Anthony Aiello sees a lot to like from his Ready High School wrestling team in his third season as coach.
The Silver Knights have only six competitors, but one was a Division III state qualifier and another was a district qualifier last season.
"My youth is growing, so that's a plus," Aiello said. "I'm down to six guys, but they're really solid."
On Dec. 1 in the season-opening Williamsport Westfall Invitational, Ready was seventh (72.5) of 12 teams behind the champion and host Mustangs (164.5).
Senior Andrew Halko (145 pounds), who was a district runner-up last season and went 0-2 at state to finish 36-8, went 3-0 to win a title at Westfall. That improved his career record to 102-23.
Also at Westfall, sophomore Aiden Aiello (126) won a title, juniors Jacob Robinson (195) and Cameron Jones (120) finished third and freshman Evan O'Connell (106) placed fourth.
The other competitor for the Knights is freshman Paul Martello (152).
Aiden Aiello was a sectional runner-up and went 2-2 at district to finish 23-12 last season. Robinson went 1-2 at sectional and finished 14-15.
Another district qualifier who was expected to return was junior heavyweight Bailey Garren, but he transferred to Grove City Christian. Senior Sam Hardenbergh, who was fifth at sectional at 220 but ended up replacing another wrestler at district and went 2-2 to finish 23-10, is not back with the team.
Ready next competes Saturday, Dec. 15, in the East Knox Invitational.
"(Halko is) determined," coach Aiello said. "Aiden loves football, too, but he knows he's going to do pretty well. He works hard. Last year making it one match away from getting to state I thought was pretty good."
Bowlers hope to take step forward
The boys and girls bowling teams opened Dec. 5 against Beechcroft, with the girls winning 1,472-1,127 and the boys losing 1,790-1,499 at Game of Western Columbus.
The girls tied for third (7-3) in the Central Ohio High School Bowling Conference-D Division last season behind Whitehall (10-0) and Watterson (9-1) and shared the CCL title with Watterson at 5-1.
Senior Samantha Blackburn and juniors Megan Hackman, Maryann Rucker and Mary Zerrien all are returnees from that team, which finished 12-3 overall and was seventh in the Division II district tournament as the top three teams advanced to state.
Blackburn was 16th (475), Hackman was 18th (469) and Zerrien was 34th (439) at district. Zerrien had tied for ninth at district as a freshman to miss advancing to state by 16 pins.
"Hopefully (the season is) better than last year because last year wasn't a good year," Zerrien said. "My goal this year is to get to state at least. We lost a lot of people (from last season)."
Also competing for the girls team are sophomores Emma Pond and Kieu Vargo and freshman Maddie Brewster.
The boys return junior Finn Hardenbergh and sophomores Wesley Hendricks and Aaron King after going 4-14 overall and placing 24th at last year's sectional.
Others competing include sophomore Luke Jahn and freshmen Zach Jahn and Brady Hicks.
Smith siblings swim for Knights
There are two girls competing in swimming for Ready, and both are returnees.
Sophomore Elaine Smith was fifth in the 500-yard freestyle (5 minutes, 30.37 seconds) in the Division II district meet last season but only the top three advanced to state. She also was 14th in the 200 free (2:04.63) at district.
Her sister, junior Katie Smith, was 19th in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.11) and 20th in the 200 individual medley (2:29.37) at district.
Their mother, Ann Smith, is Ready's coach.
"Only my two daughters are swimming this year," Ann Smith said. "I kept the schedule simple. I added the Ned Reeb (Invitational on Dec. 8 at Ohio State) to challenge Elaine. I hope Katie can progress to districts and Elaine to state and (that they) stay healthy."
Ready had one boy last season in 2018 graduate Josh Conturo, who placed 28th in 200 free (2:08.59) at district.
julrey@thisweeknews.com
@UlreyThisWeek
SchedulesBOWLING
*Dec. 5 -- Beechcroft at Game of Western Columbus
*Dec. 11 -- Columbus East at Eastland Lanes
*Dec. 12 -- Independence at Game of Western Columbus
*Dec. 13 -- Eastmoor Academy at Eastland Lanes
*Dec. 19 -- Mifflin at Game of Western Columbus
*Jan. 8 -- DeSales at Capri Lanes
*Jan. 9 -- Hartley at Game of Western Columbus
*Jan. 10 -- St. Charles at HP Lanes
*Jan. 16 -- Linden-McKinley at Game of Western Columbus
*Jan. 22 -- Walnut Ridge at Game of Western Columbus
*Jan. 24 -- Watterson at Sawmill lanes
*Jan. 29 -- Africentric at Game of Western Columbus
*Jan. 30 -- St. Charles at Game of Western Columbus
*Feb. 5 -- Watterson at Game of Western Columbus
*Feb. 6 -- DeSales at Game of Western Columbus
*Feb. 8 -- Hartley at Holiday Lanes
SWIMMING
Dec. 4 -- Lancaster at Grove City YMCA
Dec. 8 -- Ned Reeb Invitational at Ohio State
Dec. 18 -- Wellington and Whetstone at Grove City YMCA
Dec. 22 -- Mount Vernon Invitational at Kenyon College
Jan. 5 -- Reynoldsburg at St. Charles
Jan. 15 -- Grandview at Grove City YMCA
Jan. 26 -- CCL meet at Columbus School for Girls
Feb. 2 -- Wellington at Columbus Aquatics Center
WRESTLING
Dec. 1 -- Williamsport Westfall Invitational
Dec. 8 -- London Invitational
Dec. 15 -- East Knox Invitational
Dec. 19 -- at Franklin Heights
Jan. 5 -- Bobcat Invitational at Grandview
Jan. 12 -- Comet Classic at Central Crossing
Jan. 19 -- Hamilton Township Classic
Feb. 9 -- Canal Winchester Invitational
Feb. 13 -- CCL duals at home
Feb. 16 -- Nye Cardinal Classic at St. Charles
*League contest
Below are the coming schedules for the Ready boys basketball and girls basketball teams:
BOYS BASKETBALL
Dec. 11 -- Home vs. Liberty Union
*Dec. 14 -- Home vs. Hartley
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Dec. 11 -- At Marion Elgin
Dec. 12 -- At Bexley
Dec. 15 -- Home vs. Worthington Christian
*League contest