St. Edward, Graham, St. Mary all try to maintain their dominance
Associated Press
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Lakewood St. Edward, St. Paris Graham and Sandusky St. Mary are favored to continue their dominance on the mats.
St. Edward is seeking its 21st state championship and ninth in a row, Graham is chasing a seventh title and fifth in a row and St. Mary is trying to win its fourth straight and sixth overall.
The success of the sport’s premier schools will be just one of the plot lines at the 68th boys state wrestling tournament which begins Thursday at Ohio State’s Value City Arena.
It’ll also be a big weekend for individuals. Seventeen wrestlers return to defend their 2004 titles, including Massillon Perry’s Dustin Schlatter, who is going for his fourth in a row. St. Edward’s Mike Miller and Lance Palmer each go for their third titles, along with Graham’s Cameron Doggett.
Prelims begin Thursday morning with team and individual champions determined Saturday night.
St. Edward, Graham and St. Mary could make OHSAA history if they capture team titles. It would be the first time that schools repeat as state champions four straight years in sports with at least three divisions.
In girls track and field, Cleveland Heights, Cleveland Heights Beaumont and North Colonel Crawford each won three straight titles between 1990 and 1992. In swimming and diving, Cincinnati St. Xavier’s boys and Cincinnati Ursuline Academy’s and Gates Mills Hawken’s girls each won three team championships between 2000 and 2002.
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