Weekend of Champions

After a weekend packed full of excitement I do not even know where to begin. I guess simply stating that the 69^th annual OVAC Ron Mauck Wrestling Tournament was overwhelming success. Hats off to the wrestlers, coaches, fans, and most of all the organizers. Bout after bout, awards handed out, praise given for multiple people in the wrestling community that dated back many years, all went off without a hitch. Job well done.

Once you start to talk about why we are there in the first place, the wrestling itself, it was nothing short of spectacular. These young people gave it their all over the course of three days and handed in impressive performance after impressive performance. There are just so many things to cover that it might take several articles to get it all in.

For now, let’s start alphabetically, BARNESVILLE! This is one of Ohio Valley Athletics favorite communities and did they ever show up. First, it seemed like half, if not more, of the entire town was there supporting their wrestling team.  They were very noticeable and engaged. Moreover, they cheered the way you want people to cheer. An overall great showing for their fans. They had very good reason to cheer and be quite happy as their wrestlers put on an absolute show, with four of them bringing home OVAC titles: Johnathan Huntsman 106, Dakota King 132, Skyler King 138, and Reese Stephen 150. Huntsman brought an energy and excitement to the table that just seems to rally the crowd. Dakota King was named MVP of the 2023 OVAC wrestling tournament. Then you have both Skyler and Reese who looked like technicians going to work. Add in 3^rd place finishes by Logan Tague and Ayden King and this helped the team itself finish first overall in the AAA class with an amazing 200.5 points. Just an overall amazing job by the Shamrocks on the weekend.

Next, we must talk about Parkersburg South. With an overall best team score out of everyone with 242.5 points. This gave them the AAAAA crown and the overall crown. We know you can’t get that without some amazing performances by their wrestlers. First, we will mention number one seed and OVAC champion Robert Shockey (190). He finished his title run in amazing fashion as he needed a brief break to nearly throw up in a bucket on the sideline only to come out and finish off his opponent in the finals. It appeared he was totally done for at the time, but somehow Shockey gathered whatever it was he needed and dug deep to win a super close 3-1 decision. Adding to Parkersburg South’s team score was Ryan Martin (138) 2^nd place, Brycen Arthur (285) 3^rd place, Corbin Phillips (106) and Brady Roberts (126) with 4^th place finishes.

The next closest school to South’s score was University, who finished with 214 points. Leading the way for the Hawks was Dom Parker (157), Luca Felix (175), and Brock Kehler (215) all had 1^st place finishes and are now OVAC champions. Pepper Martin (106) earned a 2^nd place finish and Carter Pauley (132) placed 3^rd to help University finish second in the AAAAA class.

Wheeling Park finished 3rd in the AAAAA class with impressive performance by Jameson Maynard (165). Jaymo, sorry if I spelled that wrong, won a close victory in the finals to give the Patriots their sole OVAC champion of the weekend. Noah White (120) and Bradyn Lucas (144) earned 2^nd place finishes. Quinton Velas (150) and Erick Brothers (215) both placed 3^rd in the tournament.

Cameron handled their business in the A/AA class, winning it with a score of 83.5. Adam Angel (175) leads the way for the Dragons, getting all the way to the finals, before coming up just a hair short.

Indian Creek and Oak Glen both tied for first in the AAAA class with 145.5 points. Indian Creek’s Elijah Llewellyn (285) captured an OVAC crown this weekend. As did Oak Glen’s Logan Davis (113). CJ Spencer (150) and Dominic Paterra (157) of Creek earned 2^nd place finishes. Braxton Dlugopolski (165) of Oak Glen finished in 3^rd place.

Dover managed to get their first OVAC champion this weekend when Egidio DiFazio (144) pinned his opponent in the finals. I believe DiFazio either pinned or technical falled all his opponents on the weekend.

John Marshall had a good showing with Ethan Cook (126) claiming his OVAC crown this weekend. It seemed like John Marshall was a fan favorite in the finals as the crowd erupted when they did well. Klypsan Wallace (165) came within just a point of his OVAC championship. Wallace had a great weekend, looking solid throughout his events.

Poor Bobby Buchheit (120) of Beaver Local. He had his named announced wrong just about all weekend until he made sure people knew how to pronounce his name by winning the 120-pound class and getting his first OVAC championship. I might need fact checked on this, but I even think they said he was a freshman. Nevertheless, well done young man!

