HC’s Thomas, host Rocks win at Barnesville Invite
BARNESVILLE -- The Barnesville wrestling team is ranked No. 1 among Ohio's Division III schools to start the season. The Shamrocks showed why over the weekend when they flexed their muscles in winning the 54th annual Doan Ford-Barnesville Invitational.
Head coach Jayson Stephen's talented squad piled up 203.5 points and crowned four individual titlists in running away from the 29-team field. Nordinia,, a Division I Buckeye State school, was second with 151. St. Vincent-St. Mary took third by one-half point over Wheeling Park, 136.5-136.
"I'm not sure when the last time we won this tournament. I don't keep track of stuff like that," Stephen noted. "All I know is the kids wrestled well enough for us to come out on top."
The Shamrocks were co-champs in 2000 with Louisville.
Barnesville's 'Big 4' performed to their state rankings as Dakota King (138), Reese Stephen (150), Skyler King (157) and Ayden King (165) all captured their respective weight classes. Dakota King and defending state champion Stephen are both ranked No. 1 in their weight divisions, with the King brothers both second. All four are defending OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament champions, with Dakota King a two-time titlist.
A trio of other local matmen claimed championships. They included the Wheeling Park duo of Jameson Maynard (175) and Malaki Washington (190), and Harrison Central's Lucas Thomas (215).
Dakota King, a three-time all-Ohioan and Ohio State University signee, dominated SVSM's Taggart Wade before pinning him in 3-minutes, 42-seconds. He was leading 12-4 at the time with six takedowns. He allowed four escapes.
Stephen, a two-time all-Ohioan and Cleveland State University commit, held off Nordonia's Israel Petite, 3-2. Petite placed fourth in the state last year and nearly completed a takedown as the final buzzer sounded.
Skyler King also put forth a dominating performance with a 11-0 major decision of Union Local's Brody Perzanowski. The Shamrocks senior scored seven points in the first period and was never threatened.
Ayden King, just a junior, took a 7-0 lead after two periods and coasted to a 9-1 major nod over Nordonia's Matthew Hamad.
"Our (wrestling) room is pretty competitive, especially right there in the middle with all of those guys," Coach Stephen said. "If you're going to have a bad day in the room, you're really going to have a bad day."
Maynard, also a defending OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament champ, was tied at 1 with Nordonia's Gino Perrine, the No. 1 seed, before tallying four points in the third period for a 5-1 victory.
Washington followed that with a workmanlike, 11-5, decision of John Marshall's Maverick Lemasters in a W.Va. Region I matchup.
"That was Malaki's first time wrestling at 190," Wheeling Park head coach Brian Leggett said. "He looks more comfortable out there. He doesn't have to cut weight. It's a natural fut for him.
"Jameson continues to do good things for us," Leggett added. "He is one of our leaders and wrestled really well this weekend."
Thomas, an Ohio Division II state runner up last winter at 215, posted a 7-1 decision over Nordonia's Grant Lefeld.
"Lucas has worked really hard, not just on the mat to be the best he can be, but also in the wrestling room as a leader," Harrison Central head coach Bill Bryant said. "He has accomplished both of those, but his real goals are in January and March when it really counts."
Barnesville had three other wrestlers reach the podium and two others - competing as unattached - placed, as well.
John Marshall, Wheeling Park and Union Local all had three placers from fourth through sixth. Harrison Central had a pair and John Marshall one.
Wheeling Park will return to western Belmont County for dual meet action on Wednesday.