Three Central Ohio high schools to host state wrestling tournament

High school wrestling finally has a few homes. That word came down Thursday in an e-mail to athletic directors and wrestling coaches from Ohio High School Athletic Association Officiating and Sport Management Director Tyler Brooks. Division I will be held at Hilliard Darby High School, Marengo Highland High School will host D-II and Marion Harding High School will host D-III on March 13-14. "It's nice to finally have dates for the tournament so we get the small things out of the way like our hotel and final preparations," Medina coach Chad Gilmore said. "It's going to be strange being in the gym. It will take away some of the electric feel of the state tournament. I think kids really love being in that Schottenstein Center, but a year ago we were praying that we could have the state tournament one way or another." All tournaments will follow the same schedule, which is tentatively scheduled to follow the district tournament where two championship and two consolation rounds are wrestled. That schedule will be announced at a later date. "The most important thing we are doing is giving our student-athletes a chance to compete," OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute said in an e-mail. "Our member schools and other tournament sites are to be commended for doing everything they can to provide these opportunities during the pandemic." It's the 18th time state will be held in a high school in the 83-year history of the tournament and the first time since 1958 when it was held at Lakewood High School. "I'm thankful for Marengo Highland to step up and give D2 a place to wrestle our state tournament," Buckeye coach Mike Tecco said. "It definitely helps knowing where we are wrestling so we can make arrangements. I feel bad for the seniors who will not get to experience the spectacle of state being in Columbus at the arena, but I'm happy they will get to wrestle the state tournament." There will be no public ticket sales and tickets will be only distributed to qualifying wrestlers through the schools' athletic directors. NFHSNetwork.com will stream the tournaments and additional details will be shared closer to the event according to the email. "It's great to be able to have the athletes attach their goal of the season to a physical location," Black River coach Blake Owen said. "Now we know where we are trying to get to. It also gives us confidence knowing that plans are in place to actually make it happen." As for having the tournament in a high school gymnasium, area coaches are happy just to have a state championship after having it taken away from them last season. "We are grateful for the OHSAA's hard work on making this state tournament happen and are also thankful for all the schools that stepped up to host," Wadsworth coach Clay Wenger said. "These kids all deserve a state tournament this year. It will be different in a gym, but it's still a state tournament and still means the same thing so we are thankful for the opportunity." Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com.