Local Wrestlers Reach State
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HEATH -- At this point in the high school season, every wrestler has put in a ton of work in hopes of getting to the 83rd annual Ohio state tournament. Martins Ferry's Richard McFarland (195) and Barnesville's Griffen Stephen (113) had to work a little extra in earning championships Saturday afternoon at Heath High School as the Division III East District Tournament closed its two-day stay.
For McFarland, the Purple Riders' senior who is ranked No. 9 by Borofan, he needed overtime in his semifinal and championship matches to earn his title. He defeated Liberty Union's eighth-ranked Casey Fleahman, 3-1, in sudden-victory in the semifinals when he scored a takedown with 22.6 left in the extra session. Then, the three-time state qualifier tallied three points in the final seconds of the third period to down Columbus Academy's Gyvnn Mendenhall, 5-2.
McFarland, who was fourth in the district last year at Buckeye Local, is now 31-11.
Stephen, the Shamrocks talented sophomore, won his second straight district title with a thrill-packed, 8-6, sudden-victory decision over Alexander senior Griffin Chmiel. Stephen executed a takedown with 33 seconds gone in the 1-minute extra session.
Chmiel, who is ranked one spot behind Stephen at 11th, led 3-2 after one period. The match was deadlocked at 4 entering the third. Stephen held a 6-5 margin with a minute to go when he was warned for stalling. A second stalling cost him a point with 21.6 remaining and knotted the bout. The winning takedown was his fourth two-pointer in the match.
Stephen improved to 45-4.
Three individuals placed second. They were Buckeye Local junior Brian Palmer, Jr. (138), Barnesville senior Owen Oliver (160) and Bridgeport senior Zach Kuneff (285).
Palmer Jr., ranked No. 3, got caught and pinned by Newcomerstown's Logan Hursey, who is also a junior and ranked one spot ahead. The Buckeye Local standout is a three-time state qualifier and has placed in his first two trips, including third last year at 132.
Oliver also fell to a fall as West Jefferson's Bryce Keckley led 6-2 in the second period before winning in 3:52. The Shamrocks senior laid on the mat for several minutes while having an injury attended to by medical personnel. He is 46-7.
Kuneff lost to Shenandoah's Easton Hitchens 3-1. It was the fourth time the two have met this season, with the Zeps senior winning each time. Kuneff is now 40-9.
Also qualifying for Martins Ferry were junior Chase Goff (160) and seniors Kameron Hughes (170) and Donte Lewis (285). All finished fourth.
Edison's Hayden Johnson (145) placed fourth. He is a two-time state qualifier and served as an alternate last season.
Barnesville's junior duo of George Hoover (126) and Cameron Woods (152); Bellaire senior Cody Albaugh (160); Harrison Central sophomore Justin Sampson (106) and Toronto junior Garrett Dozier (138) all finished fifth and will serve as alternates.
DIVISION II
At Uhrichsville, Beaver Local won the team title with 181.5 points and had four champions and a pair of runnersup among its seven qualifiers. Winning titles were Logan Ours (132), Cole McComas (138), Skylar Lasure (152) and Logan Krulik (160). Mark Emmerling, Jr. (120) and Devon Salsberry (145).
Steubenville finished fourth with 117 points and had one champion in Keith Bodnar (195) and a runnerup in Tyler Muldrew (138).
St. Clairsville was sixth with 93 points and also had four qualifiers, including junior Koen Kish (126) who won the title.
Indian Creek has three qualifiers, including second-placers Austin Starr (170) and Elijah Llewellyn (195).
Warren Local's Peyten Kellar (145) kept his perfect record (48-0) alive.
Other OVAC schools having qualifiers are Meadowbrook, Dover and East Liverpool with one each.