Nearly 30 area wrestlers move on to second day of district competition

The first day of district wrestling competition for Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) wrestlers has concluded.

Division II is being held at Gallia Academy High School in Gallipolis. Division III is at Coshocton.

Division II

Carrollton and Minerva are competing in D2. In the first session (106 lbs. – 145 lbs.), Carrollton freshmen, Kolton Barker, Josh Carman and Levi Pidgeon, and junior Dom Speelman will compete in the championship semi-finals Saturday morning. Senior Brandon Brown will wrestle in the consolation quarter final round.

Minerva’s Norris brothers, Connor (106 lbs.), a freshman, and Jacob (120 lbs.), a senior, will both compete in the championship semi-finals. Andrew Strader (113 lbs.) and Anthony Fletcher (126 lbs.), both sophomores, will wrestle in the consolation quarter final round.

In the second session, Minerva seniors Logan Williams (220 lbs.) and Jarrett Burress (285 lbs.) will compete in the championship semi-finals Saturday afternoon. Junior Garrett Hilliard (182 lbs.) and sophomore Kaiden Haines (195 lbs.)  wrestle in the consolation quarter final round.

Out of 38 teams, Minerva is in second place and Carrollton is fifth at the end of the first day.

Division III

In Division III, Malvern’s junior Johnny Walker (120 lbs.) will wrestle in the championship semi-finals in the first session. Freshman TJ Proctor (113 lbs.) will compete in the consolation quarter final round.

In the second session, freshman Zach Babiczuk (220 lbs.) will wrestle in the consolation quarter final.

Edison’s Ethan Waggoner (152 lbs.) and Jamison Styles (285 lbs.), both sophomores, will compete in the consolation quarter finals in the second session.

Sandy Valley has several wrestlers competing in the first session championship semi-final round. They include sophomore Branden Boggs (106 lbs.); junior Brody Marks (132 lbs.); sophomore Brock Moyer (138 lbs.); and senior Justin King (145 lbs.).

Freshman Evan Natale (113 lbs.) and senior Tommy Russell (120 lbs.) will compete in the consolation quarter final round.

In the second session, junior Matt Gentry (170 lbs.); senior Cameron Blair (195 lbs.) and junior Wyatt Moyer (220 lbs.) will wrestle in the championship semi-finals. Senior Devon Watkins (152 lbs.) will wrestle in the consolation quarter finals.

At the end of the first day, Sandy Valley is in first place; Malvern, 12^th; and Edison, 25^th, out of 53 teams. The top four from each weight class will advance to the OHSAA State Individual Wrestling Tournament next weekend at various locations.