Two of Columbiana County’s Div. II boys wrestling programs are in the middle of a renaissance this season.

Beaver Local and Salem’s wrestling programs both have risen their profile significantly as the state wrestling tournament is set to get underway Friday at the Schottenstein Center.

Beaver Local qualified six wrestlers to the state meet which is the most since 2020 – the year the state meet got canceled because of COVID.

“I am beyond proud of this team,” Beaver Local coach Johnny McComas said. “Not only our state qualifiers but every single individual within our program is responsible for this team’s success, and these guys understand that. Every single teammate, parent, booster club supporter and fan in the stands makes us who we are. These guys have been working for this weekend since day one. They are prepared, battle tested, confident, and ready for this weekend. These guys are ready to put on a show and make us all proud.”

Salem is in its eighth season under head coach Drew Hart and the Quakers have gone from not winning a dual meet the year before Hart arrived to winning 34 over the last two seasons.

“When I took over Salem had gone nine straight years without a league dual win,” Hart said. “Now we’ve won four straight Eastern Ohio Wrestling League Div. II tournament championships and finished second in the Eastern Buckeye Conference this season.”

Salem is sending four to the state meet which is the most ever for the program. Three of those are seniors who Hart coached in the youth ranks.

“I was there for their first match at 5 years-old and I’m going to be there for their last match,” Hart said.

The state tournament runs Friday through Sunday.

Justuce Fisher

Beaver Local

106 Pounds

Sr., 34-8

Fisher, one of three seniors in the weight class, is the only returning state placer at 106 as he was eighth a year ago. The BoroFan wrestling web site predicts Fisher to finish sixth although the field is wide open.

“Justuce is having another great season,” McComas said. “Being a returning state placer comes with high expectations, and I am proud of the way he has handled that pressure all season. He is super focused and ready to go. His previous state tournament experience will be a huge advantage for him this weekend. The way he performed at the state tournament last season was outstanding, and something he will be able to build on this time around. He has been there before and understands what it takes to stand on the podium come Sunday night.”

Tristian Eckles

East Liverpool

120 pounds

Sr., 42-2

Eckles returns to state after placing seventh at 113 pounds a year ago. He is the son of former East Liverpool OVAC wrestling champion Jason Eckles.

“He’s light and fast on his feet,” East Liverpool coach Jeremy Shaw said. “He’s very confident on his feet and just an unbelievable athlete there. His dad had a similar style and he said he thinks Tristian could have beaten him.”

Eckles is predicted to finish sixth in the weight class by BoroFan.

“He’s always been a good worker and knows what is expected of him,” East Liverpool coach Jeremy Shaw said. “From Nov. 18 to March 11 it’s six days a week training, exercising wrestling and skill. Even boxers take some time off after a fight. This is constant. Week in and week out it’s a grind. The ones that can stay mentally focused and are committed to the program have the most success and Tristian symbolizes that the most.”

Robert Buchheit

Beaver Local

138 pounds

Jr., 36-4

By placing second at districts, Buchheit landed in a tough spot in the bracket as a second-round match-up with weight-class favorite Aiden King of Columbus Bishop Hartley awaits.

King was a champion at 132 last year and has a second place finish at 126 in 2023.

Buchheit has quite the experience himself as he was fifth at 132 as a sophomore and seventh at 120 as a freshman.

“Bobby’s confidence when he steps onto the mat and his approach to the sport is what sets him apart,” McComas said. “This confidence comes through his preparation. Bobby is such a consistent person in his approach to wrestling and life. Bobby does all the small things right. He manages his weight, practices the right way, is an excellent student in the classroom, and is a great role model to our younger wrestlers.”

BoroFan predicts Buchheit to take sixth, but an upset here or there can propel him into contention.

“Everyone loves Bobby, and watching Bobby wrestle,” McComas said. “He has a lot of fun competing, always attacking, and has a style that’s fun to watch. Bobby is always able to be at his best when the lights are the brightest because he trains and prepares every day for these moments. He has already made the state podium twice and knows what this weekend is all about. I have full confidence that Bobby will put on a show and do something special this weekend.”

Joey Kana

Salem

138 pounds

Sr., 38-12

Kana went 1-2 at state last season at 144. He enters this tournament having avenged a sectional loss to Cloverleaf’s Logan Letner in the blood round at districts.

“Looking at his bracket last year we didn’t think he’d have a chance but he had some major upsets and beat some highly ranked kids,” Hart said. “He came in this year and dabbled about going to 138 because he was kind of a light kid at 144. At the end of the season we decided to give it a shot and see how he felt down there.”

The weight class drop was a strategic team move according to Hart.

