From Division II action in Wilmington to Division III showdowns in Troy and Coshocton, local wrestlers battled through loaded District brackets with one goal in mind — earning a coveted trip to the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Tournament in Columbus.
The weekend delivered plenty of standout performances as some of the area’s top programs proved they were ready for the sport’s biggest stage.
Graham once again showed why it remains one of the premier wrestling programs in the state, dominating the Troy district with a commanding team title and a lineup packed with champions and state qualifiers.
Benjamin Logan, Indian Lake, and West Liberty-Salem also turned in strong performances, producing multiple state qualifiers and podium finishers after grinding through some of the toughest brackets in Division II and Division III. Meanwhile, wrestlers from Mechanicsburg, Bellefontaine, Urbana, and Triad battled deep into consolation rounds, fighting to extend their seasons and keep state hopes alive.
With pins igniting crowds, technical falls piling up, and several high-stakes matches deciding podium positions, the district tournaments delivered everything that makes March wrestling in Ohio special — intensity, resilience, and the final proving ground before the lights of the state tournament.
State qualifiers — those finishing in the top four of their weight class — included:
- Benjamin Logan: Cooper Buck (132 lbs), Owen Weaks (144 lbs), Ethan Carpenter (175 lbs)
- Graham: Cooper Breslin (113 lbs), Blaine Demarco (132 lbs), Cole Winemiller (150 lbs), Gabe Krieger (157 lbs), Jake Hoke (165 lbs), Kyler Crooks (175 lbs), Danny Hoke (190 lbs), Logan Souders (215 lbs), Gage Stull (285 lbs)
- Indian Lake: Keshawn Blackwell (120 lbs), Brayden Riffell (126 lbs), Jordan Henderson (132 lbs), Christopher Timms (285 lbs)
- West Liberty-Salem: Lucas Merriman (126 lbs), Kyler Langhardt (138 lbs), Sam Bradford (215 lbs)
- Mechanicsburg: Gavin Stacy (144 lbs), Aidan O’Neal (175 lbs)
Potential state alternates — those finishing fifth in their weight class — included:
- Graham: Baden Root (120 lbs), Brookes Platfoot (138 lbs)
- Indian Lake: Gavin Henry (144 lbs)
- Triad: Garrett Bollack (150 lbs)
- Mechanicsburg: Hayden Smith (138 lbs), Cain Stryker (190 lbs)
BENJAMIN LOGAN RAIDERS
District Tournament – Div. II (Wilmington)
7th place – 74.0 points
126 lbs – Jeremiah Parker (2-2)
First Round – pin over Brody Schmuelling (Badin) 1:51
Quarterfinal – pin loss to Josh Sheets (Col. DeSales) 1:59
Second Consolation – pin over Colten Doggett (Tecumseh) 4:40
Third Consolation – pin loss to Braydon Comer (Eaton) 2:29
132 lbs – Cooper Buck (3-2, 4th place)
First Round – dec. over Edward Anderson (Jonathan Alder) 11-9
Quarterfinal – pin over Hunter Foss (Valley View) 2:44
Semifinal – dec. loss to Dareyan Egner (Franklin) 8-6
Consolation Semifinal – dec. over Edward Anderson (Jonathan Alder) 7-6
3rd Place – dec. loss to Dom Marengo (La Salle) 8-7
144 lbs – Owen Weaks (4-0, 1st place)
First Round – tech. fall over Caleb Dunn (Ross) 20-2
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Tanner Sampson (Brookville) 18-3
Semifinal – pin over Max Monahan (McNicholas) 3:33
1st Place – dec. over Blake Eckelbarger (Col. DeSales) 13-11
157 lbs – Emerson Carpenter (1-2)
First Round – tech. fall loss to Tommy Rowlands (Watterson) 16-1
First Consolation – pin over Jaden Allen (Shroder) 1:29
Second Consolation – maj. dec. loss to Samuel Keyes (Oakwood) 17-5
175 lbs – Ethan Carpenter (3-1, 2nd place)
First Round – pin over Hayden Kittles (Cal. River Valley) 3:03
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Cody Ferguson (Franklin) 16-1
Semifinal – tech. fall over Paul Byerly (Jonathan Alder) 21-3
1st Place – pin loss to Colin Wooldridge (La Salle) 0:57
BELLEFONTAINE CHIEFTAINS
District Tournament – Div. II (Wilmington)
27th place – 15.5 points
138 lbs – Jared Young (3-3, 6th place)
First Round – pin over Gabe Cunningham (Bethel-Tate) 1:57
Quarterfinal – tech. fall loss to Josiah Puller (Wilmington) 17-1
Second Consolation – tech. fall over Shawn Gebhart (Franklin) 17-1
Third Consolation – pin over Eli Stacy (Tippecanoe) 4:25
Consolation Semifinal – pin loss to Ryan Morgan (Alter) 0:33
5th Place – tech. fall loss to Nick Vivian (La Salle) 15-0
150 lbs – Andrew Larison (1-2)
First Round – pin loss to Rocco Mauro (Alter) 2:32
First Consolation – pin over Kierson Patton (Ross) 2:06
Second Consolation – dec. loss to Ethan Christian (Spr. Shawnee) 7-6
165 lbs – Noah King (0-2)
First Round – pin loss to Jackson Runyon (Taylor) 0:16
First Consolation – dec. loss to Marquan Hendricks (Linden McKinley) 20-17
“Jared wrestled the best he ever has this weekend against tough competition. He stayed on his attacks and had great hips in some scrambles. Andrew had a nice tournament for being down here for the first time. He made some mistakes that cost him a winnable match on Friday in his first match. I think nerves got to Noah a little bit. He came out flat in his first match, but got moving in his second match.”
