Ohio

OHSAA wrestling tournament live updates from state championships

Published

1 hour ago

March 15, 2026

OHSAA wrestling tournament live updates from state championships

Thirteen central Ohio high school wrestlers will compete for state championships March 15 at the Schottenstein Center, beginning at 5:15 p.m.

The Dispatch’s Frank DiRenna and Dave Purpura are covering the finals and will have live updates here throughout the event.

Former Westerville North coach inducted into Hall of Fame

Prior to finals, the annual Hall of Fame ceremony was held. One of the inductees was former North coach David Grant. Well deserved.

Central Ohio wrestlers compete for OHSAA state championships

Seven boys and six girls from the Columbus area will compete in the finals, and two of those girls will face off in the 120-pound final.

That match features Mackenzie Carder of Olentangy Orange and Cami Leng of Marysville.

The other finals involving central Ohio girls are:

110 – Ashlynn Brokaw (Mount Vernon) vs. Emma Gorrell (Warren)
140 – Nora Johnson (Hartley) vs. Emma Shephard (Massillon Perry)
145 – Reese Thomas (Jonathan Alder) vs. Naomi Gearheart (Ashland Crestview)
155 – KyLee Tibbs (Gahanna Lincoln) vs. Vivienne Legato (Archbold)

Brokaw and Tibbs are going for repeat championships, albeit in different weight classes. Brokaw won at 105 last year, and Tibbs won at 140.

Orange is attempting to win a third consecutive team championship.

These central Ohio boys will compete for state titles:

Division I

120 – Oliver Lester (Dublin Coffman) vs. Bradley Bauman (Lakewood St. Edward)
126 – Tommy Wurster (Coffman) vs. Grey Burnett (Perrysburg)

Wurster lost in the 113 final last year.

Division II

126 – Joe Curry (Licking Valley) vs. Carter Trukovich (Galion)
150 – James Lindsay (Watterson) vs. Beau Nezbeth (Beloit West Branch)
157 – Tommy Rowlands (Watterson) vs. Jake Hughes (Lisbon Beaver Local)
165 – Joel Welch (DeSales) vs. Kamden Stout (Uhrichsville Claymont)
215 – Michael Boyle (Watterson) vs. George Eggers (Napoleon)

Boyle, an Ohio State commit, is going for his third consecutive state title and second in a row at 215. Lindsay and Rowlands lost in the finals last year at 150 and 138, respectively, and Welch lost in the 165 final.

Rowlands’ father, also Tommy Rowlands, was a four-time All-American and two-time NCAA champion at Ohio State.

Curry, a senior, won the 120-pound title as a freshman at Watterson.

As a team, Watterson is aiming for its second straight state championship – and second all-time.

High school sports reporters Frank DiRenna and Dave Purpura can be reached at sports@dispatch.com and at @DispatchPreps on X.

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Where Ohio State basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

Published

14 hours ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

Where Ohio State basketball stands in March Madness bracket predictions

For the first time in four years, the Ohio State men’s basketball team is going to play in the NCAA Tournament.

A four-game winning streak that came to an end with a four-point loss to No. 1 seed Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals pushed the Buckeyes firmly from the March Madness bubble to safely in the field. After Ohio State went shot-for-shot against the Wolverines, coach Jake Diebler said one of the season’s goals was to not just be playing to make the NCAA Tournament, but to be playing meaningful games in March with the chance to earn a better seed.

 Think you can beat our expert? Join USA TODAY’s Bracket Challenge today!

The result of the game was that the Buckeyes could then spend the next 48 hours leading into the NCAA Tournament selection show wondering where they would be seeded, not whether or not they would be in the field.

As the selection show looms at 6 p.m. March 15, here’s where the Buckeyes sit in the overall NCAA Tournament picture:

Where is Ohio State in NCAA Tournament bracketology?

In a March 13 update, before Ohio State’s game against Michigan, USA Today projected the Buckeyes as a No. 9 seed playing No. 8 seed Clemson in Greenville, North Carolina. The winner of that game would likely get a second-round matchup with No. 1 seed Duke.