There were so many other induvial efforts this weekend. Eric Williams (190) from East Liverpool looked impressive finishing 2^nd in his class, as did Harrison Central’s Lucas Thomas (215), and River’s Marshal Bier (285). Hayley Snyder (106) of Warren made it to the quarterfinals giving her a very good showing this weekend.

There were even some upsets or near upsets. 12 seeds Anthony Baldo (157) of John Marshall and Karon Mihoan (165) of Barnesville knocked out 5 seeds. Unseeded Marshall Mead (190) of Barnesville even took down a 5 seed.

Some teams even came out of what appeared to be nowhere. Wheeling Central had 3 Freshman: Isaac Sands (138), Wyatt Brady (165), and Isaac Martin (215) make their presence known and made people aware of the fact that Central is here. We can only guess what they will bring to the table in the very near future.

After a weekend packed full of greatness we could go on and on. I will leave you with this, if you have not been to an OVAC wrestling tournament you owe it to yourself to go. You will not be disappointed. I, for one, am glad I took this weekend to experience this.

 

Individual and Team results:

106

1st Place – Johnathan Huntsman (4) of BARNESVILLE

2nd Place – Pepper Martin (2) of UNIVERSITY

3rd Place – Mason Simms (1) of WELLSVILLE

4th Place – Corbin Phillips (5) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

5th Place – Aiden Anderson (6) of OAK GLEN

6th Place – Gavin Bolock (11) of UNION LOCAL

7th Place – Justuce Fisher (8) of BEAVER LOCAL

8th Place – Wyatt Hostuttler (10) of WEIR

113

1st Place – Logan Davis (1) of OAK GLEN

2nd Place – Tristen Rossiter (2) of SHENANDOAH

3rd Place – Zander Ward (3) of JOHN MARSHALL

4th Place – Jase Mahoney (4) of MARTINS FERRY

5th Place – Noah Keen (8) of CAMBRIDGE

6th Place – Chris Warrick (7) of BEAVER LOCAL

7th Place – Mackiah Claudio (9) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

8th Place – Kasyn Berkey of STEUBENVILLE

120

1st Place – Bobby Buchheit (3) of BEAVER LOCAL

2nd Place – Noah White (1) of WHEELING PARK

3rd Place – Dylan Ward (2) of MARTINS FERRY

4th Place – Colton Gillespie (5) of UNIVERSITY

5th Place – Blake Lanzer (7) of DOVER

6th Place – Ian Starkey of INDIAN CREEK

7th Place – Wyatt Wolanski (9) of OAK GLEN

8th Place – Ethan Stimpert (6) of STEUBENVILLE

126

1st Place – Ethan Cook (1) of JOHN MARSHALL

2nd Place – Drake Kanyuch (2) of SHENANDOAH

3rd Place – Pedro Garcia (4) of DOVER

4th Place – Brady Roberts (5) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

5th Place – Charlie Abbott (7) of STEUBENVILLE

6th Place – Slaton Pettit (3) of CAMERON

7th Place – Aiden Spahlinger (8) of SOUTHERN LOCAL

8th Place – Xzander Eltringham (9) of BROOKE

132

1st Place – Dakota King (1) of BARNESVILLE

2nd Place – Brody Saccoccia (2) of STEUBENVILLE

3rd Place – Carter Pauley (4) of UNIVERSITY

4th Place – Hayden Lamb (3) of OAK GLEN

5th Place – Carter Adkins (5) of JOHN MARSHALL

6th Place – Lucas Zombotti (6) of MAGNOLIA

7th Place – T`Kai Jett (Alt) of EDISON

8th Place – Andrew Cox (10) of HARRISON CENTRAL

138

1st Place – Skyler King (1) of BARNESVILLE

2nd Place – Ryan Martin (2) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

3rd Place – Cal Beadling (3) of STEUBENVILLE

4th Place – Adam Carman (4) of WHEELING PARK

5th Place – Isaac Sands (5) of WHEELING CENTRAL

6th Place – Mason Aberts (6) of BRIDGEPORT

7th Place – Clayton Myers (8) of CAMBRIDGE

8th Place – Leland Lopez (11) of HARRISON CENTRAL

144

1st Place – Egidio DiFazio (2) of DOVER

2nd Place – Bradyn Lucas (1) of WHEELING PARK

3rd Place – Logan Tague (3) of BARNESVILLE

4th Place – Nathan Murphy (5) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

