Marysville High School senior Ben Bickerstaff applies a cross-face to New Albany’s Jack Sautter during Division I district tournament action. Bickerstaff went on to win the match 8-1. Bickerstaff is one of six MHS athletes who will compete in the state tournament this weekend at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. (Journal-Tribune photo by Kevin Behrens)
The Union County area will be represented by 10 athletes when the 2022 Ohio High School Athletic Association state wrestling tournament begins.
The event returns to The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center for the first time since 2019.
The tournament was canceled in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The event was split into three locations (by divisions) among Hilliard Darby, Marion Harding and Sparta Highland high schools a year ago.
That was also due to COVID-19.
Action is slated to begin at 3 p.m. on Friday and continue through Sunday evening.
Competition will resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Local grapplers have learned who their first-round opponents will be.
Those matchups (with weight classes and season records) are as follows:
DIVISION I
MARYSVILLE
-144: Josh Melms (29-8) vs. Nick Humphrys, Wadsworth (38-11);
-150: Jack Golla (47-7) vs. Tyrel Miller, Lakewood St. Edward (28-12);
-157: Erryl Will (28-6) vs. Brad Hornback, Cincinnati Moeller (35-10);
-165: Brady Seger (23-13) vs. J.R. Reed, Stowe-Munroe Falls (40-6);
-175: Colton Powers (28-5) vs. Aidan Weimer, Springboro (29-8);
-190: Ben Bickerstaff (32-10) vs. Jonny Slaper, Lakewood St. Edward (20-3).
DIVISION II
JONATHAN ALDER
-150: Oliver Byerly (36-5) vs. Josh Biller, Ashland Edgewood (21-7).
DIVISION III
NORTH UNION
-113: Trace Williams (42-5) vs. Max Hermes, Milan Edison (44-3);
-126: Gabe Hansen-Jackson (46-4) vs. J.P. Wrobel, Crestwood (34-4);
-190: Shan Swank (31-10) vs. Lucas Stoddard, Berkshire (42-3).
Jack Golla, Marysville’s 150-pounder, attempts to pin Olentangy Liberty’s Broc Fitzpatrick during the Division I district tournament at Hilliard Darby High School. Golla won the match in overtime. He is one of 10 area wrestlers who will compete during the state tournament this weekend at The Ohio State University. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)