“That’s the way we have built the program,” Hart said. “Wrestling is an individual sport but we make it about the team. Last year when we looked at those weight classes we did what was best for our team. When it comes to sectionals, we try as coaches to lead the kids to what we think is best, but they still have the opportunity to do wrestle-offs. Joey could have went down last year, but there was just a respect between the kids that he was going to stay where he was at. This year kids are seniors and kids just said ‘Here take this spot’.”

Kana placed fourth in the tough Kenston district, but unfortunately will be facing off against Aiden King in the first round.

Jake Hughes

Beaver Local

150 pounds

Fr., 43-5

Competing on the national stage before he got to high school, Hughes is ready to be a breakout star of his first state tournament.

Rapidly rising in the ranks, Hughes is predicted to land in the state championship match against West Holmes junior Louden Dixon. The two squared off in the district final with Dixon taking it 4-1 in overtime.

“Jake has had a tremendous freshman campaign,” McComas said. “He has had the opportunity to see some great competition all year and has taken full advantage of those opportunities to prepare for this weekend. Jake is no stranger to the big stage or high level competition. He has been seeking out the best competition not only in the state, but the country his entire career.”

Beaver Local’s last state champion was Adam Hoppel in 2002 and Hughes could change that.

“Jake is a special talent,” McComas said. “He is physical, and clean with his technique. He believes in what he is doing and is confident through his preparation. He will have the ability to attack for six minutes and capitalize in the biggest moments. His focus is incredible and he has his sights set on a state title. I 100 % believe he has the ability to beat anyone in his bracket this weekend. Now he just needs to wrestle with confidence and stay relaxed. I have no doubt we will see his best this weekend.”

Shawn German

Salem

150 pounds

Sr., 42-7

German arrives in the state tournament by way of a fourth-place showing at the Kenston district.

“He took sixth at districts last year and had a blood round match to make it but lost by 1 point,” Hart said. “He had some deficiencies with his bottom game and that kind of cost him some key matches last year. That’s what he worked on all off season. You can’t hold Shawn down now. He recognized what needed to be fixed and he fixed it.”

He’ll have it tough right out of the gate as he meets 2024 138-pound state runner-up James Lindsay of Columbus Bishop Watterson in the first round.

Will Harmon

Salem

157 pounds

Jr., 39-9

Harmon scored an upset over Duke Clayton of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in the district tournament that surprised a lot of people. He also beat West Branch’s Justin Marra in the blood round to earn his spot at state.

“He got illegally slammed in the first period (against Clayton) and he could have just quit at that point and advanced since it was an illegal move,” Hart said. “I was sitting there talking to Will to see if he was all right and he said ‘I’m wrestling, I want to beat this kid’.” He took the hard route which says a lot about his character. He got back up from that illegal slam and continued and fought even though at one point in the third period he said he wasn’t feeling well. He stuck in there and got the win which was huge.”

Hart said he was happy to see a Salem-West Branch face-off in the semifinals.

“It was both Salem and West Branch getting huge upsets over No. 1 seeds to get to the semifinals,” Hart said. “That was nice but it was a really tough battle. West Branch had a nice game plan.”

Aiden Stecker

Salem

165 pounds

Sr., 45-4

Stecker, a three-time state qualifier and Salem’s all-time wins leader, is Salem’s first district champion in three decades.

“We have the hardest district in the state in any divisions,” Hart said. “Record-wise Aiden has got around 160 wins. He’s wrestled everybody and anybody since his freshman year. He would bump up a weight class to wrestle the toughest kid on the other team.”

Stecker at a leaner weight this season as he went 1-2 last year at state at 175.

“He was light for the weight class last year,” Hart said. “This year he hit the weights and added some muscle. He’s walking around a little lighter than last year and lost a little fat even though he didn’t have much to lose. We just thought it was time to cut a few pounds and see how he felt.”

Stecker has a pathway to a high podium finish and BoroFan predicts him to take third. Reading’s Gage Murphy (51-0) is on Stecker’s side of the bracket and is predicted to win the weight class. Kirk Lowdermilk is Salem’s only state champion, while Nelson Cope is the only Quaker to place second.

“We expect nothing less than being on the podium,” Hart said. “Ever since the EOWL tournament in January he’s been an unstoppable force.”

Evan Ours

Beaver Local

165 pounds

Soph., 40-6

Ours gave the Beavers a win at 165 pounds at the Steubenville district.

“Evan is having a great season, and his performance at the district tournament should give him a ton of confidence going into the weekend,” McComas said. “He has proven he has the ability to battle through tight matches and come out on top against some of the best in the state. Being a district champion set him up really well going into this weekend. The key this weekend will be staying calm, confident, and trusting his offense.”

Ours is predicted to finish seventh in the weight class by BoroFan. A possible matchup with Columbus DeSales’ Joel Welch in the second round will be the key to exceeding the prediction.

