BEAVER TOWNSHIP — The Beaver Local wrestling team qualified five players for the OHSAA Division II state tournament this past winter, held at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center this past March 13-15.

Four Beaver grapplers placed at the event with one wrestler, Jake Hughes, standing atop the podium proudly representing his alma mater as the 157-pound state champion.

As it turned out, he was the area’s lone individual or state champion in any winter sport.

For Hughes, who went 47-6 as a freshman – he was 45-4 this year as a sophomore, sporting a 92-10 overall mark during his two varsity seasons – and placed third last year, he didn’t need much motivation if he expected to return to state this season.

“I started wrestling when I was four years old in Beaver Local’s youth room and I have loved the sport ever since,” Hughes told the Curbstone Coaches during Monday’s meeting at Avion Banquet Center. “Finishing third last year made me hungry, providing me with all the motivation I needed to train and compete for the past 365 days. It was great to win but that isn’t my end goal.

“Now that the season is over and things are calming down, I’ll let my body rest and heal so once I get back to training, I’ll stack every day of training together to where I am still competing and not waste any time.”

The tradition-rich Beaver wrestling program – they finished fourth overall as a team with 52.0 points while Columbus Bishop Watterson won their second consecutive Division II title with 110.5 points – has had 67 total state placers over the years but it has been 24 years since their last individual crown.

Hughes is the fifth Beaver Local state champion, becoming the 16th overall state champ in Columbiana County history.

He defeated Watterson sophomore Tommy Rowlands, 2-1 in a tiebreaker for the title.

“Tommy was a very good wrestler and I have a lot of respect for him,” Hughes said. “We both watched film on each other, he knew what I was good at and I knew where he excelled so I had to turn it into my match. I kept my positions going and knew if I got to my offense then good things would happen.”

In semi-final action, Hughes won a 4-2 decision over Johan Jenkins of Columbus DeSales.

“I was able to get a quick takedown in the first period, then rode it out the rest of the match against Johan,” Hughes said. “It was a close, hard fought match and I have a lot of respect for him.”

In the quarterfinals, Hughes scored a 19-2, technical fall over Ronald Johnson II, of Chaminade Julienne Catholic.

“I took him down quick in the first period, got a few more, my offense then got going and I was able to put a lot of points on the board,” he noted.

In the first round, Hughes pinned Ethan Lewis of Upper Sandusky just a minute and 40 seconds into their match.

“It was a hard, hand fight in the first period but halfway through, I got a takedown and pinned him off of that,” Hughes said.

Head coach Johnny McComas, who is in his seventh season as head coach and 11th overall with the program, has mentored 34 state qualifiers, 20 of whom have placed.

Hughes is his first state champion.

“Finishing third last year was disappointing for Jake, yet his motivation for the 2026 season,” McComas said. “He has always been a student of the sport, someone who takes advantage of every opportunity to improve. From the very start he has had a tremendous work ethic, works to perfect his craft and learns from his matches. The sky is his limit.”

Hughes says he has learned something from everyone, to be the best that he can be because wrestling has created discipline in both his school and everyday life.

“My goal is to wrestle at a Division I school, win a national championship and if my body holds out, perhaps make the U.S. Olympic team,” Hughes said.

Other Beavers placing included Jordan Bates, who finished third at 106 pounds, and Robert Bucheit (150 pounds) and Evan Ours (165 pounds), each of whom finished seventh overall.

The other Beaver Local wrestler to qualify was John Burkett at 113 pounds.

Next Monday, Mike Yurcich, offensive coordinator for the Youngstown State University football team, will serve as guest speaker.