By Cort Reynolds
Bluffton High School senior wrestler Kaden Basil competed in the third-place match of the Div. III state championship tournament Sunday, March 13, in the 175 lbs. division.
Basil lost that bout to Waynedale senior Peyton Lemon by technical fall 20-5 to finish fourth in the double-elimination tournament at the Schottenstein Center on the Ohio State University campus in Columbus.
Basil registered a 3-2 record at the three-day event to finish his season with a record of 41-7. Lemon concluded his campaign 31-2 after finishing third.
In the consolation semifinals Sunday morning, Basil squared off against West Jefferson senior Bryce Keckley and pulled out a 5-2 decision to advance to the third-place match.
Keckley dropped to 56-4 with the loss and eventually ended up sixth in the 175 lbs. bracket.
In his only match Friday, Basil downed Westfall senior Glenn Keeton 12-0 by majority decision.
In the quarterfinals Saturday, Basil pinned freshman Ronnie Thomas of Mechanicsburg at 3:29 to advance to the semifinals.
In the 175 lbs. semifinal bout Saturday, Basil took on senior C.J. Smith of Marion Pleasant and lost by a 10-4 decision. Smith (55-2)went on to the championship.
Legacy Christian won the Div. III state team title.
