OHSAA wrestling state tournaments split between three schools; ice hockey in Columbus

By Mitch Spinell

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced on Thursday its sites for the upcoming state wrestling and ice hockey tournaments.

The wrestling tournament will be held between three high schools in Ohio's Central District: Hillard Darby (for Division I schools), Marengo Highland (Division II), and Marion Harding (Division III). The hockey finals, meanwhile, will be played at the OhioHealth Ice Haus (an attached rink of Nationwide Arena) in Columbus.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the original tournament sites of Nationwide Arena (hockey) and The Schottenstein Center (wrestling) were not able to accommodate the dates of March 13-14 scheduled by the OHSAA.

“We want to thank these three-member schools for agreeing to host the wrestling state tournament along with everyone associated with the Ice Haus, Nationwide Arena, and the [NHL's Columbus] Blue Jackets for their work to host the ice hockey state tournament,” said OHSAA Executive Director Doug Ute. “The most important thing we are doing is giving our student-athletes a chance to compete. Our member schools and other tournament sites are to be commended for doing everything they can to provide these opportunities during the pandemic.”

The OHSAA says it will announce sites for the regional and state basketball tournaments "in the coming days".

In the meantime, the state swimming and diving tournament will be held Feb. 24-27 at C.T. Branin Natatorium in Canton, Ohio; the bowling tournament will be held at Wayne Webb's Columbus Bowl February 26-27 and March 5-6; and the gymnastics tournament will remain at Hillard Bradley High School from  March 5-6.