• Keeping a family wrestling tradition alive, Jimmy Recknagel of Eastwood, center, placed first in the 170 lbs. weight class. He is pictured with DJ Recknagel, left, who was an NLL champ in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and Ron Recknagel, who was NLL champ in 1984 and 1985.
    Keeping a family wrestling tradition alive, Jimmy Recknagel of Eastwood, center, placed first in the 170 lbs. weight class. He is pictured with DJ Recknagel, left, who was an NLL champ in 2009, 2010 and 2011 and Ron Recknagel, who was NLL champ in 1984 and 1985.
  • Eckhart wins NBC mat championship; four other Bulldogs place
    Eckhart wins NBC mat championship; four other Bulldogs place

    Rossford High School senior Herb Eckhart V ran his season wrestling record to 23-3 as he won the Northern Buckeye Conference individual championship at 182 lbs.

    He defeated Mason Oliver of Elmwood, 9-4, to earn RHS its only league champion for the event hosted by the Bulldogs.

    “Herb’s been flying under the radar all season,” Head Coach Randy Hussar said. “He’s an absolute hammer.” The coach felt confident

    The coach felt confident all season that his senior had a chance to win a league championship.

    “Herb controlled the match from start to finish,” Hussar explained. “He works very hard; he’s wrestling on a whole different level right now.”

    Elmwood won the team title with 168 points, just 11 points better than last year’s champ, Eastwood, which finished in second place.

    Rossford finished fifth, tied with Lake, compiling 80 points.

    Hussar was pleased with the Bulldogs’ effort.

    “With giving up five weight classes and still finishing where we did, I’m really happy. The kids really came together and performed. We had some of our guys pull upsets, but all of our kids are heart and hard work,” he said.

    In addition to Eckhart’s performance, four other wrestlers placed for Rossford.

    Dominic Schuler finished second at 170 lbs., losing in the finals to Eastwood’s Jimmy Recknagel.

    Nevan Hanthorn also finished as a runner-up at 152 lbs., losing in the final to Elmwood’s Cannon Endicott.

    Winning the consolation bracket was freshman Ayden Wilson at 145 lbs., and Joey DeBortoli finished fourth at 160 lbs.

    The team will now focus on the upcoming sectional tournament on Saturday, February 27, at Sandusky High School.

    “If we continue what we did for the league, we should be fine for sectionals,” Hussar said.

    He pointed out that due to COVID-19, the season is shorter by almost half of what it usually is. This means that the team will not only be healthy, but they will be unfamiliar to the opposition when they get to sectionals.

    “Usually, you’ve wrestled some of the same kids so many times that you kind of figure each other out. We could have a bunch go to district. I think we are peaking at the right time.”

    In addition to the NBC competition, Rossford’s girls wrestling team competed at the regional tournament in Marysville, Ohio, and as a team finished fourth.

    Junior Zoe Hussar won the 143 lbs. weight class and qualified for state competition.

    So far, she has yet to surrender a point this season and has won all of her matches by pin.

    “I hope Zoe can continue and bring a state title back to Rossford for the first girls’ championship,” Coach Hussar said. “I’m so proud of her as both a coach and as a dad.” Rossford’s Kayden Lewis

    Rossford’s Kayden Lewis also qualified for state at 132 lbs., and freshman Liv Hussar will be an alternate at 121 lbs.

    The state meet will be this Saturday and Sunday at Hilliard Darby High School, near Columbus. The event covers two days so the competition can be split up due to COVID-19 protocols.

    Lower weight classes will compete on the first day and higher weight classes on the second. Kayden will wrestle on Saturday, and Zoe will wrestle on Sunday.

    Family Wrestling Tradition Continues Eastwood’s Recknagel

    Eastwood’s Recknagel actually is a wrestler with ties to Rossford.

    His father, Ron Recknagel was a league champ in 1984 and 1985 for the Bulldogs. Then, his brother, D.J. Recknagel was a three-time league champ in 2009, 2010 and 2011, also for RHS.