for them in the conference (tournament) in February.”
Now having gotten a look at their Western Division foes and the top duals team in the conference ahead of the February tournament, Moore says it gives the Demons experience that’ll come in handy.
“When we come out here in February, that’s all our mindset is,” Moore said of the conference title. “We’re trying to get some names on our board in our room. We’re going to get better every day come February.”
