Ohio

Here are 5 Columbus-area storylines entering Ohio high school wrestling regional duals

Published

11 months ago

January 30, 2025

Here are 5 Columbus-area storylines entering Ohio high school wrestling regional duals

A busy stretch for central Ohio wrestlers starts Saturday with the regional dual tournament, followed by the state duals next weekend.

The Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association sponsors the annual duals. Boys and girls regionals will be held at sites throughout the state.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association postseason begins the weekend after the state duals.

Here are five Columbus-area storylines heading into the regional duals:

1. Dublin Coffman aims to keep streak alive

Coffman will be seeking its seventh consecutive Division I regional duals title and ninth in 10 seasons when it hosts a bracket Saturday.

The top-seeded Shamrocks open against No. 8 Big Walnut, with the winner facing No. 4 Mount Vernon or No. 5 Olentangy in the final later that day. The winner advances to the state duals Feb. 8 at Olentangy Liberty.

Coffman finished fourth in the state duals last year.

“I look forward to this tournament,” coach Chance Van Gundy said. “We don’t see a lot of central Ohio teams besides our OCC-Central schedule. We wrestle a lot up north and we go down to Mason to wrestle. We’re out of central Ohio more than we’re in central Ohio, so this weekend guarantees two duals with central Ohio teams who are not in our (OCC) division.”

Key wrestlers for the Shamrocks are Loc Webber (33-2, 106 pounds), Blaze Van Gundy (28-3, 126), Eli Esguerra (28-5, 150), Braylon Wright (25-5, 215), Isaiah Callahan (23-6, 144), Tommy Wurster (22-3, 113), Cole Woodruff (22-9, 138), Michael Feeney (22-8, 175), Clayton Shipley (21-9, heavyweight) and Zion Birden (20-7, 120).

2. Olentangy ready for regional test

Olentangy coach Matt White believes his team matches up well with Mount Vernon and hopes it can earn a spot in the final, likely against Coffman.

Last season, the Braves finished third at regional, beating Watkins Memorial 57-20 in the consolation match.

Top wrestlers for Olentangy are Nick Piontkowski (33-6, 150), Kurt Mokros (28-6, 126), Daniel Stephens (28-7, heavyweight), Preston Schuler (28-9, 132), Luke Mokros (25-12, 120) and Landon Moses (21-13, 144).

“Our wrestlers are wrestling at a highly competitive level,” White said. “Our goal is to make it out (of regional). We know we have very tough teams on our side of the bracket. I want these guys to show up and do what they know how to do.”

Second-seeded Liberty also hosts a Division I bracket and faces No. 7 Lancaster in the opening round. The winner faces No. 3 Marysville or No. 6 Teays Valley, with that winner advancing to the state duals.

3. DeSales boys looking down the road

With his team expected to enter the Division II regional duals without a complete lineup, Stallions coach Collin Palmer hopes the event provides a tune-up for the OHSAA postseason.

DeSales is seeded third and faces No. 6 Clyde in the first round Saturday at Sandusky Perkins. The winner faces No. 2 Perkins or No. 7 Wapakoneta, with that winner advancing to the state duals Feb. 8 at Watterson.

Key wrestlers for DeSales are Andrew Barford (20-5, 175), Joel Welch (19-6, 165) and Lincoln Shulaw (13-3, 190).

“We have had trouble filling a lineup this year,” Palmer said. “Obviously, our heavy hitters have to put points on the board to see how we do. We have trouble filling more than 10, 11 guys. Going into the bigger events with holes in your lineup, it’s hard to compete.”

There are 14 weight classes.

Elsewhere in Division II, Watterson is a No. 1 seed and hosts a regional bracket Saturday. Jonathan Alder, a No. 3 seed, also hosts a bracket that includes Hartley, a No. 6 seed.

4. Olentangy Orange girls seek return trip to state duals

Orange coach Brian Nicola said his team’s biggest focus is daily progress on the mat rather than concentrating on championships.

