While most Ohio high school wrestlers are prepping for their respective sectional tournaments, three Ohio Valley Athletic Conference matwomen are entered in this weekend’s inaugural Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association girls state tournament. The event will be held at Hilliard Davidson High School in suburban Columbus.

River freshman Alexus Felton is entered in the 137-pound weight class, while Indian Creek senior Ellie Paterra will compete at 116. Warren Local frosh Hayley Snyder is in the 101-pound division. Snyder is seeded second and Paterra third.

The event starts Saturday and continues throughout Sunday’s state finals.

Barnesville graduate John Jefferis is one of the referees.

Buckeye 8

On the boys side of things, locally 10 teams will converge on Indian Creek Middle School in Mingo Junction for the annual Buckeye 8 Tournament. The pool-style event begins at 10 a.m. Organizers said the championship finals should begin at approximately 3 p.m.

Schools entered in addition to the host Redskins are Bellaire, Beaver Local, Buckeye Local, East Liverpool, Edison, Harrison Central, Martins Ferry, St. Clairsville and Union Local.

Knight Impresses

Last Saturday was a great day for Linsly senior heavyweight Chance Knight. He finished third at the Prep National Qualifiers with a victory by pin. He also earned his 100th career victory and his 40th win of the season, setting a school record for a single season.

Another Amos Honor

Parkersburg South senior Braxton Amos had been selected to compete in the prestigious Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic. The 13-member Team USA squad was announced for the all-star event to be held on Saturday, March 14. The event, in its 45th year, is held at the Fitzgerald Field House on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.

This year’s main event will happen at 6 p.m. and involve two matches at both the 138- and 195-pound weight classes. The undercard bout will start at 4 p.m. and feature wrestlers from the WPIAL against those from Maryland.

Selections for the WPIAL and Pennsylvania teams will come immediately after the PIAA state finals conclude on Saturday, March 7. The Maryland team will be announced right around that time as its state tournament also takes place that weekend.

Team USA members, along with InterMat ranking as of Feb. 19 are:

120–No. 10 Ryan Miller (Blair Academy, N.J.)

126–No. 3 Eddie Ventresca (Pope John XXIII, N.J.)

132–No. 2 Dominick Serrano (Windsor, Colo.)

138–No. 3 Frankie Tal-Shahar (American Heritage, Fla.) and No. 5 Cael Happel (Lisbon, Ia)

145–No. 3 Austin Boone (Lowell, Mich.)

152–No. 1 Chase Saldate (Gilroy, Calif.)

160–No. 1 Keegan O’Toole (Arrowhead, Wis.)

170–No. 5 (at 182) Gavin Kane (Cambridge, Ga.)

182–No. 3 John Poznanski (Colonia, N.J.)

195–No. 4 Silas Allred (Shenandoah, Ind.) and No. 5 Gabe Christenson (Southeast Polk, Ia)

220–No. 1 Braxton Amos (Parkersburg South, W.Va.)