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COLUMBUS — The boys from Graham aren't the only ones with a shot at making history.

Tecumseh junior T.J. Rigel was a dominant force at the Division I state wrestling tournament at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center on Friday, Feb. 29, advancing to the 145-pound championship match with two pins.

Awaiting him in the finals is Youngstown Austintown-Fitch's Tony Jameson, who will try to become only the 16th four-time state champ in Ohio history. If Rigel were to stop Jameson tonight, Rigel would be the first to ever beat a three-time state champ in the state final in his pursuit for a fourth title.

"I'm not intimidated," said Rigel. "I've wrestled with other big names before. I've run into his two losses this year, but not him. I wrestled (Graham's Ben) Jordan close and I wrestled (Troy Christian's Zach) Toal close.

"And I'm under the belief that anything can happen."

Many didn't expect Rigel to reach the finals — including himself. "It's a surprise to me," he said. "I don't put myself ahead of anyone."

Rigel says he and Jameson wrestle a similar style.

"I'm kind of funky like him," Rigel said. "I hit a lot of the same stuff he does from the top, and we are both big-mat wrestlers. If I wrestle like I have been, it'll be a good match."

Whatever the outcome, Rigel has made some memories.

"I've dreamed about wrestling in the state finals ever since I was a kid."

OHC update

The Ohio Heritage Conference had 10 representatives still alive Friday, and seven of them are guaranteed a place in the top eight.

West Liberty-Salem senior Curt Levy (145 pounds) was the only one to win his D-III quarterfinal match, shocking defending state champ David Stiltner of Applecreek Waynedale 11-7. But Levy lost 11-2 in the semifinals to another returning state champ, Zach Nelson of Madison Plains.

WLS senior Travis Wooten scored wins of 12-2 over Alex Panno of Blanchester and 6-4 over Kyle Begg of Bluffton, both of whom Wooten lost to in last week's district tournament. He is guaranteed no worse than sixth place.

"I knew I should have beaten those guys last week," said Wooten. "I didn't want to let it happen twice, so revenge was a factor."

Greeneview had a good morning session, but lost all four matches in the evening consolations. Still, the Rams will have four wrestlers going for seventh place: seniors Branden Pike (140), Doug Randall (215) and Josh Reynolds (285), and junior Tim Hoskins (112).

"I went two (losses) and out the first two times down here, so getting that first win really got the monkey off my back," said Pike. If he wins and places seventh this morning, he'll equal older brother Ben's highest state place.

"It's disappointing," said Greeneview coach Mike Sizemore of the evening effort. "But this tournament is an emotional roller coaster. You are either up or down."

Mechanicsburg junior Ethan Price (160) is assured of at least a sixth place finish after wins of 7-1 and 8-2 Friday.

"He's fast — that's one of his main attributes," said Indians coach Brady Hiatt of Price. "In his first match yesterday (a loss), his feet were glued to the mat, it seemed. Today, he kept moving and kept the pace more to his favor."

Losing Friday and not placing were Peter Lewis (160) of WLS and Greeneview's Mike Eavers (130) and Tim Arthur (103).

Cougar power

Kenton Ridge senior Sean Scaglia (140) was the only other area wrestler to assure himself of a state place Friday. He scored a 7-4 win in D- II to clinch a place, but lost to Graham's Matt Stephens 3-0 in his evening match and will wrestle for seventh place this morning.

Touching moments

Hillsboro senior 103-pounder Dustin Carter, who went 40-4 this season despite not having arms or legs, was the star of the show Friday, receiving two standing ovations even though he lost both his D-II matches on the day.

After he lost his final match 5-3, he received his first standing ovation from the Schottenstein Center fans. Then he was honored prior to the evening session, and received another standing ovation that lasted over a minute.