The first round of the Division I, Division II, and Division III state wrestling tournaments saw several local wrestlers competing for a chance at a state championship, with mixed results across various weight classes.
Division I Results
In Division I action, Massillon Perry’s Sam Adams dominated his opening match at 106 pounds, securing a 13-0 major decision over Brady Todd of Worthington Kilbourne. At 113 pounds, Perry’s Lincoln Rohr advanced with a strong 9-1 major decision against Demarco Kates of Colerain, while teammate Liston Seibert controlled his bout at 120 pounds, winning by technical fall, 18-0, over Oliver Fox of Marysville.
The 126-pound bracket saw Emeric McBurney of Massillon Perry suffer a tough 8-3 tiebreaker loss to Mason Bauer of Ashland. At 132 pounds, Mason Rohr, also of Perry, secured a 16-0 technical fall victory over Max Beck of Toledo St. John’s Jesuit. Louisville’s Kaiden Barker was pinned by Phoenix Contos of Waite at the 5:10 mark, while Broderick McKinney of Massillon Jackson was defeated by pinfall against Khimari Manns of St. Edward in 1:38.
Cameron Plotts of Perry delivered a dominant performance in the 138-pound division, securing a 17-0 technical fall victory over Matthew Wright of Miamisburg to advance in the championship bracket. Louisville’s Aric Criss was pinned in 53 seconds by St. Xavier’s Kane Shawger, while Uniontown Lake’s Greyson Clemens fell in an 11-5 decision to Trent Sharp of Marysville.
At 144 pounds, Massillon Perry’s Joseph Sanderfer Jr. pinned Jacob Ramirez of Central Crossing in 2:56, while Louisville’s Beau Nezbeth suffered an 8-2 decision loss to Aiden Milam of Olentangy Liberty. Perry’s Marshall Geckler impressed in the 150-pound bracket, securing an 18-4 major decision over Evan Hemmeter of Springboro, but Massillon Jackson’s Vann Riordan was pinned by Moeller’s Londen Murphy in 1:31.
At 157 pounds, Perry’s Brennan Warwick dominated his match, earning a 15-7 major decision over Dylan Frass of Olentangy Liberty. Canton McKinley’s Benjamin Brownfield lost a 7-0 decision to Jake Piontkowski of Olentangy, while North Canton Hoover’s Christian Friel was defeated by major decision, 10-2, by Mount Vernon’s Mavrik Gregory.
Perry continued its success at 165 pounds, with Landen Johnson pinning Dublin Coffman’s Luca Eger in 1:05. Hoover’s Isaiah Fontes fell in a 7-0 decision to Jake Taylor of Mount Vernon, while Louisville’s Wyatt Smith was eliminated after a 21-3 technical fall loss to Lincoln Gardner of Olentangy Liberty. At 175 pounds, Perry’s Caige Horak pinned Findlay’s Keegan Klotz in 2:00, while Uniontown Lake’s Giovanni Cursio secured a dominant 16-1 technical fall victory over Chase McKenna of Walsh Jesuit.
Xander Horak of Perry won his 190-pound match by a 10-3 decision over Calob Heilman of Loveland, but Massillon Washington’s Frankie Salvino was pinned by Matt Kowalski of Springboro in 51 seconds. Perry’s Landon Ristoff earned a 5-2 victory over Drayston Martin of Ashland at 215 pounds. At heavyweight, Massillon Washington’s Chris Fair pinned Donovan Gayle of Walnut Hills in 1:44, while Perry’s Mike Millin advanced with a 17-2 technical fall victory over Springfield’s Royce Rogers.
