WHEELING - When the 58th annual Ron Mauck OVAC Wrestling Tournament concludes this evening, it won't be a question of who, but by how many?
Parkersburg South, entered in just its second OVAC Tournament, is well on its way to its second title. The Patriots, who posted 18 consecutive pins at a juncture during the opening two rounds, scored an astounding 175 points to lead the way.
Another conference newcomer, University, is currently second with 128 points. John Marshall sits in third place with 111.5 points, while Steubenville is fourth with 107 markers.
Caldwell rounds out the top five. The Redskins, who expected to challenge Shadyside for the 2-A title, had a brilliant first day of action with 106.5 points. Oak Glen, which is sixth overall, leads the Class 3-A field with 105.5 points. Cameron paces the 1-A race with 72 points.
The tournament went off without a hitch despite starting 18 hours later than it was originally slated for after Thursday's opening round was postponed due to the several-inch snow, which fell on the Ohio Valley.
Shadyside, which is currently ranked 10th overall with 78 points, leads the local contingent with four semifinalists.
Top-seeded Ian Baker is seeking a return trip to the finals today at 135 pounds. He reached the semifinals by virtue of a 6-2 decision over Oak Glen's Luke Goodlin. He'll meet South's Tyler Richards today.
The other semifinal finds Bellaire's Josh Davis against Steubenville's Shawn McGhee. Davis was a 9-4 victor over Brooke's Josh Higgins in the quarters.
Second-seeded sophomore Chase Kinemond seeks his first OVAC finals berth today when he meets Oak Glen's Kole Koper in the semis. Kinemond cruised to today's action by virtue of two pins and a 13-0 major decision over East Liverpool's Mike Mercer.
The other semifinal at 130 pits Wheeling Park's Kyle Bauer against Parkersburg South's Jordan Quiocho.
Senior Aaron Silverio is looking for his first trip to the OVAC finals today when he meets John Marshall's Michael Berardi. Silverio posted two pins and then a 2-0 quarterfinal win over Indian Creek's Curtis VanDyke. Top-seeded John Eckroth of Steubenville will meet Weir's Darren Starr in the other semifinal this morning.
"Our guys who got seeded are on a roll and we just want to keep it going," Silverio said. "Caldwell got a jump on us today, but we've got to keep working and capitalize on things we can make a run at them. I just wanted to keep winning matches. It doesn't matter how you do it, as long as you advance."
Unheralded Tiger Mason Gulash, who is seeded second at 145 pounds, advanced to the semifinal in relative easy fashion. He posted two pins and then won by injury default in the quarters. Today, he'll meet South's Briar Shively. The other semifinal is Camron's David Schlieper and Beaver's Steven Swartz.
Martins Ferry, which always seems to put together a strong showing at the OVAC, didn't disappoint again. The Purple Riders currently sit second in Class 3-A with 77 points.
The Riders of Coach Scott Roth are led by three grapplers in today's semifinals.
Junior Jeffrey Oberdick will seek a return trip to the title match when he vies at 171 pounds. After advancing to the quarters with pins in a total of 2 minutes, Oberdick pinned University's Nate Constante in 3:35 to reach the semis where he'll meet Caldwell's Kale Rayner.
The other semi at 171 finds top-seeded Chris Smith of South meeting Buckeye Local's Brent Kirk. Kirk advanced by virtue of a pin of JM's Jacob Steele.
Senior Mike Rose will try for his first trip to the OVAC final today when he meets Donahue's top-seeded Bobby Richmond in one of the 160-pound semifinals. Rose posted two pins and then a 6-1 decision over Cameron's Tanner Whyte in the quarters.
The other semifinal finds Harrison Central's Doug Eddy against Wheeling Park's Cody Amos. Eddy, the third seed, pinned opponents in the first two rounds and then took out Steubenville's Jake Howarth in the quarters by a 9-4 decision.
The Riders' final semifinalist is at 103 pounds. Sophomore Damon Outward survived a stiff challenge from Beaver Local's Josh Henderson in the quarters before posting a 8-6 decision in OT.
Outward's reward is a meeting with top-seeded Anthony Craig of Steubenville. The bottom half of the 103-pound bracket finds South's Lance Hill meeting John Marshall's Zach Tubaugh.
River has a pair of semifinal participants this morning.
Senior Josh Bartrug continues his quest to become the first-ever Pilot to repeat as an OVAC champion at 112 pounds. Bartrug posted pins in 1:19 and 1:20, respectively before posting a 8-0 major decision over St. Clairsville's Justin Callarik in the quarters.
Bartrug, who won the 103 pound title a year ago, will meet Indian Creek's Kyle Moffitt in the semifinals. The bottom of the bracket finds Oak Glen's Zach Brown taking on South's Bryce Gainer.
Devin Talbott will wrestle for a berth in the 119-pound final this morning against Caldwell's Jeremy Border. Border dealt Talbott his only loss earlier in the season. Talbott reached the finals with back-to-back pins and then eeked out a 1-0 win over Barnesville's Clay Crosier in the quarters.
The top of the bracket finds top-seeded David Jeffrey of South taking on Steubenville's Brandon Llewellyn.
St. Clairsville, which is currently third in the Class 3-A chase, has one wrestler still in the hunt for the title.
Senior standout Dominic Prezzia is seeking his first OVAC title after being denied in the title match each of his first three seasons.
Prezzia, the West Virginia University signee, appeared to be on a mission Friday. He dismantled everyone who got in his way. Through three matches, Prezzia was on the mat for a total of 1:41.
After taking out Monroe Central's Zac Potts in the quarterfinals, Prezzia will meet Wheeling Park's Cody Berisford, the fourth seed, today.
"I wrestled well, but I don't think I've wrestled enough," Prezzia said. "Going into the semifinals, I am just trying to relax and not worry about much. I've been trying to just go out and wrestle like I do in the practice room. I want to stay physical and keep my feet moving."
The bottom half of the bracket finds John Marshall's Marshall Mason taking on University's Phil King.
Monroe Central's lone semifinalist is Jonathan Muntz. He advanced at 140 pounds by virtue of a hard-earned 10-9 victory against Big Red's Ethan Kelley. Muntz wrestled only twice Friday as he was dealt a forfeit in the opening round.
Today, Muntz will meet University's Jesse Perroots, who is seeded eighth. Perroots took out top-seeded Cody Churchill of Oak Glen by a 3-1 score.
The bottom half of the bracket finds Brooke's Trevor Vilga and South's Caleb Norman locking horns.
Action begins today at noon and the championship and placement matches will begin at 6:30 p.m.
I tried to let people know they really missed the boat with not ranking Mike Rose (Martins Ferry). He beat the one seed to make it to the finals. I watched him wrestle Zach Brown (Westerville Central) at the Olentangy Orange tournament. It was a battle that unfortunately the ref really robbed both wrestlers in the end (Double stalling call then three stalling calls that were all questionable at best.) But, you could definitely see that Rose was very talented and I predict he will do well in the post season.
