Little Miami High School wrestling coach Wade Brown knew this year would be a learning one for his Panthers.

That was before his numbers dropped from in the 20s during the preseason to 13 heading into the Southwest Ohio Conference tournament.

“My assistant coaches have been a big help,” Brown said. “Everyone has progressed this year.”

Little Miami hit .500 at the SWOC, placing three of the six wrestlers they took to the tournament.

“I’m not real disappointed,” Brown said. “It is a solid league and I knew Ross and Harrison would run away with it, so I am not disappointed by any means.”

Stephen Bowling was third at 120, Mitchell Sellars was third at 132 and Gary Mowen was fourth at 285 as the Panthers finished seventh with 26 points.

Bowling moved into the consolation finals with a bye and also received a bye in the third place match while Sellars rebounded from a loss in the semis with a fall in 48 seconds over Minh Nguyen of Northwest before pinning Talawanda’s James Hatfield in the consolation finals in 2:58. Mowen recovered from a loss in the semis to pin Edgewood’s Austin Rogers in 1:15. Mowen fell in the consolation finals by injury default to Kevin Phelps of Wilmington.

Austin Conte (113), Mitchell Gallagher (138) and Nick Koch (145) all went 0-2, but Gallagher and Koch both drew returning state qualifiers from Ross in the first round.

Little Miami has the week off before the sectional tournament and Brown believes the wrestlers he has will be ready to have a good showing.

“Everyone has really progressed this year,” Brown said. “Hopefully it pays off at sectionals because that is what matters the most.”