Maddilan Doster of Antwerp Makes History at State Wrestling Tournament
Under the bright lights of Ohio’s biggest stage, four local wrestlers stepped onto the mats at the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament, held March 13–15 at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus. Competing against the best wrestlers from across the state, Maddilan Doster of Antwerp rose to the occasion, etching her name into school history with a fifth‑place finish on the state podium.
Doster, a junior, opened the tournament strong with a decisive 4–0 victory over Kira Maasseen of Elyria in the opening round. Her solid defense and control set the tone for a successful weekend against the state’s top competition. On day two, Doster secured her place on the podium by pinning Mykah Bailey of Gahanna Lincoln, a critical win that guaranteed her a top‑six finish. The accomplishment marked a significant milestone for both Doster and the Antwerp wrestling program. Doster’s run toward the championship was challenged in the quarterfinals, where she fell by pin to Michaela Stork of Port Clinton at the 1:36 mark. She later dropped a consolation match to Johanna Bogan of Garrett Morgan, who recorded a pin in 50 seconds. Refusing to end the tournament on a loss, Doster delivered a dominant performance in her final match. She pinned Evie Parmelee of Liberty‑Benton in 4:42, securing fifth place in the state and closing the weekend on a high note. Doster’s podium finish represents a historic achievement and highlights her determination, resilience, and growth throughout the season. Her performance at the state tournament not only capped an impressive junior campaign but also set the stage for a promising senior year.
Landon Dasher of Paulding made his debut appearance at the Schottenstein Center this season, earning his first trip to the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament. The junior opened the weekend with a strong performance, pinning Mitchell Tetreault of Garaway in 4:31 to advance in the championship bracket. On day two, Dasher faced tough competition, falling by pin to Tyler Abbey of Genoa Area in 3:09, followed by a 9–1 decision loss to Gavin Cornell of Port Clinton. Although his tournament run was cut short, Dasher capped an extremely successful season and will look to return to Columbus stronger as a senior.
Thor “Stroker” Etter of Paulding also returned to the state stage, bringing experience and determination back to Columbus. Etter earned a Friday night victory, pinning Grady Hayden of Adena in 3:59 to advance to the second day of competition. Etter later fell by pin to Caleb Greenwood of Beachwood in 3:58 and dropped a 12–5 decision to Gabe Krieger of Graham Local. With his continued hard work and perseverance, Etter remains poised for another return trip to the Schottenstein Center next season.
Civil Pumphrey of Paulding, a sophomore, made her return to the state tournament, gaining valuable experience against top‑level competition. Pumphrey opened the tournament with a hard‑fought match before falling by pin to Ava Sommers of Walsh Jesuit in 5:19. In consolation action, Pumphrey dropped a 6–1 decision to Sarah Amonette of Olentangy Orange. Despite the early exit, Pumphrey’s performance reflects her growth and potential, with a bright future ahead and expectations of returning as a state qualifier.
The accomplishments of these athletes reflect the dedication, perseverance, and competitive spirit of Paulding County wrestling. Congratulations to all who represented their schools and community on Ohio’s biggest stage.