BARNESVILLE — For the fifth consecutive year, Barnesville has punched its ticket to the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association Division III State Dual Meet Tournament.

The No. 2 Shamrocks did so with polar-opposite victories Saturday morning inside the ‘Green House’ during the lower half of the Heath Regional bracket at Barnesville High School with wins over No. 7 Martins Ferry (64-12) and No. 3 Mechanicsburg (44-29).

Although Barnesville is headed to Marion Elgin High School Saturday for the 8-team state tournament, head coach Jayson Stephen was less than thrilled with his team’s performance.

“It’s nice for the kids, but we didn’t wrestle especially well,” Stephen said. “We can do better and we’re going to have to next week.”

The title came just two days after the Shamrocks won their fourth consecutive OVAC Bill Hinegardner Class 3A Dual Meet Championship inside the John Marshall Field House in Moundsville.

In the championship match, which started at 113, Barnesville trailed the Indians 16-6 after the 132-pound bout. Colt Carpenter pulled the Shamrocks to within 16-11 with a technical fall and Brayden Trigg held on for an exciting, 8-7, nod to make it 16-14. However, Meachanicsburg had a team point deducted for unsportsmanlike conduct, leaving Barnesville a point behind.

“We lost matches early and we gave up bonus points. Brayden coming out and winning his match was huge,” Stephen explained.

After the Indians built the lead back to 18-14 with a decision at 150, Barnesville’s Jonathan Foster (157) held an 8-1 lead with time winding down in the first period before he recorded a pin that ignited a run of four straight falls that led to an insurmountable, 38-18, advantage.

“Those two matches – Trigg and Foster – pretty much won the dual for us,” Stephen noted. “It came down to the Trigg and Foster matches. We had some kids lay an egg and they won’t be able to do that next week, especially when we won’t be one of the favorites.”

Senior Ayden King (165) followed with a 19-second pin and junior Hines Ford (175) needed just five more ticks for his 24-second fall that clinched the dual. Austin Armstrong (190) trailed 14-7 in the third period before scoring a reversal that led to a pin to cap the spree.

King is top-ranked in Division III in the Buckeye State.

Mechanicsburg, coached by former three-time Ohio D-II state champion Cameron Doggett of Graham, pulled to within 38-29 with victories at 215 and 285, but Easton Stephen (106) was awarded a forfeit for the final margin.

Barnesville took a 6-0 lead on a Connor Wilson (113) pin, but Mechanicsburg won five of the next six bouts to take an 18-14 lead.

In the semifinal win over the Purple Riders, whom they also defeated in the OVAC Duals, Stephen, Trigg, Eli Messenger (150), King, Ford and Armstrong all recorded pins. Ayden Andrews (126) and Colt Carpenter (138) posted technical falls; Conner Wilson (113) earned a major decision and Blake Kirk (285) received a forfeit.

Winning for Martins Ferry were Colton Nixon (132) and R.J. Welshans (157).

The Purple Riders then defeated short-handed No. 6 Union Local, 49-29, for third place as the Jets were forced to forfeit four weight classes due to sickness. Receiving those walkovers were Maddox Painter (113), Jase Mahoney (120), Nixon and Keenan Lucey (138).

Welshans, Caden Holmes (144) and Cole Patterson (165) all recorded pins, while Silas Simpson (132) and Tayson Palmer (215) earned decisions.

Winning by pin for Union Local were Max Dubiel (106), Gunnar Gossett (150), Brody Perzanowski (175) and Kolten Clark (190). Brice Pitner (285) won by forfeit. In the Jets 57-24 semifinal loss to Mechanicsburg, winners were Dubiel by forfeit; Gossett, Perzanowski and Brady Hunt (215) by pins.

Barnesville won’t know its first-round opponent until Tuesday afternoon when the seedings and pairings are released by OHSWCA officials. Galion Northmor was the No. 1 seed in the Heath Bracket.