— BHS head coach Aaron LaBatt.
URBANA HILLCLIMBERS
District Tournament – Div. II (Wilmington)
T-35th place – 5.0 points
157 lbs – Trent Hoffman (2-2)
First Round – tech. fall loss to Jonah Jenkins (Col. DeSales) 21-4
First Consolation – dec. over Andre Burks (La Salle) 11-4
Second Consolation – dec. over Kylin Hopson (Dunbar) 9-7
Third Consolation – pin loss to Logan Irvin (Alter) 2:17
215 lbs – Tyler Foster (1-2)
First Round – pin loss to Ja`Clay Newland (Western Brown) 5:13
First Consolation – pin over Claytin Massie (London) 2:41
Second Consolation – maj. dec. loss to Aiden Ondrovich (Ross) 10-2
GRAHAM FALCONS
District Tournament – Div. III (Troy)
1st place – 257.5 points
113 lbs – Cooper Breslin (4-0, 1st place)
First Round – pin over Dylan Cress (Con. Crestview) 0:14
Quarterfinal – pin over Brayden Hackworth (Greeneview) 0:55
Semifinal – pin over Isaiah Wolf (Troy Christian) 1:10
1st Place – pin over Jacob Eichhorn (Miami East) 1:27
120 lbs – Baden Root (4-2, 5th place)
First Round – pin over Gavin Galbraith (Fredericktown) 0:54
Quarterfinal – dec. loss to Langston McClain (Allen East) 5-4
Second Consolation – tech. fall over Landon Abt (Blanchester) 17-0
Third Consolation – dec. over Reece Magoteaux (Versailles) 14-8
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. loss to Keshawn Blackwell (Indian Lake) 15-3
5th Place – maj. dec. over Colton Kimmel (Wayne Trace) 8-0
126 lbs – Kaiden Galvan (3-3, 6th place)
First Round – dec. over Kyllan Martin (Lima C.C.) 10-9 SV
Quarterfinal – dec. loss to Zarrin Walton (Preble Shawnee) 11-7
Second Consolation – tech. fall over Jacob Acevedorena (West Jefferson) 20-4
Third Consolation – dec. over Khadim Lo (Finneytown) 5-0
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. loss to Brayden Riffell (Indian Lake) 8-0
5th Place – pin loss to Zarrin Walton (Preble Shawnee) 1:28
132 lbs – Blaine Demarco (4-1, 3rd place)
First Round – pin over Collin Welch (North Union) 0:21
Quarterfinal – pin over Kellen Wireman (Allen East) 3:41
Semifinal – maj. dec. loss to Jordan Henderson (Indian Lake) 14-1
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. over J.J. Declercq (Lima C.C.) 8-0
3rd Place – pin over Madden Kilgore (West Liberty-Salem) 2:05
138 lbs – Brookes Platfoot (4-2, 5th place)
First Round – pin loss to Luke Wiley (Waynesville) 5:21
First Consolation – tech. fall over Kale Pedersen (Ada) 16-0
Second Consolation – maj. dec. over Owen Garver (Fredericktown) 15-2
Third Consolation – pin over Cal Anderson (West Jefferson) 3:35
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. loss to Jimmy Landis (Liberty Union) 16-8
5th Place – dec. over A.J. Sturwold (Williamsburg) 5-2
144 lbs – Ryan Angel (0-2)
First Round – dec. loss to Caden Otto (Madeira) 9-6
First Consolation – dec. loss to Gage Clevinger (Antwerp) 4-3
150 lbs – Cole Winemiller (4-1, 3rd place)
First Round – tech. fall over Zac Salas (Antwerp) 16-1
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Wyatt Curnutte (Clermont NE) 19-3
Semifinal – default loss to Edward Kessen (Del. St. John’s)
Consolation Semifinal – tech. fall over Bronx Dickson (Indian Lake) 16-0
3rd Place – pin over Landon Dasher (Paulding) 2:17
157 lbs – Gabe Krieger (4-2, 4th place)
