COLUMBUS, OH — The mats are down, the lights are up, and the roar of the “Schott” is about to begin. Starting Friday, five elite athletes from Pickaway County will represent their schools at the 89th Annual OHSAA State Wrestling Championships at the Schottenstein Center.
After a grueling district weekend, wrestlers from Teays Valley, Westfall, and Circleville have punched their tickets to the biggest stage in Ohio high school sports. They will be joined by several local alternates and a strong girls’ wrestling contingent in what promises to be a historic three-day event.
The Qualifiers: Who to Watch
This year’s state-bound group features a mix of veteran “returners” and rising stars looking to make their mark.
- Teays Valley (Division I): The Vikings are sending a trio of powerhouses to Columbus. Josh Zimmer leads the way after a stellar second-place district finish at 126 pounds. He is joined by Trevor Bridges (113 lbs), who took third, and Peter Graham (190 lbs), who secured fourth to earn a return trip to the state tournament.
- Westfall (Division II): Sophomore sensation Eli Wright is headed back to the state meet for the second consecutive year. Wright dominated his way to a District Runner-Up finish at 190 pounds and is currently considered a podium favorite in Division II.
- Circleville (Division II): The Tigers will be represented by Kevin Downing, who showed incredible resilience in the consolation bracket to take fourth place at 106 pounds. Heavyweight Caihden Morgan will also travel as a state alternate after placing fifth.
Girls’ Wrestling: Making History
The growth of girls’ wrestling in the county continues to shine. Teays Valley’s Raena Todhunter and several other local competitors battled through a tough district at Big Walnut, highlighting the increasing depth of the programs at Westfall and Logan Elm.
Tournament Schedule (March 13–15)
Fans heading north to Columbus should note the staggered start times for each division:
- Friday, March 13: * 1:00 p.m. – Division III Championship Prelims
- 2:20 p.m. – Division II (Circleville, Westfall) Prelims
- 4:45 p.m. – Division I (Teays Valley) Prelims
- 6:20 p.m. – Girls’ Championship Prelims
- Saturday, March 14: Quarterfinals begin at 9:30 a.m., with the high-stakes Semifinals starting at 5:30 p.m.
- Sunday, March 15: Consolation finals in the morning, followed by the Championship Wall of Champions and the Finals at 5:00 p.m.
“It’s a hard tournament. Anytime you have multiple state qualifiers, it is a success,” said Westfall Coach Will Breyer. “We’re going to roll the dice at states.”