Division II Results
Carrollton’s Sawyer Broadwater battled to a 3-1 decision victory over Collin Bartos of Buckeye in his opening 106-pound match. Indian Valley’s Bodie Raymond dominated his opening match at 106 pounds with an 18-1 technical fall over Kaden Orndorff of Coventry. At 113 pounds, Bronko Braun of Indian Valley secured a 9-0 major decision over Bryden Spellacy of Padua Franciscan, while Canton South’s Dom Prosperi impressed with an 18-2 technical fall over Cole Harvey of Steubenville. Carrollton’s Cael Lowdermilk also earned a solid 5-0 decision over Carter Baran of Kenston.
Marlington’s Aiden Bean dropped his first-round 126-pound match by a 7-2 decision but bounced back with a pin in 2:39 in the first consolation round. At 132 pounds, Marlington’s Luke Stanley suffered a 9-0 major decision loss in the opening round but recovered with a pin in 1:47 in the consolation bracket.
At 138 pounds, Claymont’s DreVonn Searcy was defeated by technical fall, 19-4, and later eliminated in the first consolation round. Claymont’s Kamden Stout lost his opening 150-pound match but battled back with a 7-2 decision victory in the consolation bracket. At 165 pounds, Minerva’s Hunter Dietrich made quick work of his opponent with a first-round pin in 1:19.
Indian Valley’s Jaxon Burcher won a tightly contested 2-1 decision over Evan Owen of Coventry in the 215-pound division. Minerva’s Hatcher Sabatin was dominant at 285 pounds, pinning his opponent in just 33 seconds to advance.
Division III Results
Garaway’s Lukas Miller lost his first-round match at 106 pounds by pin in 2:23 and was later eliminated in the first consolation round. Tuslaw’s Kaden Lawson advanced with a 1-0 decision at 120 pounds, while Sandy Valley’s Owen Simpson lost by technical fall and was eliminated.
Garaway’s Braylon Books earned a 4-0 decision win at 138 pounds. Tuslaw’s Ethan Haer lost by technical fall in his opening match but rebounded with a 5-2 sudden victory win in the first consolation round. At 144 pounds, Garaway’s Mitchell Tetreault secured a pin in 5:24 to move forward.
Tuscarawas Valley’s Tyler Wiseman lost his opening 150-pound match by technical fall and was later eliminated, while Tuslaw’s Logan Haer lost a narrow 4-2 decision. Garaway’s Colton Domer was eliminated from the 157-pound bracket after losing both of his matches.
At 165 pounds, Malvern’s Tyson Clear secured a pin in just 1:02, while Garaway’s Matt Frey also advanced with a first-round pin in 1:24. Canton Central Catholic’s Issac Ray lost by major decision at 175 pounds and was later eliminated from the tournament.
Harrison Central’s Knox McKibben secured a pin in 4:55 to advance at 215 pounds. At 285 pounds, Fairless’ Collin Sullivan picked up a first-round pin in 3:16 to continue in the championship bracket. Tusky Valley junior Ben Congdon, 285 lbs., also advanced to quarterfinals in the first round.
Girls State Tournament Results
Several local female wrestlers also competed in the first round. Minerva’s Sarah Sphon rebounded from a first-round loss with a 15-0 technical fall victory in the 120-pound consolation bracket. Minerva’s Bailey Hilliard won an 11-7 decision in the 105-pound consolation round after losing her opening match as well, while Massillon Perry’s Mia Forberg picked up a 14-6 major decision in her 105-pound consolation match.
At 135 pounds, Alliance’s Abigail Mozden pinned Madison Vickers of Sandy Valley in 2:42, but Vickers won her consolation match to stay alive. Adilyn Mozden also advanced at 140 pounds with a 40-second pin over Cailyn Casto of Johnstown.
(It was inaccurately reported by JMN at first that Vickers was eliminated)
Carrollton’s Riley Alborn advanced at 190 pounds with a pin in 2:39 over Emma Bolton of Marion Highland, while United’s Dakota McCracken moved forward in the 235-pound bracket with a pin in 1:55 over Ivey Lay of Bishop Ready.
Wrestlers who won their opening matches will continue in the championship bracket, while those who lost moved to the consolation rounds.
