Tom Barbee (left) and Eric Vanderhorst (right) will be there to give DeHart advise throughout the tournament.

COVINGTON — Covington 145-pound junior Andrew DeHart is well aware of what is at stake, beginning Thursday, at the Division III state wrestling championships at Ohio State's Schottenstein Center.

"It all comes down to this," DeHart said. "All the work I have done for the last three months — it comes down to what happens this week."

And DeHart has plenty reminders all around him as he tries to become Covington's second state champion in the sport (along with Logan Brown, who wrestles for Purdue now).

"I get told about it all the time," DeHart said. "From all different places. It is a lot of pressure. It is nice that people think highly of me. I just wish there wasn't all the pressure."

But, make no mistake, DeHart will only be satisfied with the state championship after placing sixth as a freshman (130 pounds) and fourth as a sophomore (145).

"I feel a lot stronger than last year and like I am in a lot better shape," DeHart said. "I have worked harder than I ever did."

And DeHart just added to the high expectations on Saturday, when he defeated projected state champion Kyle Burns of Troy Christian 5-0 in the district final.

"I think the win was important for my confidence," DeHart said.

Covington coach Tom Barbee would agree with that assessment.

"I do think it was important for Andrew (DeHart) from a confidence standpoint," Barbee said. "It was a big win for him."

But, as DeHart knows, it doesn't change the gameplan this week.

"The goal is still the same," he said. "To win a state title. I know everybody expects that (a Burns-DeHart title match). But, you never know what is going to happen."

DeHart said the one thing the win over Burns did is improve his chances this week.

"Looking at it, I think it really did give me a better draw," DeHart said. "I like my draw."

Barbee said it is too early to be thinking about another match with Burns.

"They both have to win three matches first," Barbee said. "And everybody at the state tournament is good. If that matchup (against Burns) happens, then that's great and we will be ready for it."

One thing Barbee knows with DeHart — making his third trip to the state tournament — is jitters won't be a problem.

"A lot of times, wrestlers get to state and they are always questioning themselves," Barbee said. "They just keep doubting themselves. He (Andrew DeHart) wrestles with a lot of confidence. There is a difference between cockiness and confidence. He isn't cocky, but he wrestles with a lot of confidence.

"That is what happend at district. He wrestled some guys that were good wrestlers. But, he went out and took control from the start of the match."

DeHart, third on the Brakeman behind Burns and Zach Noernburg of Cuyahoga Heights, will take a 49-3 record into his opening match Thursday with Jared Deatrick, 38-7, of Paulding.

"I really don't know anything about him," DeHart said. "It is different at state. But, I just focus on my match."

Barbee will do some scouting.

"You have one eye on your match and one on the next guy you might be wrestling," Barbee said. "You are always watching. About the only thing we know (about Deatrick) is he has at least two losses, because he finished fourth at district."

But, the strategy is pretty simple.

"You look for weaknesses and try to take advantage of them," Barbee said. "The problem at state is the other wrestlers don't have many weaknesses."

And Barbee isn't concerned about the unknown.

"You get a feel for them pretty quickly," Barbee said. "They may surprise you once early. But, with Andrew (DeHart) I am not worried about that."

DeHart had to battle through illness at state last year.

"I am going to stay away from that," he said. "I am going to do whatever it takes to avoid that."

And he will spend this week practicing against other state qualifiers.

"We are going down to Vandalia today," Barbee said Monday. "Piqua and Greenville will be there. We are just going to fine tune a few things."

And relax — because DeHart is well aware of what will be stake this weekend.