ALL-OVAC — Donavan Kirby of Weir and Garrett Cook of Madonna face off in the 2019 OVAC 195-pound championship match at WesBanco Arena on Jan. 19. Kirby and Cook, along with several other local wrestlers, were awarded All-OVAC honors over the weekend. (Staff Photo)

From staff reports

Several local wrestlers were recognized by the Ohio Valley Athletic Conference over the weekend with the release of the 2018-19 All-OVAC Wrestling Team. Big Red led the way with six All-OVAC wrestlers. Oak Glen had three, while Madonna and Weir each had two. Brooke, Buckeye Local, Harrison Central, Indian Creek, Toronto and Catholic Central each had one wrestler earn All-OVAC status.

The Big Red all-conference wrestlers were seniors Anthony Rice (152 pounds) and Peyton Blasko (126 pounds), juniors David Tuttle (182 pounds) and Emanual Ware (285 pounds) and sophomore Ethan Pappas (160 pounds). Rice is the top-ranked wrestler in his weight in Ohio Division II. He is a four-time OVAC placer and two-time OVAC champion. Rice is also a two-time OHSAA state placer. Blasko is ranked second in the state at 126 pounds. He is a three-time OVAC placer, two-time finalist and the 2019 champion at 126 pounds. Blasko, who was voted the Bierkortte Award winner at this year’s Ron Mauck, is also a two-time OHSAA qualifier and a state placer. Muldrew is a 2019 OVAC finalist, three-time OVAC placer and two-time OHSAA state placer. Muldrew is currently ranked fourth in Ohio Division II at 138 pounds. Tuttle is a three-time OVAC placer and this year’s 182-pound runner-up. He placed seventh last year at the OHSAA State Wrestling Championships. Pappas is a 2019 OVAC finalist at 160 pounds. He is a two-time OVAC placer and an OHSAA state qualifier. Junior Ware took fifth place at this year’s OVAC Tournament.

For Oak Glen, juniors Peyton Hall (138 pounds) and Jonathan Creese (145 pounds) and senior Shawn Moore (113 pounds) were awarded All-OVAC honors. Hall has made three OVAC final appearances, winning two titles. He is also a two-time West Virginia state champ and the 2018 West Virginia Class AA Most Outsatnding Wrestler. Shawn Moore is a 2019 OVAC runner-up and a three-time conference placer. He is a West Virginia state finalist. Creese placed fifth at this year’s OVAC tournament, becoming a two-time conference placer.

Making the All-OVAC cut for Madonna were twin brothers, Alec Cook (145 pounds) and Garrett Cook (195 pounds). The seniors are both OVAC champions, with Garrett winning a title this year and Alec winning his sophomore year. Alec is a four-time OVAC placer, taking third this season. He is a 2018 state champion, 2017 state runner-up and 2016 state qualifier. Garrett is a three-time OVAC placer and placed third last year at the West Virginia State Championships.

Seniors Chris Helms (145 pounds) and Donavan Kirby (195 pounds) were the all-conference picks from Weir. Kirby is 2019 OVAC finalist and three-time placer. He is also a West Virginia state finalist. Helms is a two-time OVAC placer and a state qualifier.

Other local wrestlers receiving All-OVAC nods were Indian Creek senior Mitch Wukelic (152 pounds), Buckeye Local sophomore Brian Palmer Jr. (132 pounds), Harrison Central senior Cory Gamble (285 pounds), Brooke junior Max Camiletti (160 pounds), Toronto sophomore Garrett Dozier (138 pounds) and Central’s Mike Herrmann (185 pounds). Wukelic is a three-time OVAC placer. Palmer is a state placer and two-time OVAC placer. Dozier is a two-time OVAC placer. Camiletti — a West Virginia state qualifier– took fifth at this year’s OVAC Tourmament. Gamble took third.

2018 -2019 All-Ohio Valley Athletic

Conference Wrestling

Barnesville:Brylan Clouse.

Beaver Local: Beau Smith, Cole McComas, Daniel Wirth, Skyler Lasure, Logan Ours, Brenden Severs, Jaymin Salsberry, Jonathan Potts, Logan Krulik, Jared Wright.

Bellaire:Joseph Bonifini.

Bridgeport: Mason Kuneff, Santino Kusic.

Brooke: Max Camilletti.

Buckeye Local: Brian Palmer, Jr.

Caldwell: Marshal Niswonger.

Cambridge: Cooper Kerns.

Cameron: Ian Bush.

East Liverpool: Howard Williams, Skylor Wooley.

Harrison Central: Cody Gamble.

Indian Creek: Mitch Wukelic.

John Marshall: Anthony Carman, Carl Cochran, Jacob Berisford.

Madonna:Alec Cook, Garrett Cook.

Magnolia: Gage Adams.

Martins Ferry: Drake Dobson.

Meadowbrook:Jarrett Stillion, Terry Gatrell.

Morgantown: Eric Shriver.

Oak Glen: Jonathan Creese, Peyton Hall, Shawn Moore.

Parkersburg South:Braxton Amos, Brayden Roberts, Louden Haga, Mikey Shamblin.

River: Chris Heavner.

Shenandoah: Alex Overly.

Southern Local:Dylan Milhoan.

St. Clairsville: Koen Kish.

Steubenville:Anthony Rice, Emanual Ware, Ethan Pappas, David Tuttle, Jacson Muldrew, Peyton Blasko.

Steubenville Catholic Central: Mike Herrmann.

Toronto: Garrett Dozier.

Union Local: Ryley Crall.

University: Jacob Simpson, Jake Staud.

Weir:Christopher Helms, Donavan Kirby.

Wellsville:Jason Tice.

Wheeling Park: Dylan Wood, Nate Shelek