COLUMBUS – One step closer to a dream come true.

Hillsboro’s Dustin Carter isn’t your typical wrestler, but his goals are similar to most other high school wrestlers. First he wanted to get to the state and now he wants to win a state title.

Carter, who competes with no legs, no hands and no forearms, has made it no secret he is on a three-day mission and its taking place at the Ohio state wrestling championships.

“I wake up every morning with the biggest smile in the entire world,” Carter said after his first round match. “I lay back thinking I am one of the best 16 wrestlers in the state.”

The Indians’ senior advanced to round two of championship action with a 2-1 decision of Cambridge’s Andrew Bertubin in triple overtime.

In a 1-1 deadlock after the first overtime period, Carter chose to go. Quick and scrappy, Carter’s speed looked to take Bertubin by surprise as the Bobcats’ sophomore trailed behind as Carter did continuous switches.

As Carter began to pick up speed, Carter was called with an illegal full nelson to give Carter the go ahead point.

“I knew I had to keep wrestling hard,” he said as his chances for state title were in limbo. “That’s all you can do in situations like that and hopefully luck goes your way.”

As Bertubin went down in the last panel, he continued to keep constant movement on the bottom. In a controversial reversal no-call, Carter held onto his one-point decision.

“I don’t like winning matches on a referees’ call, but at state I’ll take it,” Carter said.

As time ran out, Bobcats’ coach Tom Moore argued the no-call, but was unsuccessful with his attempt.

“All I kept thinking please let it be over,” Carter said as the Bobcats mat mentor approached the table. “I feel a lot better since the first match is over and now I am looking towards my next match.”

Now with a 40-2 marking, Carter will see another high caliber grappler as he’ll toe the line today with Andrew Romanchik (37-7) of Parma Padua Franciscan.

“When you get to the finals at sectionals or district they all get hard and that’s what I expect every match (at the state),” Carter indicated.

The overtime win was the second time this season when Carter needed to ride out an opponent to win.

CARTER ADMITS when he walked into the arena Thursday afternoon he could imagine the stands jam packed, but never imagined how it would work out.

“I have prepared for (the atmosphere) all week. They said it was going to be scary when you walk through and there would be thousands of people watching,” he said.

Carter’s quote may have been an understatement as people swarmed around the mat area. Many of the fans, who have never laid eyes on Carter before, were on his side as cheers came from all over the arena.

“I was still on cloud nine,” Carter said as he stepped on the mat. “I didn’t know what to think when I walked out there. I stopped and looked around and thought this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Carter credits the people in Hillsboro for helping him battle the tough road to the state tournament.

“My coach gave me the best advice. Go out, wrestle hard and treat it like any other match,” he said.

Cook can be reached at bcook@timesleaderonline.com