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New Albany’s Nick Fluty, who was 30-9 at 113 pounds before a match against St. Charles on Feb. 7, has been more consistent this season, according to coach Marc Cofer. Buy This Photo

At times, New Albany High School’s Nick Fluty can be a hard wrestler to please.

The junior came away with a 4-3 victory over Jon Bloss at 113 pounds as the Eagles prevailed 46-21 on Feb. 2 at Franklin Heights in their final OCC-Capital Division dual. In the process, Fluty, who scored all of his points on two reversals, avenged a 9-3 loss to Bloss in a championship quarterfinal in last year’s Division I sectional tournament at Pickerington North. Bloss later qualified for state at 112 while Fluty was eliminated from the postseason with another setback in his next sectional match.

Still, Fluty didn’t seem all that happy following the Feb. 2 win.

“I feel like I wrestled softly,” he said. “I’ve just got to get better.”

Fluty improved to 30-9 by winning three of his four matches and placing third in the John Deno Invitational on Feb. 4 at Athens. In his previous tournament, he placed fifth in the Cruiser Invitational on Jan. 28 at Groveport, where he was a defending champion.

“I’m satisfied (with my season so far), kind of, but I know I can do better,” Fluty said. “I should be winning with more points.”

New Albany’s other highlights during the Franklin Heights dual included Ryan Cao’s 7-3 victory over Steven Heckmen at 138, as Cao scored a takedown and three back points in the final seconds. Another one was Mac Ferguson, who usually competes at 182, wrestling at 220 and defeating Keith Canterbury 19-10. The Eagles trailed 21-3, scoring only on Fluty’s early decision, before winning the final eight matches with five pins to finish 1-6 in the OCC-Capital.

Fluty, who wrestled at Cardington as a freshman, went 23-14 a year ago for the Eagles and made second-team all-league. He has yet to make an appearance in the district tournament, however. He had a first-round bye in last year’s sectional but finished 0-2, and he was a district alternate two years ago at 103 after placing fifth in the Division III sectional.

“He’s been more consistent this year, though; he’s having a solid year,” coach Marc Cofer said. “He hasn’t peaked yet and he hasn’t been too low. He’s just been very consistent week in and week out for us, and that’s a huge win for him (defeating Bloss).”

Fluty placed second in his pool on Jan. 21 in the New Albany Invitational, which was not a bracketed tournament. He also was a runner-up in the season-opening Lee Spitzer Golden Bear Invitational on Dec. 3 at Upper Arlington and finished second in the Falcon Invitational on Dec. 17 at Clarksville Clinton-Massie.

He’s hoping for another shot at a championship final when the Eagles compete in the sectional tournament Feb. 18 at Westland, although the top four placers in each weight class advance to district Feb. 24 and 25 at Hilliard Darby. The 10-team sectional field also includes Central Crossing, Darby, Dublin Coffman, Grove City, Olentangy Orange, St. Charles, Upper Arlington, Worthington Kilbourne and the host Cougars.

“I’m always looking for first (place), of course,” Fluty said. “I’ve definitely found out how Division I is so much tougher once you get to tournament time, so I’ve just got to keep working at it. I know I’m not wrestling my best yet.”