Spartans, Blue Streaks wrestlers earn D-II sectional crowns at Kenston — and more

Conneaut coach Keith Sherman said his team wrestled about the way he expected during the Division II district tournament Saturday at Kenston High School.

Six Spartans placed at the tournament, three of which earned a spot in this weekend’s Division III District Tournament, also at Kenston.

Wyatt Distel led the way by taking the 190-pound championship.

Wyant Dobran finished second at 150 and Ben Griswold took third at 285.

The Spartans also received sixth-place finishes from Trea Butler (106), Jacob Wells (120) and Hunter Bilbrey (132).

“I think we got the guys through that we expected to get through,” Sherman said. “We would have liked to have maybe gotten one more, but things didn’t go our way. Other than that, though, I thought we wrestled well.”

Distel won the title by recording two pins, then won a 4-1 decision over Kent Roosevelt’s Nick Kurtz.

In the championship bout, Distel escaped from Madison’s Josh White with 51 seconds remaining in the third period, and was able to stay neutral for a 4-3 win.

“Wyatt has been wrestling with a lot more confidence,” Sherman said. “He’s getting better all the time, and he continues to wrestle well.”

Dobran advanced to the championship mat by pinning Medina Buckeye’s Carter Hershkowitz. He then ran into 2025 state placer Chance Schlauch from Perry, and was pinned.

Against Hershkowitz, Dobran trailed in the match, which Sherman said is not unusual. But it’s also not unusual for him to come back to win.

“That’s just how he wrestles,” the coach said. “He always seems to be behind early. He works his way back into the match and he gets a lot of pins.”

Griswold was denied a trip to the championship mat by Madison’s Cam Mullen, who pulled out a 1-0 win, getting an escape in the second period, for the only point in the bout.

It was the second time Griswold lost to Mullin this season. A slip on the mat at the Chagrin Valley Conference Tournament cost him there.

“That’s a match that could have gone either way,” Sherman said. “He couldn’t get off the bottom, but we have confidence that match could have gone the other way.”

It will be the second time wrestling in a district tournament for Distel and Griswold, except last year, Conneaut was at Independence in Division III .

Dobran advanced, but only as an alternate.

Sherman did not take a wrester to Columbus last year, but had done so the two previous years.

He said his wrestlers will travel across the state line in preparation for what will be the biggest tournament of their wrestling careers.

The Pennsylvania State tournament is this weekend, and Sherman will have his wrestlers at Erie Cathedral Prep, working with wrestlers preparing for the Keystone State’s highest honors.

“We get a good work out with some good Pennsylvania wrestlers,” Sherman said. “Wrestling those kids, that they know are good, that really helps their confidence.”

Also at the Kenston sectional, Madison qualified five wrestlers, including a pair of sectional champions.

Chase White (215), and Jordan McCullough (113) both breezed through their brackets, getting first-period pins in every match.

Mullen recorded a pair of pins before falling to Perry’s Trent Taylor in the 285 championship match, to post second.

Josh White won back-to-back close matches before falling in another close to Distel to place second.

Vicente Navarro placed third at 150.

Dom Gephart was fifth at 144 for Madison.

Like Sherman, Madison coach Andrew Tomaso said his wrestlers did pretty much what he expected of them.

Tomaso said seeing Josh White go out and take second exceeded his expectations a bit.

“That was a nice surprise,” Tomaso said. “I thought he had a chance to go; I just didn’t expect him to be a runner-up and lose a close match at that.

Edgewood, which also copeted at Kenston, received a fourth-place finish from Carter Cline at 106.

The Unpacking Future Packers Countdown is a countdown of 100 prospects who the Green Bay Packers could select in the 2026 NFL draft.

Since taking over as general manager of the Green Bay Packers in 2018, Brian Gutekunst has drafted 17 offensive linemen, and he's drafted at least one offensive lineman in every draft, except for the 2023 NFL Draft. That figure will increase at the conclusion of the 2026 NFL Draft.

A potential target in the upcoming draft is Kage Casey. The Boise State offensive lineman checks in at No. 55 in the Unpacking Future Packers Countdown.

A three-star recruit and Oregon native, Casey finished his career at Boise State with 41 starts at left tackle and he took 38 snaps at right tackle during his first season on campus. During his time at the Senior Bowl, he took reps at guard.

Casey finished his career at Boise State with 41 starts at left tackle. He also played 38 snaps at right tackle during his first season on campus. He’ll likely see reps at both tackle spots and potentially at guard this week down in Mobile. He’s a technician who uses a timely punch and stays balanced in his pass sets.

"You could say a lot about how Casey fits the blue-collar culture Boise State fosters," Shaun Goodwin, the Boise State beat writer for the Idaho Statesman, said. "Ultimately leading to him becoming a team captain in 2025, but above all, he embodies availability and consistency. He became a starter for Boise State as a redshirt freshman at the start of the 2023 season and started all 41 games from then until the 2025 Mountain West Championship."

