The 2025 edition of the OHSAA state wrestling tournament kicked off on Friday. Logan and Champaign counties were well represented with participants from Indian Lake, Benjamin Logan, Triad, Mechanicsburg, Urbana, and Graham.
The Benjamin Logan boys (Division II) started day one of the tournament with a bang, going 3-0. Owen Weaks (144) earned a 7-4 win over Caden Foley, Chardon, to stay on the championship side of the bracket. He will take on Cooper Smith of Steubenville in the quarterfinals. Following Weaks’ impressive win was fellow sophomore Ethan Carpenter (175). Carpenter defeated Ethynn Munro, Miami Trace, 11-6. He will now wrestle Kale Waxler, Wauseon. Senior Owen Jordan finished the sweep by winning 15-7 over Gibson Swartz of Philo. In his quarterfinals match he will toe the line against Gabe Miller of Canfield.
Reagen Hites (170) started her evening wrestling Kate Simmons, Findlay. Hites dropped that match by fall in 1:30. She followed her opening round loss with a fall in :59 over Alannah Mcgonigal, East Liverpool, in the first round of consolations. Sophia Harris (190) lost to Michaela Stork, Port Clinton. Harris wrapped up her junior season following a loss in the first round of the consolation bracket after being pinned by Emma Bolton of Highland.
Indian Lake (Division III), got things started with freshman Jordan Henderson (120), who was making his state tournament debut, with a tough loss via tech fall, 17-2, against Tommy Slack of Mentor Lake Catholic. His first round consolation match saw him wrestle Diton Farnsworth of South Central, where he fell 7-1. Senior, and returning two-time state placer, Owen Pummel (215) continued his dominance with a fall in 5:05 over Kaden Russel, Dalton. Pummel will start day two against Knox McKibben, Harrison Central. Junior Christopher Timms (285) wrestled Will Odenthal, Nelsonville York, to a hard fought 10-3 win. Timms will take on Dalton’s Cohen Riggenbach in the championship quarterfinals.
Maddie Miller (235) defeated Brooke Tietje, Patrick Henry with a fall in 2:57. She will wrestle Anne Ruble of Akron North in the championship quarterfinals.
Triad (Division III) Sophomore Wyatt Smith (132) fell to Owen Patrizi, Mohawk, via a 19-4 tech fall. After falling to the consolation bracket, he wrestled Christian Browning, Crooksville, to a 7-1 loss; ending his season. Senior Awesom Mitchell (175), who is returning after a runner-up finish last season, took on Levi Wood of Bidwell River Valley. Awesom secured a win with a 19-4 tech fall. Awaiting him in the championship quarterfinals is a match-up against returning state placer Aiden Helmke of Tinora.
Mechanicsburg’s (Division III) Nolan Fraley (126) won over Wyatt Bare, West Muskingum 12-4. Fraley will now meet returning state champion Adam Mattin, Delta, in the championship quarterfinals. Returning state placer Ronnie Thomas (190) defeated Trent Johnson of Patrick Henry with a fall in 4:44. Thomas will now take on Cameron Carter of Trinity in the championship quarterfinals. Rounding out the Indian trio was Braeden Buxton at heavyweight. He fell in his first round match 6-2 to Ben Congdon of Tuscawarus Valley. In the consolation first round he wrestled Rylan Campbell, Rootstown, to a fall in 1:00, to continue his chance at state placement.
Graham (Division III) continued where they left off last season, with a banner day one. Braden Root (106) defeated Joseph Klimenko, Girad, 8-7. Jake Landis (113) Defeated Joseph Torres, Alexander, 18-3. Blaine DeMarco (132) defeated Grady Phelps, Riverdale 17-1. Colten Taylor (138) defeated Landon Andel, Garretsville Garfield 5-0. Cole Winemiller (144) Defeated Charlie Puklavec, Independence, 16-1. Jonas Mannier (150) defeated Hunter Browning, Crooksville, 5-4. Brogan Tucker (157) defeated Bradie Losie, Oak Harbor, 19-4. Kyler Crooks (165) defeated Connor Sterling, Elmwood, with a pin in 3:20. Jake Hoke (175) defeated Colten Jones, Waterford, via pin in 3:56. Chet Mannier (190) fell to Brencyn Evans, Monroeville, 9-2. In the first round of consolations pinned Jackson McNeal, Huntington, in 2:34. Danny Hoke (215) defeated Guhner Eberhardt, Tuslaw, via a fall in 1:07. Rounding out the competition for the Falcons was Wyatt Kaemmerer (285) with a fall over Ethan Heady, Meadowbook, in 1:19. As a team, the Falcons are working on their 24th State Championship in a row; their first in Division III.
Urbana’s Libertie Nigh (105) started her sophomore state tournament in similar fashion as her previous season, where she finished in 3rd place. In her first round match she wrestled Bailey Hilliard of Minerva. Nigh moved on to the quarterfinals with a tech fall 18-3, where she will wrestle Leah Marine of Washington Courthouse.
Wrestling continues at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University on Saturday at 9:30am.
