The 2008 OHSAA State wrestling tournament was held from February 28th through March 1st, 2008 at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus, Ohio. Springboro sent two of its future stars to the tournament. Tyler Riegle and Cody Shivener went to state after placing high at the Hilliard Darby District the week before.
Riegle, only a sophomore, went 37-6 at 112 lbs on his way to the tournament and Shivener went 38-1. In the first round Cody lost 9-3 to John Cobos from Lakewood St. Edwards while Tyler lost his first match to Narcisco Inchaurregui from Lorain Southview. In the second match for Cody, he wrestled Graham Campbell from Cincinnati Anderson 7-3. Shivener had earlier pinned him in the championships at the Fairfield Invitational in early January. He would finish with a 38-3 record and GWOC South Wrestler of the Year honors as a freshman.
Reigle would then wrestle Blake Stradling from Troy and would win by the final score of 8-1. Tyler would then lose to David Bolger from Strongsville in his second round consolation match with the final score of 4-0. Tyler finished with a final record of 38-8 in only his sophomore season.
Overall, in Division I, Lakewood St. Edwards wrapped up their 11th straight state title with a final team score of 147.5 while Massillon Perry, Westerville North, Cincinnati Elder and Brecksville-Broad. Hts rounded out the top five in D-1. Locally, Miamisburg took 12th while Tecumseh and West Carrolton tied for 22nd. Beavercreek took 32nd and Clayton Northmont tied for 37th.
In Division II, St. Paris Graham, the number 1 team in the nation, flexed their muscle to take home their 8th straight state title, overwhelming the division two teams with a final team score of 221.5. The closest to that score was Oak Harbor, who finished 140.5 points behind with a final score of 81 team points. Graham held 4 state champions, 2 runners-up, 3 third-placers, 2-4th place finishers and 1 seventh place finisher. That means out of 14 weight classes only two did not place.
In Division III, Troy Christian wrapped up their 2nd straight state title and 2nd in school history with a 162 -123 win over Marion Pleasant. The Eagles had four state champions, one 2nd place finisher, a 4th place finisher, a 5th place finisher, and a 6th place finisher. Troy Christian sent eight wrestlers to state and all eight placed, an awesome feat for the two-time state champs.
One of the main focuses locally was the inspirational story of Dustin Carter, a senior from Hillsboro. A victim of bacterial meningitis, Dustin lost both his arms and both of his legs. He would exit the tournament just one match away from wrestling for a medal. He received a huge standing ovation as he walked off the mat for the final time in his high school career.
The overall attendance in this year’s state championship tournament was 65,835 fans, thereby proving that wrestling is on the rise in Ohio. The overall attendance for the final round of the tournament was 14,924, with the the first four rounds averaging 12,278.