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Plenty of drama at OVAC Tournament

WHEELING W.Va.–Don’t try explaining to Anthony Carman or Kaleb Simpkins that dreams don’t come true. Believe me, they won’t listen to you.

The John Marshall and Wheeling Park seniors both saw their childhood visions become realities Saturday night when each captured titles as the 65th annual Ohio Valley Athletic Conference Ron Mauck Wrestling Tournament came to a close inside WesBanco Arena.

Carman won the 160-pound weight class with a 2-1 overtime decision over Parkersburg South’s defending champion and top seed Zane Hinzman. The two were deadlocked at one in the extra session’s third period before Carman was able to break free for an escape and a 2-1 nod. It also marked his 100th career win.

The victory allowed the Monarchs No. 2 seed to keep his momentum going after a brutal ending to last season, which also saw him lose a shot at an OVAC title with 8 seconds left in his match with Oak Glen’s Robert Bozek.

Carman was not allowed to participate in the W.Va. state tournament due to a very controversial skin epidemic that forced three weight classes to be postponed. However, his weight class was wrestled without him.

“That has absolutely fueled my fire this season,” Carman admitted. “Every shot I took. Every workout that I didn’t want to go to, but did. It all paid off tonight. It’s like a dream come true.”

Simpkins’ 6-3 doubling up of Beaver Local’s third-seeded Chad Mays not only made his dream come to realization, but it also kept the Patriots streak of having at least one individual champion alive at 16 straight.

“I’ve been dreaming up this night ever since I can remember,” the Patriots’ top seed said. “I’ve watched a lot of my friends lose on that mat. I wasn’t going to let that happen tonight.”

Parkersburg South, with five individual champions, continued to dominate the 41-team event.

Martins Ferry was the only other school besides Parkersburg South to have more than one champion. The Purple Riders had two. Seven schools had one each.

Winning titles for Martins Ferry was the senior duo of Dalton Hoover (195) and Hunter Bodkin (285). The last time the Purple Riders had two champs in the same year came 13 years ago when current head coach Chas Yoder and current Wheeling Park head coach Clay Tucker stood high atop the podium.

Hoover, the top seed, claimed his third straight championship when he posted a major decision over Crestview’s third-seeded Landon Talbert in a battle of undefeated competitors. The third-seeded Bodkin scored a 5-3 nod over top-seeded Tyler Ely of Steubenville, who lost for the second consecutive year in the finals.

Parkersburg South’s titlists included Tucker Windland (120), Brayden Roberts (126), Josh Humphreys (152), Drew Dunbar (182) and Braxton Amos (220). Humphreys was voted the Bierkortte Award winner by tournament coaches after denying Steubenville’s Jashon Hubbard a fourth straight title with a 3-0 decision in the featured match of the night. The award is symbolic of the Most Outstanding Wrestler.

Record weekend for

the Beavers

It was a record breaking weekend for the Beaver Local wrestling team.

The Beavers set a school record for points in the OVAC Tournament with a total of 240 on their way to a runner-up finish. The Beavers’ old record was 225 points in 2003.

“We had a great weekend,” Beaver Local coach Jordan Williams said. “Our kids brought it all weekend long. We won tight matches and competed and out fought a lot of the competition. That’s a testament to the way our kids prepare and what they do on a daily basis to be great.”

The Beavers also placed 12 wrestlers which is the most ever for the Beavers at the OVAC Tournament.

Placing for the Beavers were John Woodburn (third, 106 pounds), Cole McComas (first, 113), Devin Salsberry (seventh 126), Skyler Lasure (third, 132), Noah Smith (sixth, 138), Beau Smith (second, 145), Jared Wright (fourth, 152), Logan Krulik (fifth, 160), Chad Mays (second, 170), Sam Lowe (sixth, 195), Daniel Wirth (fourth, 220) and Zach Thomas (fifth, 285).

“This is a special team they understand our history and understand what this sport means to our school and community,” Williams said. We’re excited to put up that many points and have that many placers, it means a lot to us to represent the guys and the teams who came before us.”

Potters, Golden Bears post top-10 finishes

The East Liverpool and Oak Glen wrestling teams each had strong weekends.

The Potters had six placers led by Howard Williams who was the 106-pound champion.

Also placing for the Potters were Gage Walker (eighth, 138), Michael Loy (eighth, 145), Matthew Ketchum (fourth, 160), Anthony Mecum (eighth, 182) and Skylor Wooley (third, 220).

Placing for the Golden Bears were, Camden Barr (seventh, 106), Shawn Moore (fourth, 113), Peyton Hall (second, 132) and Wyatt Strum (eighth, 160).

Morris makes

Southern history

Southern freshman wrestler Hunter Morris became the school’s first OVAC placer over the weekend when he finished eighth in the 170-pound division. The Indians finished 28th out of 41 schools with a total of 29 points.

The Wellsville wrestling team also competed and finished 37th.

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