Ramstein wrestlers impressive in victory

***image1***The Ramstein American High School wrestling team squared off Saturday against archrivals Heidelberg and three other schools to include Division I neighbors Kaiserslautern, Division II Mannheim and Patch high schools. 

Ramstein won the team tournament with 215 points, and Heidelberg took second with 181 points. Ramstein had eight first-place winners out of 14 weight classes. Junior Ryan Gough, as only a second year wrestler at 119 pounds, placed first, pinning two opponents and winning by a major decision in the finals. 

Ramstein coaches were pleased to see sophomore Noah Sheppard back in the lineup after losing him early last season to an injury. Sheppard won his two matches by pin. 
Freshman Coty Reinhart beat senior teammate Jose Figueroa in wrestle-offs early in the week to hold down the varsity spot at 135 pounds.  Reinhart went into the tournament an unknown and beat Heidelberg’s Adam Johnson. Figueroa then went up two weight classes and wrestled at 145 pounds beating Heidelberg’s Jeremy Brady, who placed second in the Division I meet last year. 

At 140 pounds, sophomore Michael Kane wrestled a strong tournament winning two by pins and another by injury default against senior teammate Mark Stephenson. 

Returning European fourth place winner from last year, senior Logan Rainforth, handily won his weight class at 152. At 189 pounds for the Royals, sophomore John Winston won an exciting match in the finals to place first.  Winston was losing in points when he flipped his opponent onto his back and won by pin. 

Finally, Cole Maxey, senior transfer from Kadena High School, Japan, cruised through the 215-pound division with two pins.  Maxey will be challenged Saturday when he faces last year’s European champion at 189 pounds, Richard Rendon from Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe. The Royals compete away Saturday against the United Kingdom schools, Brussels American High School and SHAPE.