First Round – pin over Lucas Whittington (Ready) 0:42
Quarterfinal – dec. loss to Thor Etter (Paulding) 10-9
Second Consolation – tech. fall over Hank Smith (Versailles) 22-7
Third Consolation – pin over Nathan Metcalf (Dixie) 3:29
Consolation Semifinal – pin over Luke Sawmiller (Con. Crestview) 2:09
3rd Place – pin loss to Thor Etter (Paulding) 0:14
165 lbs – Jake Hoke (4-0, 1st place)
First Round – tech. fall over Owen Parlier (Williamsburg) 19-3
Quarterfinal – pin over Michael Clifford (Paulding) 1:06
Semifinal – tech. fall over Chris Davidson (Madeira) 20-5
1st Place – default over Rylan Puckett (West Jefferson)
175 lbs – Kyler Crooks (4-0, 1st place)
First Round – tech. fall over Henry Schehl (Col. Academy) 21-5
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Alex Collins (Carlisle) 15-0
Semifinal – tech. fall over Jaden Green (Parkway) 15-0
1st Place – tech. fall over Bryson Doran (Preble Shawnee) 19-4
190 lbs – Danny Hoke (4-0, 1st place)
First Round – pin over Avery Cooper (Paulding) 5:09
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Carter Sherman (Cardington-Lincoln) 17-2
Semifinal – tech. fall over Carter Lester (Lima C.C.) 22-6
1st Place – tech. fall over Bobby Kapala (Ready) 18-3
215 lbs – Logan Souders (4-0, 1st place)
First Round – pin over Jeffrey Knox (Day. Christian) 1:18
Quarterfinal – pin over Miguel Martinez (Paulding) 1:07
Semifinal – pin over Cody Gunn (Waynesville) 2:47
1st Place – maj. dec. over Brody Adams (Spr. Cath. Cent.) 12-0
285 lbs – Gage Stull (3-2, 4th place)
First Round – pin over Henry Wiss (Spencerville) 0:42
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Carter Wittel (Danville) 15-0
Semifinal – dec. loss to Jett Manley (Waynesville) 9-5
Consolation Semifinal – pin over Isaiah Brady (Carlisle) 4:29
3rd Place – dec. loss to Christopher Timms (Indian Lake) 2-0
INDIAN LAKE LAKERS
District Tournament – Div. III (Troy)
3rd place – 98.0 points
106 lbs – Cash Scott (1-2)
First Round – pin loss to Alex Neukam (Clermont NE) 1:24
First Consolation – pin over Alexzander Ricker (Spencerville) 0:58
Second Consolation – tech. fall loss to Parker Frakes (Liberty Union) 16-1
120 lbs – Keshawn Blackwell (4-1, 3rd place)
First Round – tech. fall over Camden Castricone (Mount Gilead) 23-7
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Robert Allen (Preble Shawnee) 17-2
Semifinal – pin loss to Spencer Shore (Miami East) 0:59
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. over Baden Root (Graham Local) 15-3
3rd Place – pin over Jaxon Vining (Clermont NE) 2:59
126 lbs – Brayden Riffell (3-2, 4th place)
First Round – maj. dec. over Silas Riblet (Ada) 12-2
Quarterfinal – dec. over Raymauri Williams (No. College Hill) 12-11
Semifinal – maj. dec. loss to Lucas Shore (Miami East) 15-1
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. over Kaiden Galvan (Graham Local) 8-0
3rd Place – dec. loss to William Deluca Stewart (Norwood) 2-1 TB
132 lbs – Jordan Henderson (3-1, 2nd place)
First Round – tech. fall over Jon Landis (Liberty Union) 20-3
Quarterfinal – dec. over Blake Opichka (Madeira) 11-4
Semifinal – maj. dec. over Blaine Demarco (Graham Local) 14-1
1st Place – maj. dec. loss to Nathan Attisano (Legacy Christian) 13-2
