“We felt that based on what we have done so far this season that we might be number one or number two,” Peck said. “Either way, we have our work cut out for us. This time of year, very few teams are 100 percent healthy. We are close and hope to be in a week.”
Peck is hoping health arrives in time for the opening rounds on Jan. 25 when the top-seeded Aviators open with the winner of Fairborn (No. 8) and West Carrollton (No. 9) at home.
Butler will take the mat 20 minutes following the first match along with No. 4 seed Fairmont and No. 5 Wayne with the winners meeting 20 minutes after the second round for a berth in the regional semifinals the following week.
“We are honored to be voted number one in region 7A by the other coaches, but it puts a target on our back,” Peck said. “We are working extremely hard to wrestle to our seed and make it to St. John, which definitely won’t be easy. Our goal, like every year, is to make the elite eight.”
Butler has been seeded sixth the past three tournaments and pulled off a mild upset in the inaugural event, beating fourth-seeded Wayne as a fifth seed.
Peck prefers the excitement of a dual meet for the fans over the day-long bracket tournament that most teams participate in on weekends.
“It’s all about team. The entire team is involved in the outcome and our team is really close,” Peck said. “They expect each other to win because most of them have been working out together since last season has ended and have common goals.
“Also duals are great for our sport. The casual fan understands purple wrestling green and are willing to invest 60-90 minutes at a sporting event. Bracketed tournaments are necessary too, but the casual fan doesn’t understand the format and doesn’t want to be there all day.”
Peck expects a loud crowd at Butler for the opening rounds but doesn’t think the size of the event will get to his squad. Most of Butler’s wrestlers also compete in large freestyle tournaments in the spring and summer and are used to being on a bigger stage.
“This bunch is young (one senior in the starting lineup), but seasoned,” Peck said. “They have wrestled in a lot of big matches in season and out. I am sure that they are happy to be seeded number one, but they understand what comes with that seed.”
Northmont, the No. 2 seed in 7-A, could draw Butler in the regional semis. The Thunderbolts open at home against Beavercreek, the third seed.
Centerville, second seeded in Region 7-B, will travel to third seed Lebanon to face Edgewood while Miamisburg (No. 5) and Springboro (N0. 4) square off at Mason with the winner facing the state-ranked hosts.
Division II: Graham will look for its fifth team title, but first the Falcons are setting their sights on being the top team in Ohio. They have a dual Saturday at 7 p.m. at home with Lakewood St. Edward before hosting the first rounds of Region 16-B.
Carroll, Tippecanoe and Alter wrestle at second-seeded Oakwood with the winner advancing to Graham.
Eaton will host in Region 15-B while Bellbrook and Waynesville travel to Western Brown to square off.
Division III: Returning regional champ Versailles will have its hands full in Region 24 with Coldwater, the No. 2 seed in sub-region B. Mechanicsburg, the top ranked team in the state, is in 24-A along with Miami East and Covington.
Troy Christian (first seed) and Milton-Union (second seed) are the top seeds in 23-B.
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