Perkins, Bellevue, Port Clinton lead state wrestling qualifiers

A total of 27 area athletes — 22 boys and five girls — will compete in the state wrestling championships this weekend in Columbus. The Perkins, Bellevue and Port Clinton boys lead the area with four wrestlers each qualifying for the state finals, which will take place at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Perkins and Bellevue compete in Division II while Port Clinton is in Division III. Clyde (Div. II), Edison and Monroeville (Div. III) each have two advancing. Clyde's girls also advanced two wrestlers to state. Bellevue senior Ben Jacobs was the only Div. II district champion among area wresters. Jacobs takes a 48-5 record into his first match Friday. In Division III, the area had three district champions: Edison's Cohen Reer, Monroeville's Owen Patchen and St. Mary Central Catholic's Ben James. Reer, a nationally ranked wrestler, is 45-2 heading into state. The freshman will wrestle at 106 pounds. Patchen, a junior, is 18-2 and will wrestle at 132 pounds. James, a junior, is 39-3 at 150 pounds. Other area Division II state qualifiers include Perkins' Braxden Martin (150), Law Davlin (165), Boden Ballinger (190) and DeShawn Harper (215); Bellevue's Thomas Reesman (103), Landen Lewis (126) and Owen Sterritt (138); Clyde's Heath Norris (120) and Michael Gessner (144); Norwalk's Gavin Lepley (165); and Vermilion's Aiden Kyser (157). Other area Division III state qualifiers include Port Clinton's Elliot Laird (144), Gavin Cornell (150), Jace Cornell (157) and Malakii Pinkelton (190); Edison's Brayden Barker (120); St. Paul's Rafael Gross (165); and Monroeville's Brycen Dunlap (285). More than 1,300 matches will be contested with state champions being crowned Sunday night. More information about the tournament is available at ohsaa.org, while tickets are available at ticketmaster.com. Every match of the state tournament will be streamed live on the NFHS Network. Action begins at 1 p.m. Friday. Last year, 69,419 fans attended the state tournament over the three days and five sessions. Lakewood St. Edward won the 2025 Division I state team tournament with a record 258 points. Columbus Bishop Watterson won in Division II while St. Paris Graham won its 23rd consecutive state title. Lewis Center Olentangy Orange won its second consecutive girls state team championship. Greenslade wins girls regional FINDLAY — Clyde's Meredith Greenslade was the 120-pound champion at Sunday's girls district tournament in Findlay. Greenslade was the only district champion from the area and one of five girls to advance to this week's state tournament. It is the fourth state tournament for girls and the top four in each weight class qualified for state. Greenslade pinned Lakewood's Riley Robertson in 1:14 in the championship match. Greenslade, who is 45-2 on the season, had four first-period pins in the tournament. She pinned her first three opponents in 1:15, 1:55 and 1:24. Sandusky's Britoriah Rollinson was the runner-up at 155 and Port Clinton's Michaela Stork placed second at 190. Clyde's Avery Gaskalls finished third at 105 and Vermilion's Cora Frederick placed fourth at 125.