144 lbs – Gavin Henry (4-2, 5th place)
First Round – dec. over Dillon Wiley (Waynesville) 12-8
Quarterfinal – tech. fall loss to Jordan Neal (Lima C.C.) 15-0
Second Consolation – tech. fall over Hunter Delver (Preble Shawnee) 18-0
Third Consolation – dec. over Caleb Slife (Troy Christian) 6-3
Consolation Semifinal – pin loss to Steven Emerick (Allen East) 1:51
5th Place – default over Caden Otto (Madeira)
150 lbs – Bronx Dickson (3-3, 6th place)
First Round – pin over Landon Dasher (Paulding) 0:51
Quarterfinal – maj. dec. loss to Sulaiman Muhammed (Day. Northridge) 15-3
Second Consolation – maj. dec. over Brandt Patton (Versailles) 14-4
Third Consolation – dec. over Zac Salas (Antwerp) 11-5
Consolation Semifinal – tech. fall loss to Cole Winemiller (Graham Local) 16-0
5th Place – dec. loss to Garrett Bollack (Triad) 8-2
285 lbs – Christopher Timms (4-1, 3rd place)
First Round – pin over Carter Heitkamp (Coldwater) 3:24
Quarterfinal – pin over Derek Wallace (Madeira) 4:59
Semifinal – dec. loss to Ben Kaiser (Versailles) 5-1
Consolation Semifinal – dec. over Carter Heitkamp (Coldwater) 4-1
3rd Place – dec. over Gage Stull (Graham Local) 2-0
WEST LIBERTY-SALEM TIGERS
District Tournament – Div. III (Troy)
T-4th place – 96.5 points
113 lbs – Wyatt Shoemaker (1-2)
First Round – pin over Brandon Hire (Wayne Trace) 3:56
Quarterfinal – pin loss to Rocco Castricone (Mount Gilead) 1:59
Second Consolation – maj. dec. loss to Colt Larrison (Allen East) 8-0
126 lbs – Lucas Merriman (4-0, 1st place)
First Round – pin over Robert Tyas (Con. Crestview) 4:50
Quarterfinal – tech. fall over Khadim Lo (Finneytown) 21-6
Semifinal – pin over Zarrin Walton (Preble Shawnee) 4:51
1st Place – dec. over Lucas Shore (Miami East) 8-6
132 lbs – Madden Kilgore (3-2, 4th place)
First Round – pin over Nick Younkin (Grandview Hts.) 1:02
Quarterfinal – pin over Aiden Daniel (Williamsburg) 3:16
Semifinal – pin loss to Nathan Attisano (Legacy Christian) 2:35
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. over Blake Opichka (Madeira) 11-2
3rd Place – pin loss to Blaine Demarco (Graham Local) 2:05
138 lbs – Kyler Langhardt (3-1, 2nd place)
First Round – pin over Tyler Simons (Madeira) 2:51
Quarterfinal – pin over Cal Anderson (West Jefferson) 5:21
Semifinal – dec. over A.J. Sturwold (Williamsburg) 5-2
1st Place – tech. fall loss to Antwain Adams (Lima C.C.) 16-1
165 lbs – Silas Krabill (1-2)
First Round – tech. fall over Kody Clark (Mid. Madison) 17-2
Quarterfinal – tech. fall loss to Rylan Puckett (West Jefferson) 18-2
Second Consolation – dec. loss to Matt Nye (Spr. Cath. Cent.) 10-3
175 lbs – Robert Park (1-2)
First Round – pin loss to Colton Thomas (West Jefferson) 1:01
First Consolation – tech. fall over Conner Heistan (Spencerville) 19-3
Second Consolation – pin loss to Alex Collins (Carlisle) 1:41
215 lbs – Sam Bradford (5-1, 3rd place)
First Round – pin loss to Cody Gunn (Waynesville) 1:04
First Consolation – pin over Lucas Brook (Cardington-Lincoln) 2:08
Second Consolation – pin over Braylon McNett (Spencerville) 3:20
Third Consolation – pin over Trenton Havenar (Covington) 4:55
Consolation Semifinal – dec. over Cody Gunn (Waynesville) 14-11
3rd Place – maj. dec. over Ayden Cordle (West Jefferson) 11-1
