CUYAHOGA FALLS — Nine Ohio Valley Athletic Conference wrestlers competed in the prestigious Walsh Jesuit Ironman over the weekend, with one claiming the top prize.

Parkersburg South sophomore Braxton Amos, who is ranked No. 3 among sophomores nationally and No. 4 overall, received a first round bye before winning four consecutive bouts. He pinned his second opponent before earning a trio of decisions. He nipped Ben Golden, of Lake Highland Prep, 2-1 in the finals.

Amos did not compete in last year’s OVAC Ron Mauck Tournament.

The Wood County Patriots also had a placewinner in 152-pound Josh Humphreys who took fifth. He advanced to the championship semifinals before falling to top-seeded and eventual champion David Carr of Massillon Perry.

Oak Glen sophomore Peyton Hall placed seventh at 126. He made it to the championship quarterfinals before bowing to second-seeded Beau Bartlett of Wyoming Seminary, Pa. The reigning OVAC champion bounced back to defeat Lakewood St. Ed’s Bryce Hepner, 4-0, for seventh place. Hepner finished second at the Ohio Division I state tournament last winter, while Hall was a W.Va. state champion.

Weir’s Caleb Rea and Parkersburg South’s Luke Martin, both reigning state champions, each won a pair of championship bracket bouts before losing. However, there was not a 132-pound consolation bracket on the tournament’s website, so I could not determine how they fared from there.

Blair Academy of Pennsylvania, ranked No. 1 nationally, repeated as team champions with a whopping 249.5 points. The Buccaneers had 10 wrestlers reach the awards podium. The title was their 14th title in the 24 years the event has been held. The 249.5 points tied for the eighth-most ever.

Ohio perennial powerhouse St. Paris Graham had four champions, including Rocky Jordan who won the 170-pound weight class and was named the Most Outstanding Wrestler. Other Falcons claiming titles were fourth-seeded Jordan Crace (126), J.D. Stickley (138) and Ryan Thomas (160). Stickley, seeded eighth, was the lowest seed to win a championship.

The Buckeye State also a champion in Cuyahoga Valley Christian’s second-seeded Jacob Decatur (106).

Five No. 1 seeds won titles, while five No. 2 seeds prevailed. There was a No. 3, No. 4, No. 7 and No. 8 who also claimed titles.

Barnesville Doan Ford Leftovers

— Congratulations go out to Martins Ferry’s Hunter Bodkin who was the only wrestler from Eastern Ohio to win a championship.

— Parkersburg South’s Samantha Miller became the first female to ever place at the tournament. She took fourth at 106.

— Cabell Midland withdrew earlier in the week when it failed to receive permission for an overnight trip from its school board.

— Indian Valley’s Dalton Burcher recorded his 100th win during the tournament.

Paden City Wins First Dual

The Wildcats made history last week when they claimed their first-ever dual meet victory after doubling up Beallsville, 36-18. Mikey Shreves became the answer to a trivia question when the 145-pounder became the first Paden City wrestler to record a victory by virtue of his pin of Joey Davis.

Paden City has 14 individuals out for the inaugural team, which is being coached by former River High wrestler Mike Owens. He is being assisted by Mike Shreves.

Congratulations to the Wildcats.

Parkersburg South Reaches Milestone

This was the Patriots’ 800th all-time dual meet victory. The Wood County squad also recorded impressive 81-0 dominations of Riverside, Woodrow Wilson and Hurricane in a recent quad.

No Assembly Match

Martins Ferry and Shadyside were scheduled to compete in a dual meet Wednesday at noon high atop the Purple City. However, the Tigers are down to four matmen and had to pull out of the match.

The Tigers lost a huge graduation class and then had a set of brothers transfer.

COLLEGE

Cardinals Win Every Match

WHEELING — Wheeling Jesuit didn’t lose a match to visiting Ohio Valley in a 46-6 rout. The lone points scored by the Scots came via forfeit.

“Our guys did a good job pushing for points tonight,” said head coach Danny Irwin.

WJU has a week to prepare for the Lock Haven duals on Saturday. The Cardinals will face the host NCAA Division I Bald Eagles at 2 p.m. and ranked NCAA Division III’s Messiah at 5:30 p.m.

“We look forward to now facing D-I’s No. 24 ranked Lock Haven and the No. 5 ranked D-III team in Messiah next weekend,” Irwin added.