Local Sports

OVAC wrestling tournament under way

WHEELING -- There's a logjam atop the team standings after one round of the 69th annual OVAC Ron Mauck Wrestling Tournament inside WesBanco Arena.

Parkersburg South and University, two of the top pre-tournament favorites, both checked in with 46 points, which is two points ahead of defending overall and Class 5A champion Wheeling Park. Steubenville is four points back of the co-leaders with 42, while Class 3A frontrunner Barnesville rounds out the top 5 with 35.5.

Beaver Local, Edison and Oak Glen all have 30 points and are deadlocked for the Class 4A lead. St. Clairsville (27) and Indian Creek (26) are close behind.

The aforementioned Shamrocks are 9.5 points in front of Martins Ferry in Class 3A, with Linsly third at 23.5 and Shenandoah fourth with 22. Caldwell has 20.

Southern Local holds a 4-point margin (27-23) over defending Class 1A/2A champion Cameron, while Bridgeport is third with 14, two-and-a-half points ahead of Wheeling Central. Wellsville has 11.5.

"We went 13 for 14 and we should've had a win in the one we lost," University head coach Ken Maisel said. "There are a couple of weight classes where we need to get better."

The Hawks lost top-seeded Dakota Hagedorn (150) who didn't suit up due to an illness.

"That hurts. We had the upper hand over (Parkersburg) South and (Wheeling) Park because they both lost quality wrestlers earlier in the week, but I told the guys we need to make up those points. He would've probably scored 25-30 points, so we have to make them up. We need to get pins and not decisions."

The Hawks' Luca Felix (175), one of six returning titlists, picked up his 100th career win with a 44-second pin.

University has 12 of 13 wrestlers still alive for a title, with 11 winning by pins.

The Wood County Patriots lost defending champion Gage Wright to a foot injury and the Ohio County Patriots are without Jack Lowe who was third last year.

"We did good. We like to get that momentum rolling on the first day," Wheeling Park head coach Brian Leggett said. "We had a lot of kids pick up bonus points, which are crucial in a tournament like this."

One Patriot that came through big time was Carter Duncil (126) who earned an upset over Brooke's No. 9 Xzander Eltringham.

"We had that match circled when the brackets came out. We thought we could win that one, and we did," Leggett praised.

"We did good. We like to get that momentum rolling on the first day," Wheeling Park head coach Brian Leggett said. "We had a lot of kids pick up bonus points, which are crucial in a tournament like this."

Wheeling Park has 12 matmen alive for championships, with 11 winning by falls.

Parkersburg South has 13 alive and 11 used pins to advance.

Barnesville advanced 10 in the winners bracket. Seven of the Shamrocks had pins.

"We did pretty good. The guys went out and competed," Barnesville head coach Jayson Stephen said. "We had a couple of guys step up, but I thought we could have won one that we lost."

Two of those that stepped up were Ayden Andrews (120) and Karson Milhoan (165). Andrews knocked off Marietta's No. 8 seed Jack Roe, 6-4, while the 12th-seeded Milhoan posted a technical fall over Marietta's Aaron Vessels.

"Ayden went out and did what he had to do," Stephen said. "Karson did the same."

All of the returning champions - Oak Glen's Logan Davis (113); Barnesville's Dakota King (132); Steubenville's Brody Saccoccia (132); Indian Creek's Dom Paterra (157); Felix; and Harrison Central's Lucas Thomas (215) all prevailed.

Action resumes today at noon with matches in the second round of the championship bracket, as well as first- and second-round consolations. Following a short break, the championship quarterfinals headline the 6 p.m. session which also includes third- and fourth-round consolation bouts.

69th Annual OVAC

Ron Mauck Tournament

(at WesBanco Arena, Wheeling)

TEAM SCORING

Overall

1. (tie) Parkersburg South, University 46; 3. Wheeling Park 44; 4. Steubenville 42; 5. Barnesville 35.5; 6. John Marshall 32; 7. (tie) Beaver Local, Edison, Oak Glen 30; 10. (tie) St. Clairsville, Southern Local 27; 12. (tie) Indian Creek, Martins Ferry 26; 14. Linsly 23.5; 15. Cameron 23; 16. Harrison Central 22; 17. Morgantown 18; 18. East Liverpool 15; 19. (tie) Bridgeport, Cambridge 14; 21. (tie) Union Local, Weir, Wheeling Central 12; 24. Wellsville 11.5; 25. Bellaire 10; 26. (tie) Brooke, Magnolia, River, Shadyside 8; 30. Marietta 7; 31. (tie) Beallsville, Monroe Central, Paden City, Steubenville Catholic 4; 35. Madonna; 36. (tie) Hundred, Toronto 0

Class 5A

1. (tie) Parkersburg South, University 46; 3. Wheeling Park 44; 4. Steubenville 42; 5. John Marshall 32; 6. Dover 32; 7. Warren Local 20; 8. Morgantown 18; 9. Brooke 8; 10. Marietta 7

Class 4A

(tie) Beaver Local, Edison, Oak Glen 30; 4. St. Clairsville 27; 5. Indian Creek 26; 6. Harrison Central 22; 7. Buckeye Local 20; 8. East Liverpool 15; 9. Cambridge 14; 10. Weir 12

Class 3A

1. Barnesville 35.5; 2. Martins Ferry 26; 3. Linsly 23.5; 4. Shenandoah 22; 5. Caldwell 20; 6. Fort Frye 16; 7. Union Local 12; 8. Bellaire 10; 9. Magnolia 8

Class 1A/2A

1. Southern Local 27; 2. Cameron 23; 3. Bridgeport 14; 4. Wheeling Central 12; 5. Wellsville 11.5; 6. (tie) River, Shadyside 8; 8. Beallsville, Monroe Central, Paden City, Steubenville Catholic 4; 12. Madonna 2; 13. (tie) Hundred, Toronto 0