Barnesville Wins Class 3A Crown
Shamrocks Roll Martins Ferry, Linsly
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MOUNDSVILLE -- You'll have to excuse Barnesville wrestling coach Jayson Stephen for not getting too excited Thursday night after watching his team roll to another OVAC Bill Hinegardner Class 3A Dual Meet Championship. After all, the veteran mat boss and his young Shamrocks have a lot bigger goals in mind.
Seeded second, Barnesville took care of Belmont County rival and third-seeded Martins Ferry, 51-26, before reeling off the first 55 points in a 55-23 victory over No. 1 Linsly in the title tilt inside the John Marshall Field House.
"I'm happy for the kids. They're the ones that go out there and wrestle," Stephen said. "They do all the hard work. It's nice for them to win a championship. I'm proud of them."
Barnesville is the two-time defending Division III district champions and are eyeing a third next month. They are ranked third in the team standings, according to Borofan, with 84 points. The Shamrocks only trail small school powers Legacy Christian (117) and Milan Edison (88) in a three-team race. No. 4 Troy Christian has just 64.
"We've got some much bigger goals ahead," Stephen noted. "Both as a team and individually, but this is nice for the kids."
The triumph completed a double-double as the Shamrocks easily captured the Class 3A team title at the recently completed 69th annual OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament. They piled up 200.5 and had five individual champions in finishing fourth overall behind Class 5A heavyweights Parkersburg South, University and Wheeling Park.
In the championship match Connor Wilson (106) received a forfeit and OVAC titlist Johnathan Huntsman (113) recorded a pin in 1:09 for a 12-0 lead. Ayden Andrews (120) was also awarded a forfeit and Hines Ford (126) picked up a 4-2 decision as the margin grew to 21-0.
Dakota King (132), a two-time OVAC kingpin and the top-ranked wrestler in his weight class, was given a forfeit. Skyler King (138), ranked No. 3 in the Buckeye State and an OVAC champ, earned a 12-1 major decision before a trio of consecutive pins ballooned the count to 50-0.
Logan Tague (144), the lone senior of murder's row who is ranked No. 8, needed just 46 seconds in his match, while No. 1-ranked Reese Stephen (150) finished up in 1:32. Fifth-ranked Ayden King (157) posted the quickest fall in 42 seconds. The latter two are OVAC champs.
Karson Milhoan (165) completed the blitz with an 18-3 technical fall.
The Cadets won the last four matches.
Neri Weiner (175) won by technical fall while Wyatt Haynes (190), Landon Taylor (215) and Anderson Palian (285) all won by pin, with Hayes needing just 44 seconds, Taylor 1:15 and Palian 40 ticks.
"Barnesville is one of the best dual teams around," Linsly head coach Brian Valentine said. "I'm proud of my kids. They wrestled hard and that's all I can for."
To get to the title match, the Cadets defeated Magnolia for the second time in two weeks, 48-28. Martins Ferry then routed the Blue Eagles, 70-6 for third.
Earning two wins each for the Purple Riders were Jase Mahoney (113), Dylan Ward (120), Johnny McFarland (165/175, George Hulsey (175/190) and Alexander Finsley (190/215).
Both Barnesville and Martins Ferry are back in action Saturday as each host a Team Duals regional.