Graham’s streak on the line at state
Miami East also has high hopes as meet begins today.
It all comes down to the next three days for wrestlers from across the state.
The state wrestling tournament runs today through Saturday at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
Wrestling begins today at 3 p.m. today with preliminaries. The state finals begin with the Parade of Champions at 5:35 p.m. Saturday.
Here are some things to watch:
Almost full strength
Graham advanced 13 of 14 wrestlers to the state tournament. The Falcons just missed advancing all 14 and are the heavy favorites to claim their 18th straight Division II state title.
Tight team race
After battling to the wire to claim its first D-III district title, Miami East could be in the mix at the state tournament.
The Vikings advanced four – included projected champions Graham Shore and Alex Isbrandt.
Welcome to the show
When Southeastern’s Jesse Mitchell and Bethel’s Kellen Calhoun take the mat for their first-round matches in D-III, it will set a new benchmark at each school.
Mitchell will be the first Southeastern wrestler to wrestle at state. Calhoun, at 170 and a one-man team at Bethel for four years, is the first state qualifier in school history.
Right way
Thursday’s first round D-II match at 132 may be the first time Thurgood Marshall’s Ayyoub Muhammed steps on a mat at the Schottenstein Center, but it won’t be the first time he has witnessed the atmosphere.
Thurgood Marshall coach Armiya Muhammed has made a practice out of taking the team to the state tournament to let them watch the top wrestlers in the state.
Not too bad
Springfield senior Joe Cochran would have entered the state tournament as the No. 1 seed at 220 if he hadn’t been upset.
Instead, Cochran enters as the fourth seed of the Fairmont district, but his draw is still as clear as if he had won it. Cochran opens the state tournament against district champ Josh Baver, a returning state placer from Ashland.
However, it is the lone returning state placer he will meet until the finals. Cochran was fourth at 195 last year while Baver was seventh at the same weight in D-II.
Fingers crossed
Injuries, illness, ineligibility, not making weight and skin issues can all open a spot on bracket for someone else.
If any of the above happens, the fifth-place wrestler from the district of the wrestler who is being removed will be placed on the bracket — if he makes weight and has no other issues.
In D-I, Butler’s Bailey Suddeth (126) and Ethan Cyrette (170) as well as Springboro’s Jacob Kowalski (182) and Northmont’s Bryan Heyward (220) are all alternates.
In D-II, Greenville’s Andrew Stachler (106) and Jacob Mikesell (138) finished fifth at Wilmington as did Valley View’s Joey Dima (113), Carroll’s Sean Conway (126) and Chaminade Julienne’s Thomas McGray (132).
Seven different individuals could get in in D-III in Troy Christian’s Caleb Schroer (106) and Nick Baker (220), Southeastern’s Lane McCombs (120), Mechanicsburg’s Ben Stroud (132), Miami East’s Zane Strubler (145), Major Stratton (195) of West Liberty-Salem and Greeneview’s Chase Jordan (285).