03/08/2026
The PIAA State Tournament marked the farewell to another OWA lifer, Jace McKinney.
Every year we ask first year kids and their parents to stick with us and the sport for at least a few years. We repeat this request year in and year out because we know it's hard. And for some of us, it's takes a few years to realize that it's 'the hard' that makes it great.
But Jace got it right away.
It can be exceptionally difficult when you're a youth heavyweight, often asked to wrestle older and stronger kids to help the team or just to get a match.
This type of pressure can either bend a kid or build him. For Jace McKinney it built him into one of the finest young men you'll ever meet.
Jace had the nickname "The Big Cat" but if his opponents imagined an overfeed house cat they would soon regret it. Quite the opposite, he wrestled with the agility, speed, and ability to pounce like that of a lion. We had a chance to see this on full display this weekend as he put together a come from behind victory at the state tournament against an even bigger opponent.
Jace leaves an impressive high school wrestling resume. As a four year heavyweight varsity wrestler he was a two-time Ches-Mont Champion, District 1-South Champion, two-time Regional Place winner, and two-time PIAA AAA State Qualifier.
He also holds the record for most wins by a heavyweight in Oxford Area High School history, with 112 victories, 75 by way of pin.
But what can't be measured by statistics is his leadership.
There are different types of leaders out there, those who rally the troops, those who lead by example, and those who are willing to have, at times, difficult one on one conversations.
Jace is all three.
He is a testament to his family and his parents Jeremy and Sarah McKinney who are the beating heart of Oxford Wrestling and thankfully have agreed to run the program and concessions for the next 25 years.
From youth wrestling through high school Jace has been a leader and a friend to his teammates on and off the mat.
His presence will be missed next season and his leadership will not be easily replaced.
Jace- thank you for sticking with us, giving everything you had to the team, and always leading from the front! We know you'll do big things!