Watkins Memorial High School wrestler Joey Cameron has endured a difficult senior year, but he still could be a factor in the Division I postseason.

A shoulder injury limited Cameron, who compiled a 34-4 record a year ago and was an alternate to the district tournament, to only six matches at 152 pounds before he competed in the Watkins Invitational on Feb. 4.

Nonetheless, he has shown he might finally be getting healthy as the Warriors prepare to play host to one of four sectionals Saturday, Feb. 18. The other sites are Marysville, Pickerington Central and Westland.

Cameron placed fifth in the home tournament once the bracket portion of the event got under way, but he recorded the most surprising victory of the day when he defeated Steubenville’s Trent Mays by one point in overtime to force a three-way tie for the pool title.

“Joey’s kind of flying under the radar with the injury and everything,” coach Mark Kurth said. “Nobody really knows where he’s at or what’s going on.

“But he’s coming along and getting back into wrestling shape at the right time. I think he’s ready to take it to the next level.”

The freshman Mays has duly impressed wrestling guru Brian Brakeman, author of the annual High School Wrestling Forecast.

“Mays was a fine youth wrestler finishing second at last year’s junior-high state tournament,” Brakeman wrote in his 2012 report. “He may well work his way into the top four (in the Division II state tournament).”

The Watkins Invitational challenged the Warriors as a whole on a postseason level.

Steubenville amassed 302 points to capture the team title as the Warriors (146.5) were fifth. Marysville (292), which is the top overall seed entering the Division I sectional tournaments, finished second while Teays Valley (208), which is seeded fourth, was third ahead of Reynoldsburg (147.5). Canal Winchester (129.5) was sixth and was followed by Licking Valley (128), Sparta Highland (74), Central Crossing (68.5) and Big Walnut (53). The Panthers are seeded first overall for the Division II sectionals.

The Warriors had six other top-five placers in the home event, including runners-up Noah Holter (126) and Nick Lancia (138). Holter was seeded fourth and Lancia’s only loss on the bracket came in the final against Marysville’s Noah Forrider, who is ranked third at his weight in Division I by Brakeman. Andrew Lieb (120) and Chris Bankes (132) both finished fourth for the Warriors, while Dylan Scott (113) and Stephen Robb (145) were fifth. Also, Rob Chism (145) and Damien George (220) placed sixth.

“We certainly got our work in,” Kurth said.

The Warriors will see both Canal Winchester and Reynoldsburg again in the 10-team home sectional in addition to fellow OCC-Capital Division member Hilliard Bradley. The other participants are Dublin Scioto, Lancaster, Pickerington North, Westerville Central, Westerville South and Whetstone. The Golden Gales are seeded fifth overall and the Panthers are seventh.

The top four finishers in each weight class will advance to the district tournament Feb. 24 and 25 at Hilliard Darby.

“We’ve got time now to fine-tune and work on some things before the sectional,” Kurth said. “It’s at home, too, so it should be fun.”