First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati Enquirer
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerA friend carries Dustin Carter to a match to save wear and tear on his leg stumps. His stumps are very sore and tender due to his training schedule. Hillsboro high school wrestler Dustin Carter lost his arms and legs to a childhood blood infection. He had only one loss during the regular season and made the OHSAA State Finals. He did not win a match at the state championship but won the hearts of the crowd and was given a special recognition and inducted into the wrestling hall of fame, resulting in a standing ovation at the end of the meet.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDustin Carter is a regular kids in every way, but he has no arms and legs. Still he takes his place on a sofa in the locker room to play video games with his friends.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDustin Carter insists on taping his own leg stumps and arm stumps. He uses his stumps and teeth to tear tape during the process.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDustin Carter uses his legs and lower body strength to flip an opponent during a win in a qualifying meet on the regional level.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerMaking his way back to the bleachers to sit with his girlfriend, Dustin Carter is patted on the back by people he passes on the steps after a match win.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDustin Carter is tickled by his girlfriend as they sit together between matches.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDustin Carter takes his place on the medal stand. A win here enabled him to go to the state finals in Columbus.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDustin Carter lies on the mat after losing in a qualifying round at the state tournament. A second loss, later in the day eliminated him from the tournament.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerAn opposing coach reaches out to shake the stump of Dustin Carter after he was defeated and left the wrestling mat.
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerDustin Carter is carried from the arena floor by his coach after he was eliminated from the tournament. His tears of disappointment were later replaced by his pride in "achieving a lifelong dream of participating in the state finals".
First Place, Sports Picture Story - Michael E. Keating / Cincinnati EnquirerCalled to the arena floor to be honored and inducted into the wrestling hall of fame, Dustin Carter was cited for his spirit and courage in his efforts to make the state tournament and achieved much more in " inspiring athletes".
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus Dispatch
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchEleven-year-old Terrell Fairrow has been boxing for the Chillicothe-Ross County Police Athletic League for four years. But his involvement isn't just about the boxing; it's also about seeing in his coaches the "dad I never had." Because of substance abuse, Fairrow's parents aren't around. He and his three siblings are being raised by their ailing great-grandparents, Terrell Fairrow, 11, secures his headgear before going in the ring to spar during practice at the Chillicothe-Ross County Police Athletic League Monday, February 25, 2008.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow practices his mitt work with coach Bob Patterson during practice April 21, 2008, at the Police Athletic League in Chillicothe.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow, 11, passes a medicine ball with his teammate Cain Childers, 9, during boxing practice March 10, 2008, at the Police Athletic League in Chillicothe.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow is weighed-in for a boxing tournament at the Blackburn Recreation Center in Columbus, April 25, 2008.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchDuring a weekday practice, Terrell Fairrow runs laps on the ground of the Ross County Police Athletic League in Chillicothe.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow plays in the backyard with his siblings Josiah Kennedy, 7, and TreAnna Kuntz, 4, on a Sunday afternoon. The three, along with an older sister, Jazmine, 13, live with their great-grandparents.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchFairrow's great grandmother Jean Rayer helps him with math homework March 30, 2008, in their Chillicothe home. Fairrow has lived with his great-grandparents, including Leyland Rayer, background, most of his life.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow puts on shoes to go outside to play on a Sunday afternoon as his great grandfahter Leland Rayer rests March 30, 2008, in their Chillicothe home.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchOn a lazy Sunday afternoon, Terrell Fairrow passes the time dribbling a basketball on his front steps.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow, 11, boxes 12-year-old Travis Jerig of Zanesville in the Ross County Police Athletic League tournament on June 14, 2008, at the Nourse Auto Mall in Chillicothe. Fairrow lost the fight in a split-decision.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow receives some coaching advice from Bob Patterson between rounds of his bout at the Ross County Police Athletic League-sponsored match at the Nourse Auto Mall in Chillcothe, June 14, 2008.
Second Place, Sports Picture Story - Andrea Kjerrumgaard / The Columbus DispatchTerrell Fairrow looks to his coach Bob Patterson during a team trip to the Arnold Classic at the Columbus Convention Center.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon Journal
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalThis series of photos chronicles the shenanigans of two baseball teams during a 2 hour rain delay. Both teams helped tarp the field in the second inning.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalA soggy baseball sits on the tarp.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalKent State catcher Cory Hindel's antics kept teams from both dugouts entertained.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalIt appeared that two Akron players were lending a hand to the grounds crew during the rain delay.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalKent State pitcher Steve Ross went out to investigate an equipment bag left on the field by the opponents.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalKent State pitcher Steve Ross was surprised to find University of Akron's Nick Solitario, wearing only an undergarment and bound in tape, inside the equipment bag.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalAkron's Nick Solitario body slides across the rain tarp after being released by Kent pitcher Steve Ross.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalKent State catcher Cory Hindel's competes in a dance off with University of Akron's Doug McNulty.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalKent State catcher Cory Hindel's formed a marching band with teammates and makeshift articles from the dugout.
Third Place, Sports Picture Story - Phil Masturzo / Akron Beacon JournalA University of Akron fan heads home from Lee Jackson Field with his alligator floater in hand.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain Dealer
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerThe Ohio Youth Wrestling league, like many youth sports groups, teaches competitiveness from a very young age. The league, originally started to develop state champion quality wrestlers, has some kids starting to wrestle competitively as young as 4 years old. By starting so young, some of the kids will have wrestled in around 1000 matches by the time they are seniors in high school. Before the start of wrestling, kids line up to weigh-in, hoping to make weight so they are able to compete in the day's matches.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerAt the tournament, wrestlers compete on seven mats at the same time in the morning, as they hope to win and advance to the next bracket, and eventually the finals in the afternoon.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerAfter losing a match, Edward Suber, dad and coach, goes over a mistake his son Terrell Grant, 9, made in the match, so that he would be prepared to win the next one.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerMore than 300 wrestlers face off to compete for the state title in each of 20 weight classes, to represent more than 4000 wrestlers from 130 teams around the state.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerAndrew Peterson reacts as he can't overcome his competitor, as a referee asks him to get up, during a match in the 70 lb weight class.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerChris Minick (left) coach of Mason Brainard, 10, gives Brainard a pep talk before the start of his state final 52 lb match.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerSportsmanship is an important part of wrestling, and the winner and loser must shake hands before leaving the match before the winner is proclaimed. Sometimes, giving up the match officially is a little difficult for some competitors.
Award of Excellence, Sports Picture Story - Tracy Boulian / The Plain DealerTyler Warner, 11, of Dennison, a wrestler for Claymont, reacts after winning the 60 lb state title at the Ohio Youth Wrestling state tournament at Firestone High School in Akron on February 10, 2008. Warner has been wrestling for 5 years.
