Local wrestlers, basketball teams set to begin postseason play

The wrestling world will kick off the postseason this weekend, with boys sectionals Feb. 28 and girls March 1. That will be followed a week later with boys districts March 6-7 and girls districts March 7-8.

Locally, in Division III, Dover and New Philadelphia will compete in the Avon Lake and Euclid Sectionals, respectively, followed by the Perrysburg and Wadsworth Districts. In Division II, Claymont will compete in sectionals at home, with Indian Valley headed to Steubenville; they will meet up in the Galion District. In Division III, Sandy Valley will host Newcomerstown among others in the sectional round, while Tusky Valley heads to Barnesville, with districts at Coshocton.

Among those predicted to make it to the state tournament by wrestling analyst Josh Lowe are Div. I: Tyler Ulmer (New Philadelphia, 132 pounds); Div. II Bodie Raymond (Indian Valley, 113), Bronko Braun (Indian Valley, 120), Daniel McGarr (Claymont, 132), Devonn Searcy (Claymont, 138), Kamden Stout (Claymont, 165); Div. III: Asher Crissey (Sandy Valley, 120), Owen Simpson (Sandy Valley, 132), Chase Norman (Newcomerstown, 106), Martin Hernandez (Newcomerstown, 285).

The state tournament will be at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus will begin March 13 and go through March 15. All preliminaries for boys and girls will kick off March 13, followed by one consolation round that afternoon and evening.

Consolations, quarterfinals and semifinals will be held through March 14, with consolation semifinals March 15, followed by the parade of champions and finals that evening.

Girls wrestling will hold sectionals, all in one division, at Coshocton, with Claymont, New Philadelphia, Sandy Valley and Tusky Valley expected to be represented.

Boys basketball

New Philadelphia is seeded third in the East Southeast Division III District 1, is awaiting the winner of the Feb. 24 game between No. 4 Tri-Valley and No. 5 Zanesville. The Quakers will kick off their postseason Feb. 28 at 7 p.m. at a site to be determined, with the winner playing at 6 p.m. on March 4 at the Ohio University Convocation Center against the winner of the other half-bracket, in which Washington Courthouse Miami Trace is the top seed.

Dover, also seeded third but in the East/Southeast Division III District 2, is set to face No. 1 Steubenville on Feb. 28 at the ECO Center in St. Clairsville at 7 p.m. The winner will play March 4 at 8:15, also at the OU Convo, against the winner of the other half-bracket, led by No. 2 Jackson and No. 3 Chillicothe.

Claymont kicks off Division IV play in East District 2 Feb. 27 at home against Philo, with the winner mostly moving on to play John Glenn on March 3 at 7 p.m. Indian Valley will also play at 7 March 7, taking either Cambridge or Indian Creek.

In Division V, East District 1, Sandy Valley faces either West Muskingum or Fairless in a 7 p.m. Feb. 28 contest, with the winner moving on to a March 4 district semifinal. In District 2, Tusky Valley hosts Buckeye local at 7 Feb. 28, with the winner moving on most likely to face No. 1 seed St. Clairsville at 7 March 4 in a district semi.

Newcomerstown kicks off its postseason at Caldwell Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. The Trojans will face either Crooksville or Shenandoah, with a spot in the March 3 district semifinals on the line.

Tusky Central Catholic was to kick off Division VII sectional play with a Feb. 24 trip to Malvern. If the Saints pulled off the upset, they’ll play at Steubenville Catholic Central Feb. 27. Also in Div. VII, Strasburg-Franklin will travel to Zanesville to take on Bishop Rosecrans in a 7 p.m. contest Feb. 27, looking to move into the district semis.