Jackson hosting OAC youth wrestling district tournament that will feature more than 400 grade school wrestlers from all over Ohio.

JACKSON TWP.  Jackson High School senior Victor Marcelli may be the man to beat for Ohio's Division I 182-pound title at the state individual wrestling tournament.

He is a two-time, double All-American at Fargo and a two-time Ohio state placer who is heading to Cleveland State University after graduation. But Marcelli has never forgotten his youth wrestling roots.

That's why Marcelli said he and his teammates will be happy to work at Jackson High School when it hosts its first Ohio Athletic Committee youth district tournament this Saturday.

"I won OYW (Ohio Youth Wrestling at 105, in 2012) but never won OAC state," Marcelli said by phone Monday night. "I was second, third, fourth, sixth, but I never won.

"You knew that was the stepping stone to the big tournaments," he said of the district-level qualifiers. "That validated what you were trying to accomplish."

Though he is a nationally ranked prep wrestler for the Polar Bears, Marcelli said those youth tournaments, especially the OAC district and grade school state and OYW tournaments, were huge motivators in his success leading up to high school ranks.

The OAC elementary district tournament is one of eight across Ohio during the season. Jackson is expecting 400 to 500 entrants from kindergarten through sixth grade in four different age groups. The top four placers in each weight class will then advance to the OAC grade school tournament at Youngstown's Covelli Centre on March 24-25.

For many of the Stark County-area youth wrestlers it begins with Saturday's OAC district. Tickets are $5 at the door for all ages.

"It starts at 9 a.m., and we're hoping to be done by 6 p.m," said Tim Arnold, vice-president of the Jackson Takedown Club and the district tournament director. "Everybody is super excited we're able to host. The guys who have been in OACs before are excited to help. ... For somebody like Vic (Marcelli), whose life has revolved around wrestling, it's very exciting."

The tournament will be held in Jackson's two back auxiliary gyms. Parking will be in the back area of the high school by the two gyms. The expansive facilities were a big reason for securing the district action, Arnold said.

"We knew from the past each tournament has — this is a ballpark — 600 kids," he said. "We have the facilities. We are using Auxiliary Gym 1 and 2, side-by-side gyms. We'll have four mats per gym. The OAC loved it. Short of the feeding everyone, we have the room. We will use the main Common area for concessions. We are utilizing (the Jackson High School) weight room as a warm up area for the wrestlers.

"We will have (screens) in the weight room and the Commons. They will have good knowledge of where they are at (in the hole, on deck, etc.) One board in the wrestling room will tell them they have 20 minutes, then 12, then 6.

"I reached out to Chris Loudermilk and he's taken the officiating reins," added Arnold. "He's the lead official and has got a solid team of 11 officials together."

Marcelli said he's looking forward to seeing the elementary kids hit the mats. If they ask for any advice, he's ready to pitch in.

"If they ask me about moves, I'll show them what I know," he said. "My advice to them is take it one tournament at a time, you'll have good days and bad days, just keep focused. What's important is the finished product."

They may be elementary school wrestlers, but their skills are advanced. They also remember who they beat, and who beat them, and follow their careers, said Marcelli.

"I remember losing in the consy finals (110, in 2012), he said of the OAC state tournament. "Michael Baker. It was a rough one. I gave up a double-blast and a takedown. It was devastating. It shows how far I've come, that I can laugh now."

Marcelli wasn't alone among area name wrestlers not winning a grade school state title in 2012. Perry senior Emil Soehnlen was third at 95. Panthers' teammate David Carr was third at 100. Both were state champions for Perry last season.

"You remember them," Marcelli said, ticking off names like Wadsworth's Joey Baughman and Perry's Zach Blackiston too. "They were kind of the standouts. Those kids were motivated, and it showed."

Reach Jim at 330-580-8336 or

jim.thomas@cantonrep.com

On Twitter: @jthomasREP