The Boise State product has excellent play strength and the grip strength to control defenders in the run game. He has a powerful lower half and creates movement to blast open running lanes. He shows no restrictions once he gets out into space.

"In part due to his availability in 2024, Casey was the primary blocker for Jeanty in his record-breaking season," Goodwin said. "With a firm base and good hand placement, Casey can set himself in position and hold his ground against onrushing linemen. While you’ll mostly find Casey at the line of scrimmage, he has the ability to take off and help block downfield, too."

Casey is a technician who uses a timely punch and stays balanced in his pass sets. The former three-star recruit has the lateral quickness to mirror speed rushers and protect the corner. He's quick out of his stance to get into his pass set. The Boise State prospect has a high football IQ and understands angles and pass sets. With his lack of length (32-inch arms), Casey will likely kick inside to guard at the next level.

A year after giving up zero sacks and just six pressures, Casey gave up four sacks and 10 pressures this past season. It's worth noting that four of those pressures came during Boise State's first game of the season against USF.

"The 2024 numbers were certainly boosted by opposing teams stacking the box and putting so much pressure on Jeanty and the running game, but he still earned a 99.3 pass blocking efficiency in 2024, which ranked third among FBS offensive tackles," Goodwin said. "He remained a bright spot on an offensive line that struggled at times in 2025, in large part due to his game awareness. In pass protection, he’ll often maintain his distance and delay engagement, allowing him to react better to post-snap stunts through quick vertical movement, hand placement and strength."

Fit with the Packers

The Packers are set to have Rasheed Walker and Sean Rhyan hit free agency, while Elgton Jenkins is expected to be a cap casualty. 

With those potential departures, the Packers are expected to invest heavily in the offensive line as they look for a new starting center, a swing tackle and interior depth.

Casey offers tackle-guard versatility. He's a technician in pass protection and a road grader as a run blocker. Due to the current makeup of Green Bay's offensive line, he could potentially challenge Anthony Belton for the starting right guard spot as a rookie, and could be the team's long-term answer at left guard.

"You’re getting what you see with Casey: A reliable offensive tackle who is efficient in both the run and pass game," Goodwin said. "Along with his consistency and availability, Casey is a no-trouble, locker-room presence — he’s not the loudest in the room, but his work ethic and ability speak for themselves."

The Packers have had a ton of success turning college offensive tackles into all-pro caliber offensive guards. Casey could be the next college tackle to join that exclusive group. While he could stick at tackle, if he were to land with the Packers, his best long-term outlook would be at guard.

The Boise State product could be a Day 3 target for the Packers as they search for interior depth and a player who could step in at left or right tackle if something happens to Jordan Morgan or Zach Tom. Getting a player with his versatility, experience and football acumen on Day 3 would be incredibly valuable.

This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Unpacking Future Packers: No. 55, Boise State OL Kage Casey

Lynda Hale, who played and scored in the first-ever official England women's fixture, has passed away, England Football has confirmed.

The team said Hale, who was born in 1954, had made ten appearances for England across her international career, scoring three goals.

At club level, she represented her hometown team, Southampton, with whom she won the Women's FA Cup a remarkable seven times.

FA Chair Debbie Hewitt MBE said Hale would "always be remembered for the part she played in our football history".

In a BBC TV report from the 70s Hale, who was an accounting machine operator playing for Southampton, said: "It's the same as any other sport - it's a hobby that you've got to be really keen to do."

Team England said that at just 18, she had started "the historic game" against Scotland at Ravenscraig Park in November 1972.

She then went on to make the scoresheet in a 3-2 victory for the Lionesses in Greenock.

"Alongside a number of her soon-to-be England teammates, she featured in the first-ever Women's FA Cup Final in 1971, as Southampton were crowned the competition's inaugural winners, beating Stewarton Thistle 4-1," the club's tribute reads.

In November 2022, she was recognised as the seventh player to represent the Lionesses when the FA allocated legacy numbers.

Her final game was against Switzerland, a 9-1 home victory in Hull.

Hewitt said she was "so deeply saddened to learn of Lynda Hale's passing".

"Whenever we talk about the success of our Lionesses in recent years, it is always with rightful recognition of those special players who paved the way," she said.

"Our first ever number No.7 and a goalscorer in the first official match for England women, Lynda will always be remembered for the part she played in our football history.

"On behalf of everyone at The FA and all connected to the Lionesses, our thoughts are with her family and friends."

The England team said it would wear black armbands in Hale's honour at Tuesday evening's FIFA Women's World Cup qualifier against Ukraine in Antalya, Türkiye.

The FA will also work with her family to pay tribute to her historic contribution to women's football at a forthcoming Lionesses' home game.

"Lynda will forever be remembered and celebrated as a trailblazer," the club said.

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Sex mål mellan Detroit och Nashville. Tre av de gjordes av svenskar – inklusive avgörandet. Doldisen Albert Johanssons 3–2-mål blev tungan på vågen när Detroit tog hem matchen med 4–2.