“Evan is one of the best natural athletes I have ever coached,” McComas said. “Between his natural ability and his dedication to the weight room, his strength has been a problem for his opponents all season. He is wrestling great, and peaking at the perfect time. I am confident he will take advantage of this opportunity to prove he is among the best in the state.”

Damon Stansbury

East Liverpool

165 pounds

Sr., 42-9

The son of former UFC fighter Josh Stansbury, Damon is making his first appearance at the state tournament.

“He’s just had some trouble with size over the years just with size,” Shaw said. “He grew taller and was in lighter weights and things like that. He had some of the best competition throughout his high school career. He’s beaten some big names over the years and placed in some big tournaments. This year his end goal was to get to the state tournament.”

Shaw said his strength is his top game.

“He has a top game on the mat that is unlike any wrestler I have ever had,” Shaw said. “He has just really put together a top offense that can put anybody on their back. The angles that he gets and the pressure that he applies, it’s just really remarkable.”

Kane Curran

Beaver Local

190 pounds

Sr., 25-5

An accomplished trap shooter and All-Ohioan football player, Curran brings the power and smarts needed to go deep in this weight class. For this tournament run, Curran has been healthy.

“Kane’s mental toughness, and the way he has been able to handle adversity is what sets him apart,” McComas said. “In many ways, some of Kane’s injuries and setbacks the last two seasons have brought out the best in him. His maturity, leadership ability, the way he has battled through injury, the way he competes and the man he has become are all reasons to be proud of him.”

Curran is under-the-radar in this tournament due to being predicted as being in a higher weight class.

“Competing at the state tournament has been on his mind for a long time,” McComas said. “It was great to see him make it and have that weight taken off his shoulders. He’s not satisfied, his sights are set on the podium and I am confident he will get the job done. It has been a pleasure to coach him the last four years. I am looking forward to one more exciting weekend, and seeing him standing on the podium on Sunday night.”

Gavin Hang

West Branch

215 pounds

Jr., 40-6

Hang earned his spot at state after placing third at the Kenston district.

“He’s a wonderful kid,” West Branch coach Chris Dorris said. “His work ethic and leadership in the room is top notch. He’s a team captain and he really turned the corner this year after being so close. He got to the (blood) round at districts and he got a little taste of that and said ‘Next year when I get to that round, it’s going to be a different story.'”

Dorris equates Hang to a throwback athlete.

“I equate him to an old school football team from way back when you had Woody Hayes and those guys,” Dorris said. “They said defense wins championships and his defense when it comes to wrestling is second to none.”

Dorris said Hang was one of the few guys that 19-0 Brayton Feister of Akron Hoban didn’t pin all year and that Hang can stand on his own in the bracket.

Isaac Prescott

Beaver Local

285 pounds

Sr., 17-12

The Beavers really rallied around Prescott in leading the senior to a third-place finish at the district.

“The way he competed at the district tournament was unreal,” McComas said. “Seeing our entire team surround the mat cheering him on during the blood round was a special moment. As a coach, it doesn’t get any better than that. The way our entire team rallied around him is a testament to the type of teammate he is. He is unselfish and always puts his team first. He is an amazing kid and has been a pleasure to coach the last four years. It feels great to see all of his hard work paying off. I am excited to see him walk out of that tunnel and compete, he is in for a fun weekend.”

Prescott’s strength lies in his work ethic according to his coach.

“Isaac is having a great season and is peaking at the perfect time,” McComas said. “He has continued to get better week after week due to a great work ethic. His day starts at 5:45am with morning conditioning and always stays after practice to do extra. He is wrestling very confident right now due to his preparation.”

Div. III

Rowan Wiley

Southern

165 pounds

Jr., 31-12

Injured early in the season, Wiley promised his coach Dennis Bowers that he would recover and make the state tournament.

“I wasn’t so sure but he said ‘I’m taking you to state’ and that’s what he did,” Bowers said.

Wiley was third at the district at will likely have to face a St. Paris Graham Local wrestler in the second round. The traditional Div. II power is down to Div. III this season.

“It would seem like Div. II is the place to be this year because St. Paris Graham went down to Div. III and Louisville went up to Div. I,” Bowers said.

Bowers said Wiley led the district champ Zach Ward of Girard 2-0 until the last 35 seconds of the match.

Johnny Bailey

Southern

190 pounds

Sr., 43-2

Bailey had an impressive season and only missed out on an Eastern Ohio Wrestling League title because of an illness.

“Johnny is a seasoned wrestler who really knows his body,” Bowers said. “He has great hips.”

Johnny Bailey is the son of professional boxer John “Macho Midget” Bailey who also won a state wrestling title at Oak Glen.

Bailey is ranked eighth by the BoroFan Almanac and a likely match against St. Paris Graham’s Chett Mannier looms in the second round. Mannier is ranked fourth.