OLIVESBURG — Naomi Gearheart has etched her name in the lore of Crestview Middle School sports.

Gearheart recently brought home the first middle school state wrestling championship (boys or girls) in the district’s history.

  • Naomi Gearhart is shown here atop the podium as Crestview’s first-ever middle school state wrestling champion.

  • Crestview’s Middle School wrestling team included: Coach Steve Eagle, Louscious Whitesel, Qwintin Howard, Hudson Stacy, Monty Cline, Paul Shetler, Naomi Gearheart, Brayden Parrigan, Harper Dinsmore, Theo Rust, Kaiden Bowerman.

  • The Crestview Middle School boys wrestling team is shown here on the podium at the state meet in Youngstown: Coach Steve Eagle, Brayden Parrigan, Hudson Stacy, Qwinton Howard, Coach Hovis.

  • Crestview Middle School wrestling coach Steve Eagle is shown here with state champion Naomi Gearheart and Coach Hovis.

She was one of four wrestlers to make it to the OAC Junior High State Tournament in Youngstown at the Covelli Center. Gearhart’s teammates included Brayden Parrigan, Qwintin Howard, and Hudson Stacy.

Parrigan and Stacy both also made it to the second day of competition, finishing 2-2 while falling just short of placing. Howard did not compete.

School officials offered their congratulations to the Cougars and particularly Gearhart for a successful season. 

“What a way to go out for Coach (Steve) Eagle!,” athletics director Kim Bajko said. “This is his last year. He has been a middle school wrestling coach since 2009 and has been an excellent role model for the wrestling in the program.”