New Lex’s Shively ready for state wrestling tournament

NEW LEXINGTON, Ohio – New Lexington’s Luke Shively has had to overcome a lot to make it to Columbus.

The Panther senior missed the state tournament last season. Then had a knee surgury that could of kept him off the matt for a while. However, Shively rehabbed and entered in tournaments all around the country to get ready for his ulitmate goal – winning the state championship.

Shivley said after the disappointment of last season that he made getting to Columbus his sole goal.

“We put together a plan last year after I didn’t make it to state. I had a goal to make it there and place. We put together a plan of what I needed to do to get there and to win it. We just followed that plan to a tee and it’s panning out now,” said Shivley.

Shivley has had a tremendous season, going 51-4. He won the MVL title and district championship this year. He’ll move on to the state tournament where he’ll compete in the 220 weight class.

His first Thursday match will be against Bruno Pattison from Bellefontaine. They met up earlier in the year, and Shivley got the best of him.

Once the state tournament starts you can guarantee that Shivley’s head coach Dave Ratliff will be right there cheering on his senior wrestler.

“I was estatic. He’s a hard working kid. A blue collar kid who gets no hand outs and does everything on his own. He has a loving and supporting family at home. To see him pin a kid that was ranked third in the state in the district final was pretty awesome,” said Ratliff.

MVL wrestlers in state tournament:

Division I 

106 – Sky Wisecarver (Tri-Valley)
120 – Joseph Eckelberry (Tri-Valley)

Division II

145 – Noah Barnett (Sheridan)
152 – Jarrett Munyan (Sheridan)
182 – Cody Neece (Sheridan)
195 – Owen Loughman (Sheridan)
220 – Luke Shively (New Lexington)
170 Hayden McGee (Maysville)
160 Wesley Pauley (Morgan)

Division III

138 Carter Winegardner (West Muskingum)
145 Andrew McFee (West Muskingum)