COLUMBUS — Every wrestler that qualifies for the OHSAA state tournament has aspirations of winning a state championship.

However, out of the 672 individuals that took to the mats over the past three days inside Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of Ohio State University, only 42 will stand atop the awards podium as state titlists. For the others, a loss has them battling for a spot in the top 8 to make all-Ohio.

For eight Ohio Valley Athletic Conference grapplers, their dreams may have not been realized, but they did earn all-Ohio honors.

Division III

Barnesville had a pair in sophomores Dakota King (120) and Skyler King (138), who were returning state qualifiers but are not related. Dakota, who was sixth at 113 last winter, finished third while Skyler took sixth.

“No. I’m definitely not satisfied,” Dakota said after decisioning Genoa Area’s Phoenix Contos in the third-place bout, 9-5. “I had bigger goals, but I’ll be back.”

After losing in the semifinals to Legacy Christian’s top-ranked Dillon Campbell, 8-0, Dakota (46-4) bounced back in the consolation semifinals to avenge a trio of losses to Lima Central Catholic’s Gavin Caprella, 4-2, in sudden-victory.

“I had a game plan going into the Campbell match,” he explained. “It kind of worked and kind of didn’t. I can win that match though.”

Although disappointed, he did enjoy competing inside The Schott. Last year’s Division III state tournament was held at Marion Harding High School due to COVID-19.

“I love this type of atmosphere,” he noted. “I like wrestling in front of big crowds.”

Skyler King also lost in the semifinals and then dropped a pair of consolation bouts to finish 46-8.

“It feels good to be all-Ohio, but it’s not the way I wanted it to go,” Skyler said. “I didn’t wrestle my best. It could’ve been better.”

Barnesville head coach Jayson Stephens said he’s proud of both even though they didn’t reach their goals.

“Everyone wants to be a state champion coming in here, but they all can’t be,” he said. “Dakota was sixth last year, so to jump up to third is great. He got beat by the champ, so no disgrace in that. He lost to him by technical fall last year and I know 8-0 isn’t great, but it is improvement.

“Skyler had a great first two rounds. He figured it out a little from last year,” Stephen said. “I know he’s disappointed, but he’s young and will bounce back next year.”

Martins Ferry’s Zak Dobson (215) took fourth after a 7-0 loss to Spencer Mesaros of Southeast in the consolation final. He finished with a single-season school record 53 wins (5 losses).

“I think I did better than I was supposed to. When you get to this level, everyone is good,” Dobson said. “It’s not the way I wanted it to end, and I don’t think it’s hit me yet, but I had a good season.”

Head coach Chad Ware was proud of what his senior standout accomplished.

“I’m proud of him. Any time you get on the podium it’s a great achievement,” Ware said. “He’s a great kid who works his tail off every day. He deserves everything he gets.”

Harrison Central’s Lucas Thomas (215) also had a tough go after advancing to the semifinals before losing. He lost three straight matches to finish sixth.

“Not the way we wanted it to end,” Harrison Central head coach Bill Bryant said after Thomas dropped a heartbreaking, 4-3, nod at the buzzer. “He started off wrestling decent and got to the semifinals, but then everything went the other way.

“This something that he can build on for the future. We’ll be back.”

Thomas finished 43-8.

Division II

St. Clairsville’s Gannon Kazmirski (113) finished eight and had a season record of 46-9.

After losing in the first round, the senior OVAC Tournament champion won back-to-back consolation matches to earn his way on the podium.

“I am extremely happy for Gannon. All his hard work and determination paid off for him,” St. Clairsville head coach Joel Sansone said. “He had a tremendous senior year. He is a wonderful young man and deserved a spot on the podium.”

Indian Creek’s C.J. Spencer (144) finished sixth, while Beaver Local’s Logan Ours (157) took third and Jaymin Salsberry (132) was sixth.

“C.J. wrestled a fantastic tournament. He has improved tremendously throughout the season,” Indian Creek head coach Brandon Pendleton said. “Hi goal was to reach the podium this year and then stand on top of it next year.”

Ours, who was ranked No. 1 in the state coming in, lost in the semifinals but bounced back with two wins.

“I’m not super dissatisfied but I really think I put in more work than anyone and deserved that spot,” he said of the ranking. “I was confident coming in, I just didn’t show up.”

Beaver Local head coach Johnny McComas was pleased with both the efforts of Ours and Salsberry.

“Logan was a great guy to have in our program. He lifted up his teammates and us as coaches both on and off the mat,” McComas said. “Third place is not what he wanted, but I am proud of him for battling through adversity and injury.

“Jaymin had a great weekend,” McComas continued. “He was super fun to watch and kept us on the edge of our chairs for four years. I love him like a little brother.”