Ready to win March Madness? Join USA TODAY’s Survivor Pool today!

The next day, USA Today’s bubble watch noted that teams with 100% odds to make the NCAA Tournament according to BartTorvik.com are “locks” but did not include the Buckeyes on that list despite having 100% odds to make the tournament. Ohio State is instead classified as “likely in.”

BracketMatrix.com, which aggregates 111 different bracket projections, has Ohio State included in all 111 ranging from a No. 7 to a No. 10 seed.

As of March 14 at 1:50 p.m., ESPN’s Joe Lunardi had the Buckeyes as a No. 8 seed playing No. 9 seed Villanova in Tampa for the right to likely face No. 1 seed Florida in the second round.

As of 10:19 a.m. March 14, CBS had No. 8 seed Ohio State playing No. 9 seed Saint Mary’s in the first round.

Where is Ohio State in the NET rankings?

On the final day before the bracket was revealed, Ohio State was No. 30 in the NET rankings used by the selection committee to select the field. The Buckeyes were also No. 31 in Wins Above Bubble (WAB).

Ohio State men’s basketball beat writer Adam Jardy can be reached at ajardy@dispatch.com, on Bluesky at @cdadamjardy.bsky.social or on Twitter at @AdamJardy.

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Local skating community mourns Ohio Air Guardsman killed in Iraq crash

Published

1 day ago

March 14, 2026

Press Room

Local skating community mourns Ohio Air Guardsman killed in Iraq crash

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — For many people, there’s a place they return to again and again — a favorite restaurant, bar, or gym.

For Technical Sgt. Tyler Simmons, that place was the roller rink.

Simmons was a familiar face at Skate Zone 71, where friends say he spent countless nights gliding across the rink and building a tight-knit community around his love of skating.

Those who knew him say it wasn’t just his skating skills that stood out — it was his personality.

“He would be a light,” said friend James Breneman. “Just seeing him every few months, seeing him come back, it was really good.”

Friends say Simmons had a way of making everyone feel welcome whenever he walked through the door.

“He made it a point to show you love every time he was in a building or any space he was in,” said Rashon Streater, a DJ at Skate Zone 71.

For many at the rink, Simmons was more than a friend.

“That was my brother,” said Ty Carter. “His smile could literally light up a room. His laugh was beyond contagious.”

But skating wasn’t Simmons’ only passion.

He also served his country as a technical sergeant and boom operator with the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base.

On Thursday, March 12, Simmons was among six service members killed when an air tanker crashed during a mission in Iraq.

The news has left his skating community grieving the loss of someone many describe as irreplaceable.

“It’s super sad. It’s super unfortunate. It hurts,” Streater said.

Carter says he’s still struggling to process the loss.

“Still processing everything and now having to adjust life without my brother being here,” Carter said. “Honestly, I’m just still numb.”

Friends say Simmons’ impact will never fade.

“The impact he left can never be matched,” Carter added. “You only get one person like him. I’m going to miss my brother literally to the end of time.”

Those closest to Simmons will gather Saturday at 7 p.m. at Skate Zone 71 to honor his life and the memories he created on the rink.

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Ohio Valley cleaning up after strong winds batter region

Published

2 days ago

March 14, 2026

Press Room

Ohio Valley cleaning up after strong winds batter region

Residents and businesses throughout the Ohio Valley are cleaning up and assessing damage after strong winds tore through the region Friday.

Everything from trees to yard items to business signs were strewn about as winds that neared hurricane force in some spots blew through.

Nothing seemed spared, even if it was tethered.

According to the National Weather Service’s Pittsburgh office, 70 mph gusts were recorded at the Zanesville Airport in Muskingum County. A high wind warning issued Friday afternoon was expected to expire at midnight.

Closer to home, winds reached speeds of 66 mph in Bellaire and 60 mph at the Ohio County Airport.

Downed trees and powerlines closed several roads and left emergency crews taxed with an overwhelming number of calls.

A downed power line sparked a house fire on Circle Avenue in St. Clairsville. There were no injuries.

At one point Friday, nearly 76,000 customers in the NEWS9 viewing area were without power.

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