Mansfield Senior’s Jesse Palser and Lexington’s Bailey Faust will take a little added incentive with them to Columbus on Thursday for the start of the state wrestling tournament.
Richland County’s final two remaining unbeaten wrestlers both suffered their first losses over the weekend, but still punched their tickets to Columbus. They headline a contingent of 10 county wrestlers who earned spots in the state’s marquee event.
A junior 170-pounder, Palser (39-1) suffered his first defeat in the winner’s bracket semifinals of the Division I Cleveland State University district tournament. He fell to Wadsworth’s Tim Knipl 4-3 in overtime, but bounced back to beat Nordonia’s Anthony Perrine 5-2 in the loser’s bracket semifinals and knocked off St. Edward’s Kevin Khoma 3-1 in the loser’s bracket finals to finish third.
Palser will be joined in Columbus by teammate Traevon Dickerson (39-6). The 182-pound senior earned the fourth and final state qualifying spot.
Meanwhile, Faust (50-1) fell to Sandusky’s Isaiah Margheim 8-5 in the 195-pound finals at the Division II Bowling Green State University district tournament.
A junior, Faust will have plenty of company in Columbus as four of his Lexington teammates qualified for the state tournament. Junior 126-pounder Brandon Leynaud, junior 138-pounder Jon Watkins, junior 182-pounder Drew Kasper and junior 285-pounder Nate Temple all advanced from the BGSU district. Kasper (49-4) won a district title, while Temple (35-13) was district runner-up. Leynaud (46-8) and Watkins (47-10) were both fourth at BGSU.
A pair of Madison wrestlers, 106-pounder Mike Baumberger and 285-pounder Mike Holzworth also advanced to the state meet. A freshman, Baumberger (29-9) finished fourth at BGSU. Senior Holzworth (10-4) was third.
Crestview’s Logan Campbell (44-4) was the lone Division III wrestler from Richland County to earn a state berth. The senior 182-pounder was third at the BGSU district.
Richland County’s terrific 10 found out who they would wrestle in the first-round when the Ohio High School Athletic Association released state meet pairings Sunday afternoon.
Palser will wrestle Cincinnati Moeller’s Quinton Rosser (15-6) in the opening round, while Dickerson will meet Mount Vernon’s Matthew Lybarger (44-6) in his first match.
In Division II, Madison’s Baumberger and Holzworth will meet teammates from Uhrichsville Claymont. Baumberger will wrestle Tyler Warner (39-1), while Holzworth will take on Kyle Henry (30-13).
Lexington’s Leynaud will wrestle Mentor Lake Catholic’s Anthony Tutolo (32-1) in the opening round while Watskins’ first-round opponent is Palma Padua’s Kyle Kaminski (47-4).
Kasper will wrestle Athens’ Dallas Lazear (38-9), while Faust will try to avenge his loss against Newark Licking Valley’s Blake Owens (47-3). Temple will wrestle Newark Licking Valley’s Jaqui Vanmeter (44-6).
In Division III, Crestview’s Campbell will meet Northwestern’s Kile Schaefer (39-6).
Wrestling begins at 3 p.m. Thursday. The championship matches for all three divisions will begin at 5:45 p.m. Saturday.
