Nearly two dozen area wrestlers have qualified for the 2024 OHSAA state tournament, which is set to take place March 8-10 at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

Seven girls punched their proverbial tickets to Columbus with their performances at the regional tournament in Mentor on Sunday. Of them, undefeated Poland freshman Ella Thomas became the only one to win the regional title, doing so in the 100-pound weight class with a pin in the final.

Other girls qualifiers include Boardman senior Sloane McNally, Hubbard junior Emily Flynn, Salem seniors Ilani Jones-Wallace and Annika Murray, Howland junior Madison Burns and West Branch junior Jocelyn Brink.

There will be only one Division I boys participant in Columbus — Austintown Fitch senior Mark Stankorb finished fourth in the 215-pound division at the Hoover district tournament over the weekend to qualify for the state meet for a second time.

The bulk of the local boys state qualifiers will compete in the Division II bracket, including undefeated Canfield junior Tyler Scharrer, who won the 138-pound district title at Kenston on Saturday. Scharrer placed sixth in Columbus last year in the 126-pound weight class.

Howland senior Adam Heckman, who defeated Scharrer 3-2 in the state consolation semifinal last year, won the 132-pound district title at Kenston and enters this year’s state tournament with a 41-1 record.

Other Division II area boys wrestlers heading to Columbus include Girard’s Cody Carpenter and Isaac Griffith, Salem’s Joey Kana and Aiden Stecker, Canfield’s Gabe Miller and Vince Luce, Howland’s Christopher Mijavec and Hubbard’s Alex Hackwelder and Nick Bowser.

Defending Division III 190-pound state champion Keegan Sell of Garfield returns with hopes of repeating to cap off an incredible senior season. Sell enters the tournament with a 50-1 record after scoring a pinfall in just over a minute to win the district championship in Independence.

Liberty senior Jermaine Watson and South Range sophomore Tyson Seesholtz will also compete in the 157- and 165-pound Division III brackets, respectively.