The Pioneers host a regional bracket Saturday and have a first-round bye. They face No. 8 Westerville North or No. 9 Steubenville in a semifinal, with the winner taking on No. 4 Big Walnut or No. 5 Teays Valley.

The regional champion advances to the state duals Feb. 8 at Marysville.

“Our focus this year is we really don’t talk about (postseason titles),” Nicola said. “Coming in every day to get better and being good teammates has been the main focus.”

The Pioneers won the state duals in 2022 and 2023 but finished second to Harrison last season. Last year, they went on to capture their first OHSAA team title at the state tournament for individuals.

Key wrestlers for Orange are Mackenzie Carder (28-1, 120), Lydia Heinrich (28-2, 170), Bella Ndinga Mbappe’ (26-6, 130), Chloe Tompkins (25-5, 135), Alanna Smith (23-7, 140), Lexie Riley (22-7, 145), Jennifer Huaracha-Arellanos (22-3, heavyweight) and Lacie Knick (20-0, 125).

“We’re right where we want to be this time of the year,” Nicola said. “We still have some adjustments that we need to work on, but we’re pretty happy.”

5. Delaware Hayes eager to face challengers

Delaware travels Saturday to Gahanna Lincoln, where the third-seeded Pacers take on No. 6 Hilliard Bradley in a semifinal. The winner faces No. 2 Gahanna, No. 7 Watkins Memorial or No. 10 Darby in the final, with the winner advancing to the state duals.

“I feel good about this weekend,” said Josh Lamb, who shares Delaware coaching duties with Kevin Rieman. “Having a whole lineup helps. We’re pretty solid across the board. … We’re excited to get a chance to go down there and wrestle and showcase what we’re made of.”

Delaware is seeking its fourth consecutive state duals berth.

Key wrestlers for the Pacers are Nelease Danzy (18-2, 145), Evelyn Krauss (17-6, 155), Lahni Danzy (16-7, 120), Taylor Flynn (15-7, 125) and Abi Forsythe (105, 15-7).

Marysville also is a No. 1 seed and hosts No. 8 Wauseon, with the winner facing No. 4 Clyde or No. 5 Lewistown Indian Lake for a trip to the state duals.

fdirenna@dispatch.com

@DispatchFrank

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Ohio

Multiple homes destroyed by fire in Meigs County, Ohio

Published

5 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

Multiple homes destroyed by fire in Meigs County, Ohio

POMEROY, Ohio (WCHS) — A fire destroyed one home and damaged two others Wednesday evening, but then rekindled early Thursday morning and destroyed another home, police said.

The fire was first reported just after 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday night in the 300 block of Wetzgall Street in Pomeroy, according to a press release from the Pomeroy Police Department.

According to police, the fire spread to the two homes on either side of the original home on fire. Firefighters contained the fire and saved the two surrounding homes, but the home that first caught fire was deemed a total loss.

Then, just after 3 a.m. on Thursday morning, the fire rekindled and spread to one of the other homes, resulting in a total loss of that home as well, police said.

Pomeroy police said both homes were occupied at the time of the fires, but all occupants of each home were able to exit their homes safely. Police also said that there were no reported injuries, though both families lost everything they owned due to the total losses of the homes.

The cause of the fire has not been determined, and the incident is still under active investigation by the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office, according to police.

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DOE aims to end Biden student loan repayment plan. What it means for Ohio

Published

18 hours ago

December 11, 2025

Press Room

DOE aims to end Biden student loan repayment plan. What it means for Ohio

The Department of Education has agreed to a settlement to end the Biden-era SAVE student loan repayment plan.
Over seven million borrowers currently on the SAVE plan will need to select a new repayment program if the court approves the settlement.
Ohio has about 1.7 million student loan borrowers and over $60 billion in debt. The average student loan debt in the state is approximately $35,072.

Student loan borrowers under the Biden-era student loan repayment plan, Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE), may soon have to select a new repayment plan after the U.S. Department of Education agreed to a measure to permanently end the program.

