Former North Bay Haven wrestler Koa DeLoach added another national achievement to his résumé, earning Fargo All-American honors for the second time in his career after a fifth-place finish at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota.
DeLoach, the reigning Bay County Wrestler of the Year and a Davidson College signee, competed at 113 pounds and opened the tournament with a dominant performance in the Round of 128, defeating Jack Gogel by technical fall, 10-0. He continued his championship-side run with another technical fall victory, defeating Kansas wrestler Tanner Rhoton, 12-2.
In the quarterfinals, DeLoach faced Oklahoma’s Turner Ross in a high-scoring matchup. Ross edged DeLoach in a hard-fought 14-11 decision, moving DeLoach into the medal rounds.
DeLoach bounced back in the fifth-place match, earning a 14-12 decision over Illinois wrestler Niko Odiotti to secure his second Fargo All-American honor. His fifth place finish is the highest placement of any male Bay County wrestler.
Adebanji Bamidele is a sports reporter for the Panama City News Herald. He can be reached at abamidele@gannett.com or through X, formerly known as Twitter, @AdebanjiBamide1.
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Davidson wrestling signee Koa DeLoach earns Fargo All-American honor
Reporting by Adebanji Bamidele, Panama City News Herald / The News Herald
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Adebanji Bamidele, Panama City News Herald | USA TODAY Network
