Area wrestlers from the Jordan Miller News coverage area will compete this weekend at the Ohio High School Athletic Association state wrestling championships at the Schottenstein Center.
Athletes from across Stark, Carroll, Tuscarawas and surrounding counties qualified through district tournaments across Ohio. The top four finishers in each weight class advanced to the state tournament, while fifth-place finishers serve as alternates.
Local programs will be represented in all three divisions as wrestlers attempt to battle through challenging 16-man brackets in pursuit of state medals and championships. If we missed a local wrestler, please kindly send a direct message so we can verify and add them to our list.
Division II qualifiers
Several Eastern Ohio schools will compete in the Division II state tournament.
Beaver will send five wrestlers to Columbus. Freshman Jordan Bates (44-2) enters the 106-pound bracket as a district champion. Sophomore John Burkett (31-18) qualified at 113 pounds. Senior Robert Buchheit (30-2) advanced at 150 pounds with a runner-up district finish, while sophomore Jake Hughes (41-4) captured a district title at 157 pounds. Junior Evan Ours (35-9) also qualified at 165 pounds.
Carrollton will be represented by two wrestlers. Junior Sawyer Broadwater (38-8) qualified at 113 pounds after placing third at districts, while junior Cael Lowdermilk (29-6) finished second at districts to advance at 138 pounds.
Minerva will send two state qualifiers to Columbus. Junior Jason Sivy (37-12) qualified at 150 pounds, while junior Ethan Weaver (31-14) earned a state berth at 165 pounds after finishing fourth at the district tournament.
Claymont will send four wrestlers to the state tournament. Junior DreVonn Searcy (37-4) won a district championship at 138 pounds. Juniors Daniel McGarr (37-8) qualified at 132 pounds with a fourth-place finish, while Nile Abbuhl (39-8) earned a state berth at 144 pounds after placing third at districts. Sophomore Kamden Stout (41-4) also captured a district title at 165 pounds.
Steubenville will send four wrestlers to Columbus. Senior Cole Harvey (35-10) qualified at 120 pounds with a third-place district finish. Senior Cooper Smith (10-2) advanced at 144 pounds after finishing second at districts. Senior Landon Crosier (47-4) captured the district championship at 175 pounds, while senior Beau Hudson (40-12) earned a runner-up finish at 285 pounds.
Alliance senior John Beltz (43-9) captured a district championship at 157 pounds to earn a state berth, while sophomore Andrew Pennington (38-11) qualified at 175 pounds after placing fourth.
Canton South will send two wrestlers to Columbus. Sophomore Cole Palma (35-9) qualified at 106 pounds with a runner-up district finish, while senior Dominic Prosperi (40-7) advanced at 113 pounds after placing third at districts.
West Branch senior Beau Nezbeth (48-1) advanced to the state tournament at 150 pounds after placing third at districts.
Indian Valley will send three wrestlers to the Division II tournament. Sophomore Bodie Raymond (30-6) won the district championship at 113 pounds, junior Bronko Braun (37-6) finished second at districts at 120 pounds, and senior Brock Albright (36-8) qualified at 126 pounds with a third-place finish.
Division I qualifiers
Several Stark County programs will compete in the Division I state tournament.
Massillon Perry will send one of the area’s largest contingents to Columbus. Junior Lincoln Rohr (35-9) qualified at 126 pounds, while senior Liston Seibert (42-5) advanced at 132 pounds. Junior Seth Cavazos (23-8) will compete at 138 pounds.
Senior Mason Rohr (40-2) qualified at 144 pounds, senior Cameron Plotts (37-8) advanced at 150 pounds, and junior Andrew Ramos (26-15) qualified at 157 pounds. Senior Brennan Warwick (42-2) will compete at 175 pounds, and junior Caige Horak (42-2) qualified at 190 pounds.
Louisville will send several wrestlers to Columbus. Freshman Emilio Rodriguez (35-14) qualified at 106 pounds, while sophomore Paxton Laughlin (37-9) advanced at 113 pounds.
Sophomore Xavier Pollard (39-10) will compete at 120 pounds, senior Colton Rhoads (35-6) qualified at 126 pounds, junior Kaiden Barker (46-4) advanced at 138 pounds and junior Aric Criss (34-6) qualified at 144 pounds. Senior Zander McCrobie (31-12) earned a state berth at heavyweight.
Canton McKinley junior Adonis Kelley (37-5) advanced to the state tournament at 165 pounds after finishing second at districts.
New Philadelphia senior Tyler Ulmer (41-9) qualified at 132 pounds after finishing fourth at districts.
Uniontown Lake junior Lukas Jordan (43-6) qualified for the state tournament at 157 pounds after finishing second at the district tournament.
Massillon Jackson sophomore Liam Dillon (36-12) will compete at 175 pounds after finishing fourth at the Perrysburg district tournament. Dillon secured the final qualifying spot for the state tournament in the weight class and will represent the Polar Bears in the Division I bracket in Columbus.
Division III qualifiers
Several Tuscarawas and Stark County schools will also be represented in the Division III state tournament.
Garaway will send eight wrestlers to Columbus. Qualifiers include Bryce Books (106 pounds), Lukas Miller (113), Braylon Books (144), Mitchell Tetreault (150), Colton Domer (165), Matt Frey (175), Dillon King (190) and Thomas Grimm (215).
Sandy Valley will send two wrestlers to the Division III state tournament. Senior Owen Simpson (42-5) qualified at 132 pounds after finishing third at the Coshocton district tournament, while junior Asher Crissey (38-9) earned a state berth at 120 pounds with a fourth-place district finish.
Tuslaw will send four wrestlers to the Division III state tournament in Columbus. Kaden Lawson qualified at 132 pounds, Chance Grim earned a state berth at 144 pounds, Logan Haer advanced at 157 pounds, and Guhner Eberhardt will compete at 215 pounds after all four wrestlers finished in the top four at their district tournament.
Buckeye Local will have two state qualifiers: Nathan Dentz (120 pounds) and Chase Milton (132 pounds).
Newcomerstown senior Martin Hernandez qualified for the state tournament at heavyweight.
Fairless senior Joey Benson advanced to the state tournament at 285 pounds.
Canton Central Catholic sophomore Axel Estrada qualified at heavyweight.
The OHSAA state wrestling championships will be held Friday through Sunday, March 13–15, at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Wrestlers must win multiple matches across the three-day tournament to secure a place on the state podium.
Coverage of area competitors in the OHSAA girls state wrestling tournament will be published after district tournaments conclude today, once the full list of qualifiers from the Jordan Miller News coverage area is finalized.