5th Place – Ashton Hoge (4) of CAMERON

6th Place – Justin Cox of BEAVER LOCAL

7th Place – Jay McKenzie (10) of UNIVERSITY

8th Place – Gavin Pownall (9) of INDIAN CREEK

150

1st Place – Reese Stephen (1) of BARNESVILLE

2nd Place – CJ Spencer (3) of INDIAN CREEK

3rd Place – Quinton Velas (2) of WHEELING PARK

4th Place – Savier Faulks (4) of STEUBENVILLE

5th Place – Ryan Ward (5) of JOHN MARSHALL

6th Place – Makiya Powell (6) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

7th Place – Landon Crum of UNION LOCAL

8th Place – Shayden Fogle (8) of MARTINS FERRY

157

1st Place – Dom Parker (2) of UNIVERSITY

2nd Place – Dominic Paterra (1) of INDIAN CREEK

3rd Place – Ayden King (3) of BARNESVILLE

4th Place – Michael Heath (6) of OAK GLEN

5th Place – Kyle Wheeler (4) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

6th Place – Malaki Washington (8) of WHEELING PARK

7th Place – Peyton Pyle (7) of BRIDGEPORT

8th Place – Anthony Baldo (12) of JOHN MARSHALL

165

1st Place – Jameson Maynard (1) of WHEELING PARK

2nd Place – Klypsan Wallace (3) of JOHN MARSHALL

3rd Place – Braxton Dlugopolski (2) of OAK GLEN

4th Place – Jason Williams (6) of WARREN

5th Place – Gabe Blissenbach (4) of SOUTHERN LOCAL

6th Place – Ethan Waggoner (8) of EDISON

7th Place – Johnny McFarland (7) of MARTINS FERRY

8th Place – Karson Milhoan (12) of BARNESVILLE

175

1st Place – Luca Felix (1) of UNIVERSITY

2nd Place – Adam Angel (2) of CAMERON

3rd Place – Gabe Morgan (5) of BEAVER LOCAL

4th Place – George Hulsey (3) of MARTINS FERRY

5th Place – Aden Strahler (6) of WARREN

6th Place – Ethan Llewellyn (4) of INDIAN CREEK

7th Place – Cole Middleton (8) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

8th Place – Wyatt Morris (7) of SOUTHERN LOCAL

190

1st Place – Robert Shockey (1) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

2nd Place – Eric Williams (3) of EAST LIVERPOOL

3rd Place – Tyler Wise (2) of BROOKE

4th Place – Alexander Finsley (7) of MARTINS FERRY

5th Place – Marshal Sayre (4) of CALDWELL

6th Place – Gage Hawkins (8) of WEIR

7th Place – Jacob Walker (9) of ST CLAIRSVILLE

8th Place – Greg Sauers (6) of OAK GLEN

215

1st Place – Brock Kehler (2) of UNIVERSITY

2nd Place – Lucas Thomas (1) of HARRISON CENTRAL

3rd Place – Erick Brothers (3) of WHEELING PARK

4th Place – Isaac Martin (5) of WHEELING CENTRAL

5th Place – Ayden Morris (7) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

6th Place – Jonathon Bailey (4) of EAST LIVERPOOL

7th Place – Jamison Stiles (6) of EDISON

8th Place – Forfeit Forfeit of Unattached

285

1st Place – Elijah Llewellyn (3) of INDIAN CREEK

2nd Place – Marshal Bier (1) of RIVER

3rd Place – Brycen Arthur (8) of PARKERSBURG SOUTH

4th Place – Ryder Hastings (5) of UNIVERSITY

5th Place – Hunter Means (6) of WHEELING PARK

6th Place – Landen Thomas (2) of HARRISON CENTRAL

7th Place – Anderson Palian (9) of LINSLY

8th Place – Joe Tristano (10) of DOVER

 

Team results

A/AA Team Scores

1              CAMERON 83.5

2              SOUTHERN LOCAL 69.5

3              WHEELING CENTRAL 53.5

AAA Team Scores

1              BARNESVILLE 200.5

2              MARTINS FERRY 125.5

3              SHENANDOAH 91.0

AAAA Team Scores

1              INDIAN CREEK 145.5

1              OAK GLEN 145.5

3              BEAVER LOCAL 129.5

AAAAA Team Scores

1              PARKERSBURG SOUTH 242.5

2              UNIVERSITY 214.0

3              WHEELING PARK 201.5