COLUMBUS — The area has two wrestlers who don’t wear Graham singlets going for individual championships tonight at the 75th annual state wrestling tournament at Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center. And together, they are making a positive statement about the future of Ohio Heritage Conference wrestling.

In Division III action, Greeneview sophomore Armani Robinson (170 pounds) and Mechanicsburg sophomore Austin Reese (120) both secured two victories Friday and are one win away from realizing their dream of a state title.

Robinson’s march was probably the most exciting of the two. He squeezed out a 3-1 win in the morning’s quarterfinal round, then was trailing the entire match and was down 6-4 in his evening semifinal with Garrick Montgomery of Ashland Crestview when he reversed him and put him on his back for a surprising pin.

“I knew I could have caught up,” said Robinson, who is making his first appearance at the state tournament. “I said to myself, ‘Anything can happen.’ I noticed he was making some mistakes and I saw an opening and just hit it. I thought I was just going to get two points, though.”

Reese, meanwhile, was more workmanlike and methodical in his march to the finals. A third-place finisher last year as a freshman, Reese scored a 9-0 win over Dustin Ferguson of Bloomdale Elmwood in his morning match, then came an all-area semifinal with surprising freshman Andrew Hoskins of Greeneview. It was the fourth time the two had wrestled, and Reese was victorious for the fourth time, grabbing a 6-0 win.

Mechanicsburg senior Dalton Hiltibran (126) lost 5-4 in the quarterfinals on a reversal with less than 10 seconds left. He bounced back for a 15-0 technical fall, but he fell 7-2 in his final match of the day and will wrestle for seventh place this morning.

The Indians’ third state qualifier, freshman Logan Hartman (106), lost his only match of the day and was eliminated.

A step further: Kenton Ridge sophomore Preston Bowshier, a seventh-place finisher last year, took another step forward Friday, earning his way into the D-II semifinals with an exciting 9-7 overtime win over Darran Warner of Gnadenhutton Indian Valley.

However, he struggled in his semifinal, falling 15-1 to Bobby Mason of Parma Padua Franciscan. Still, he is assured of finishing no lower than sixth place in this morning’s consolation final rounds.

Senior teammate Bobby Mounts lost his only match of the day 5-1 and was eliminated.

A day of firsts: Two Springfield schools enjoyed firsts at this year’s state tournament.

Springfield senior Darryl Grayson (182) assured himself of the school’s first state place since the merger of North and South high schools.

Grayson gave returning state champ Domenic Abounader of Lakewood St. Edward all he wanted before falling 6-3 in their morning D-I quarterfinal. But he bounced back with two wins to assure himself of no lower than sixth place.

And although Catholic Central senior Jared Panstingel (220, D-III) lost a 3-1 heartbreaker and was eliminated in his match to secure a top-eight place, he was the first Irish wrestler since the program started back three seasons ago to qualify for state and get a state victory.

The Wildcats’ other two state qualifiers, sophomore Devin Nye (220) and junior Aaron Cosby (285), both lost their only matches and were eliminated.

More CBC magic: Shawnee senior Lucas Sparks and Urbana junior Sam Harris both assured themselves of no lower than sixth place after impressive efforts Friday. Sparks lost his quarterfinal match to Greg Moray of Steubenville by a 3-2 count, but bounced back for two victories.

Harris, meanwhile won both of his matches, bouncing back from a first-round loss Thursday. He beat Mickey Crum of Columbus Hamilton Township 6-4, then blanked Cameron Shaw of Washington Court House 6-0.