71st OVAC Ron Mauck Wrestling Championships begin Thursday at WesBanco Arena in Wheeling

By Jeff Harrison

  If wrestling is your thing, then WesBanco Arena in Wheeling is the place for three days beginning Thursday.

That’s because the 71st OVAC Ron Mauck Wrestling Championships – perhaps the largest conference tournament out there – will take place. An estimated 500 wrestlers from 41 conference schools will compete, and when the dust settles, 14 individual champions will be crowned along with an overall team champion and four class champions.

  Thursday’s action begins with the lavish Olympic style opening ceremony at 6 p.m. followed by first round action at 6:30 p.m. Friday’s first session starts at 12 noon featuring second round bouts while that day’s second session at 6 includes quarterfinals and consolation matches. On Saturday, it’s the semifinals and more consolations starting at 11 a.m. which set the stage for the pre-final ceremonies at 3:30 p.m. (which will feature recognition of the 25th anniversary champions from 2000) followed at 4 p.m. by the championship matches and those for third, fifth and seventh place.

  Barnesville claimed last year’s Overall championship with 259 points, also capturing top honors in Class 3A for the fifth consecutive year. University was the Overall runner-up and claimed the Class 5A crown; Oak Glen was the Class 4A winner and Cameron took the Class 1A/2A title for the third year in a row.

   Seven of the 14 individual champions from 2024 return - Pepper Martin of University (106), Colt Carpenter of Barnesville (126), Bobby Buchheit of Beaver Local (132), Cooper Smith of Steubenville (144), Brody Saccoccia of Steubenville (150), Malaki Washington of Wheeling Park (190) and Brock Kehler of University (285).

  No. 1 seeds include Brock Humphrey of Linsly (106), Martin of University (113), Tristan Eckles of East Liverpool (120), Colton Gillespie of University (126), George Mamkos of Linsly (132), Carpenter of Barnesville (138), Smith of Steubenville (144), Slayton Pettit of Cameron (150), Saccoccia of Steubenville (157), Ayden King of Barnesville (165), Klypsan Wallace of Cameron (175) Jameson Maynard of Wheeling Park (190), Isaac Martin of Wheeling Central (215) and Kehler of University (285).

  A host of special awards will be presented throughout the event, highlighted by the Mr. Mat Award which is given annually to an individual who has made valuable contributions to the sport of wrestling and the Dave Bierkortte Memorial Award to the outstanding wrestler of the tournament voted on by the coaches.

  Other awards include the Director’s Award, the Larry Deaton Official of the Year Award, the Syd Stolz Tournament Worker Award, the Project Best Pear Sadler Team Sportsmanship Award, the Program Cover Recognition Awards, and the Varsity, Varsity Assistant and Junior High Coaches of the Year Awards.

  Tickets are $6 for adults and $1 for students per session for the first four sessions, with adult tickets costing $8 for the final session. A five-session ticket for adults is $25.