A proposed joint settlement agreement announced Tuesday between the DOE and the State of Missouri seeks to end what officials call the “illegal” SAVE program, impacting more than seven million SAVE borrowers who would have to enroll in another program. The settlement must be approved by the court before it can be implemented.

Ohio borrowers carry some of the nation’s highest student loan debt. Here’s how the proposed change could affect them.

What is the SAVE plan?

Originally known as REPAYE, the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan was created to deliver the lowest monthly payments among income-driven repayment programs. Under the Biden administration, it became the most affordable option for borrowers.

According to USA TODAY, the SAVE plan was part of Biden’s push to deliver nearly $200 billion in student loan relief to more than 5 million Americans. It wiped out $5.5 billion in debt for nearly half a million borrowers and cut many monthly payments down to $0.

But officials in President Donald Trump’s administration claim the Biden plan was illegal.

Why does the Department of Education want to end the SAVE plan?

The DOE says the SAVE plan aimed to provide mass forgiveness without congressional approval, costing taxpayers $342 billion over 10 years. In a press release, the Department said the administration promised unrealistically low payments and quick forgiveness without legal authority.

“The Trump administration is righting this wrong and bringing an end to this deceptive scheme,” Under Secretary of Education Nicholas Kent said in a release. “Thanks to the State of Missouri and other states fighting against this egregious federal overreach, American taxpayers can now rest assured they will no longer be forced to serve as collateral for illegal and irresponsible student loan policies.”

If the agreement is approved by the court, no new borrowers will be able to enroll in the SAVE plan. The agency says it will deny any pending applications and move all SAVE borrowers back into other repayment plans.

Borrowers currently enrolled in the SAVE Plan would have a limited time to select a new repayment plan and begin repaying their student loans.

The DOE adds that it is working on the loan repayment provisions of the “One Big Beautiful Bill” Act, which created a new Income-Driven Repayment plan called the Repayment Assistance Plan (RAP), that will be available to borrowers by July 1, 2026.

How many people in Ohio have student loan debt?

Numbers from the Education Data Initiative show that there are about 1.7 million student loan borrowers in Ohio, carrying over $60 billion in debt. The average student loan debt is approximately $35,072.

Ohio also ranks No. 10 among the states with the most student debt, according to personal finance site WalletHub.

How much money does Ohio get from the Department of Education?

The DOE budget for Ohio for fiscal year 2025 is estimated to be more than $5.65 billion, The Columbus Dispatch previously reported.

President Trump announced his intentions to eliminate the Department of Education earlier this year, meaning that Ohio could lose more than $5 billion in annual funding.

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Papa Johns employee in Ohio accused of shooting, killing man inside store

Published

1 day ago

December 10, 2025

Press Room

Papa Johns employee in Ohio accused of shooting, killing man inside store

Updated on: December 10, 2025 / 7:32 PM EST
/ CBS Pittsburgh

An employee of a Papa Johns restaurant in Cincinnati, Ohio, is accused of shooting and killing a man inside the store on Tuesday night.

Police in Cincinnati said Murphy Tilk, 21, fatally shot 23-year-old Nawaf Althawadi inside the West Price Hill restaurant around 11 p.m., CBS affiliate WKRC reported. When first responders arrived at the restaurant on West Eighth Street, they performed life-saving measures on Althawadi, who died at the scene. Officials said the 21-year-old Tilk, who was taken into custody without incident and charged, is a Papa Johns employee, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Tilk booked into the Hamilton County Justice Center on a first-degree murder charge, the center’s records show. During Tilk’s initial court appearance on Wednesday, he was held without bond. The 21-year-old man has a bond hearing set for Saturday.

Law enforcement has not said what led up to the shooting or if Tilk and Althawadi knew each other. Police are investigating the shooting.

KDKA reached out to Papa Johns on Wednesday evening for comment, but has not heard back.

Papa Johns is a pizza chain with 6,000 locations globally, according to its website. It has 15 locations in Cincinnati.