Barnesville Doesn’t Miss A Beat In Dominating OVAC Duals Title Defense

Kim North

MOUNDSVILLE - Barnesville once again flexed its muscles during the OVAC Bill Hinegardner Class 3A Dual Meet Championships Thursday night inside the John Marshall Field House.

The top seeds barely broke a sweat in rolling past No. 4 Magnolia, 72-4, before dismantling third-seeded Martins Ferry, 71-3, in the championship match.

Martins Ferry had outlasted No. 2 Linsly, 39-27, in a semifinal. The Cadets took third with a 48-33 victory over the Blue Eagles.

"I think a lot of people expected us to come in here and win big, but I'm not sure how many had us winning by these margins," Barnesville head coach Jayson Stephen said.

The title is the third straight for the Shamrocks and completes a double-double as they also won the Class 3A and Overall titles at the 70th annual OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament inside Wheeling's WesBanco Arena.

"This is nice for the kids. We bumped some kids around and got some kids in the lineup in order to get them some mat time," Stephen explained. "I thought everyone wrestled well."

During the two duals, Barnesville went an impressive 26-2, with many of the victories coming by pins.

In the finals against the Purple Riders, the Shamrocks recorded three straight pins for an 18-0 margin and never looked back in building the margin to 71-0 before dropping the final match at 215.

Blake Kirk (285) started the pinfest in 1:27 and Ben Ralston (106) and Johnathan Huntsman (113) followed in 2:36 and 34 seconds, respectively. A 7-3 decision by Ayden Andrews (120) bumped the count to 21-0 and Conner Wilson ( 126) made it 27-0 with a fall in 1:08. Brayden Trigg's 13-7 decision at 132 preceded a lightning-quick 13-second pin from Ohio State University recruit Dakota King (138).

Senior Karson Milhoan (144) posted a 16-0 technical fall and Johnathan Foster (150) was awarded a forfeit before defending Ohio Division III state champion and Cleveland State signee Reese Stephen (157) pinned his opponent in 1:13. The King brothers - Skyler (165) and Ayden (175) - recorded pins in 1:25 and 42 ticks, respectively. Hines Ford (190) ended the onslaught with a 26-second fall.

Martins Ferry avoided a shutout when Tayson Palmer (215) earned a 10-4 decision.

Barnesville is back in action Saturday at home in a Division III Eastern District Regional Dual Meet Tournament. One semifinal has Marion Elgin and Malvern squaring off, while the Shamrocks await the winner of Caldwell and Tuscarawas Valley. The winner advances to state competition.

"The kids are happy with this team title, but they have bigger goals in mind and are working hard everyday to accomplish them," Coach Stephen said.

Barnesville is the top-ranked Division III team in the Buckeye State.