Allen East’s Kade Wireman, shown here at the Northwest Conference tournament, is making his fourth appearance at the state tournament.
Jackelyn Johnson | The Lima News
1. Will Allen East heavyweight Eli Criblez finally notch a state title?
Two seasons ago, Criblez finished runner-up at the Division III state tournament. Last season, he placed fourth.
This season, Criblez (45-1) has steamrolled through the competition. At this past weekend’s district tournament at Troy, Criblez won his first ever district title. The first day of the district tournament, Criblez recorded his 150th career win.
“I’m going to come back (from the state tournament) with that first-place medal,” Criblez said after winning last week’s district championship at Troy. “That’s the only thing that I’ve been dreaming about.”
The Ohio High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament will run this weekend, March 10-12 at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center.
2. St. Marys’ Tate Hisey looking to remain perfect this season.
Hisey takes his 40-0 record into the Division II state tournament. The ultimate goal for the sophomore standout is to complete the season with a perfect record and garner a state title in the 113-pound weight class.
Last season, Hisey placed fifth in the 106-pound weight class.
3. Allen East senior Kade Wireman looking to close out his high school career on a high note.
At last year’s Division III state tournament, Wireman placed third in the 150-pound weight class.
This weekend, the four-time state qualifier will be aiming for a state title in the 157-pound weight class.
“I’m grateful to make it again,” Wireman (46-4) said after the district tournament. “First (place at districts) would have been a heck of a lot nicer, but I’ll take third. I’ll get myself a clean mind and get ready to go down to the Schott (Schottenstein Center). Since I’ve already been there, I shouldn’t have any nerves.”
4. Coldwater’s Will Fox hoping to make the awards podium in his last attempt.
Last season, Fox made it to the Division III state tournament as a heavyweight (285-pound weight class).
This season, Fox will compete in the 215-pound weight class.
At this past weekend’s district tournament in Troy, Fox avenged his loss to Columbus Grove’s AJ Schafer from the sectional tournament, and notched the district title at 215.
5. Can Allen East’s Trenton Gatchell make some noise in his first trip to the state tournament?
The junior 165-pounder nearly won a district title this past weekend
at Troy as he lost a tough finals match against Kettering Alter’s Rod Owens, 5-2.
This weekend, Gatchell (48-7) will head into the state tournament as a No. 2 seed.
6. Columbus Grove’s AJ Schafer looking to close out career with a podium finish.
Throughout his high school years, Schafer has been a standout in three sports.
Schafer was a Division III state-qualifier in the shot put. Schafer also was a state-qualifier last season in wrestling (215). He is heading to Indiana Wesleyan University to play football next school year.
After finishing runner-up this past weekend at the district tournament in Troy, Schafer is aiming for a podium finish this coming weekend in Columbus.
“It’s really big,” Schafer said. “Moving on in football is a little different, because I have four more years of that. But for wrestling, after next week, I’m done for good. So, I want to give it my all next week and see how far I can make it.”
7. Wapakoneta sending three wrestlers to the state tournament.
Caden Mellott (113, 41-7), Corbin Mitchell (157, 47-5) and Jace Knous (190, 43-9) will compete for podium spots this weekend for Wapakoneta.
8. Spencerville’s Jurek and Johnson aiming for podium finishes.
At last weekend’s district tournament at Troy, Spencerville’s Maddox
Jurek (42-6) placed fourth in the 190-pound weight class, while teammate Logan Johnson (40-8) notched fourth place at 215 to stamp their tickets to the Division III state tournament.
9. Freshman Edward Kessen from St. John’s and Ada junior Clayton McClain hoping to make some noise at the state tournament.
Kessen (36-9) finished fourth in the 132-pound weight class at last weekend’s district tournament at Troy to punch his ticket to the Division III state tournament.
McClain (40-10) placed fourth at Troy in the 144-pound weight class to qualify for the Division III state tournament.
10. First year of girls state tournament will feature a couple area wrestlers.
This is the inaugural season for the girls state wrestling tournament, which will run in conjunction with the boys state tournament at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center. There is one division for the girls tournament.
Ada freshman Marley Bulerin (125, 30-5) and Celina sophomore Kenzie Miracle (105, 33-8) finished third at their respective regional tournaments last weekend to qualify for the first ever girls state tournament.
Ohio High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships
March 10-12, at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center
BOYS AREA STATE QUALIFIERS
Division II
Defiance
Mason Ducat, So., 132-pound weight class, 47-4, No. 1 seed
St. Marys
Tate Hisey, So., 113, 40-0 record, No. 1 seed
Bo Hertenstein, So., 144, 22-10, No. 2 seed
Wapakoneta
Caden Mellott, So., 113, 41-7, No. 3 seed
Corbin Mitchell, Sr., 157, 47-5, No. 3 seed
Jace Knous, Jr., 190, 43-9, No. 4 seed
Division III
Ada
Clayton McClain, Jr., 144-pound weight class, 40-10 record, No. 4 seed
Allen East
Kade Wireman, Sr., 157, 46-4, No. 3 seed
Trenton Gatchell, Jr., 165, 48-7, No. 2 seed
Eli Criblez, Sr., 285, 45-1, No. 1 seed
Columbus Grove
AJ Schafer, Sr., 215, 28-3, No. 2 seed
Coldwater
Will Fox, Sr., 215, 39-4, No. 1 seed
Delphos St. John’s
Edward Kessen, Fr., 132, 36-9, No. 4 seed
Indian Lake
Owen Pummel, So., 190, 39-6, No. 3 seed
Spencerville
Maddox Jurek, Jr., 190, 42-6, No. 4 seed
Logan Johnson, Sr., 215, 40-8, No. 4 seed
GIRLS AREA STATE QUALIFIERS
Ada
Marley Bulerin, Fr., 125-pound weight class, 30-5 record, No. 3 seed
Celina Kenzie Miracle, So., 105, 33-8 record, No. 3 seed
Mark Altstaetter wrote this story for LimaScores.com. Reach The Lima News sports department at 567-242-0451.
