Earlier, Spires defeated Ryan West of Fairborn 6-2 to ensure his third trip to the championship platform. The senior finished third last year at 125 pounds and sixth in 1997 at 103. Though McIntyre, a district champ, is 39-0, the sophomore doesn't have the state tournament experience that Spires has. The first time out, you get hyped up and go 100 miles per hour instead of doing your own stuff. I learned from that.
Every match here is a finals match.
Spires would have a hard time convincing Zinkan that he is a patient wrestler. Spires got an early takedown and nursed that advantage the rest of the match. I saw an opening and just went,'' Spires said. By reaching the final, Spires qualified for the national high- school championships in Pittsburgh later this month. Ever since he started high school, his goal has been to make it to the national championships,'' Lancaster coach Eric Pennycuff said.