TRIAD CARDINALS
District Tournament – Div. III (Troy)
34th place – 13.0 points
150 lbs – Garrett Bollack (3-2, 5th place)
First Round – pin over Stuart Clum (Allen East) 3:06
Quarterfinal – pin over Cohen Hogan (West Jefferson) 1:18
Semifinal – tech. fall loss to Sulaiman Muhammed (Day. Northridge) 21-5
Consolation Semifinal – pin loss to Landon Dasher (Paulding) 2:48
5th Place – dec. over Bronx Dickson (Indian Lake) 8-2
MECHANICSBURG INDIANS
District Tournament – Div. III (Coshocton)
8th place – 77 points
126 lbs – Connor Shultz (1-2)
First Round – pin loss to Jesse Pemberton (Caldwell) 3:33
First Consolation – pin over Levi Green (Shadyside) 2:59
Second Consolation – pin loss to Izaiah Hundley (Buckeye Local) 1:26
132 lbs – Camryn Runyon (1-2)
First Round – pin over Silas Simpson (Martins Ferry) 2:36
Quarterfinal – maj. dec. loss to Owen Simpson (Sandy Valley) 12-4
Second Consolation – pin loss to Jimmy Sexton (Huntington) 2:18
138 lbs – Hayden Smith (4-2, 5th place)
First Round – maj. dec. loss to Holden Hodgson (Nelsonville-York) 10-1
First Consolation – pin over Gavin Chandler (Caldwell) 3:12
Second Consolation – pin over Jaysen Sonson (Sandy Valley) 2:08
Third Consolation – pin over Julian Harvey (Utica) 2:57
Consolation Semifinal – tech. fall loss to Ax’Zavior Santana (Bridgeport) 15-0
5th Place – forfeit over Gordon Cyrus (Huntington)
144 lbs – Gavin Stacy (3-2, 4th place)
First Round – tech. fall over Max Bouska (Wellston) 18-1
Quarterfinal – pin over Alex Ney (Bellaire) 3:52
Semifinal – dec. loss to Phillip Hash (Bid. River Valley) 6-1
Consolation Semifinal – dec. over Aden Breniser (Huntington) 9-5
3rd Place – dec. loss to Braylon Books (Garaway) 15-12 OT
150 lbs – Kyler Aills (2-3, 6th place)
First Round – maj. dec. over Trey McCoy (Buckeye Local) 10-1
Quarterfinal – dec. over Layden Loring (Barnesville) 10-3
Semifinal – default loss to Mitchell Tetreault (Garaway)
Consolation Semifinal – tech. fall loss to Brandon Handley (Nelsonville-York) 17-2
5th Place – pin loss to Preston Apostolec (Union Local) 3:37
157 lbs – Hagen Philips (2-2)
First Round – pin loss to Gunnar Gossett (Union Local) 1:47
First Consolation – dec. over Keaton Beucler (Fairless) 6-4
Second Consolation – dec. over Archer Johnston (Elgin) 9-2
Third Consolation – pin loss to Davyn Kunkle (Shenandoah) 2:58
165 lbs – Isaih Tibbs (0-2)
First Round – pin loss to David Warner (Adena) 4:30
First Consolation – pin loss to Colton Domer (Garaway) 2:44
175 lbs – Aidan O’Neal (3-2, 4th place)
First Round – tech. fall over Cael McMurray (Tuscar. Valley) 15-0
Quarterfinal – dec. over Trevin Zimmer (Waterford) 8-4
Semifinal – pin loss to Hines Ford (Barnesville) 1:45
Consolation Semifinal – dec. over Silas Hoffman (Amanda-Clearcreek) 6-2
3rd Place – pin loss to Matt Frey (Garaway) 2:22
190 lbs – Cain Stryker (4-2, 5th place)
First Round – pin over Jack Olihan (Fairless) 1:40
Quarterfinal – dec. loss to Carson McNeal (Huntington) 9-2
Second Consolation – pin over Christian Briggs (Toronto) 2:41
Third Consolation – pin over Jarod Neff (Symmes Valley) 2:15
Consolation Semifinal – maj. dec. loss to Brody Perzanowski (Union Local) 10-2
5th Place – dec. over Gage McGinnis (Newcomerstown) 5-2
