Saint Paris Graham's Bo Jordan works for the pinThis year at the 75th OHSAA state wrestling tournament it belonged to the traditional powers of Ohio wrestling. Both Lakewood St. Edward and Saint Paris Graham wrapped up the state team titles with dominating fashion on Friday and then Saturday they each crowned four individual state champions. The top wrestlers were on display too as many nationally ranked wrestlers squared off against each other for the ultimate prize of the state title.
In Division I St. Eds put 8 in the finals and came away with 4 champions. Dean Heil, ranked No. 2 nationally by InterMat, put up an impressive win by the score of 11-2, Heil scored the only bonus points in the Division I finals. Heil already an early commit to Oklahoma state will go for his fourth state title next year.
Edgar Bright gets in on a shotRounding out the titles for St. Eds were Mark Martin, Dominic Abounader and Ty Walz. With those additional titles St. Eds has now crowned 100 individual champions in wrestling and more impressive is that all the titles have come since 1977. Matching St. Eds with 4 state titles was Massillon Perry who won titles 106,138,152 and 220. With those four titles it was easily enough to be state runner-up to Ed's this year.
George DiCamillo of Cleveland St. Ignatius the No. 1 ranked 120 by InterMat rolled to his second state title, blanking state runner-up Max Byrd 4-0. DiCamillo who hasn't lost since his sophomore year will be attending Virginia next year.
In Division II Graham put six in the finals and came away with four champions. The highlights of their champions were shared by the brothers Micah and Bo Jordan, both dominated en route to another state title. Micah at 126 tech falled his opponent in dominating fashion to win his second state title in as many years. Brother Bo showed why he's the nation's best at 152 with a dominating pin of state champion Kyle Burns of Edison. Jordan, who has narrowed his college choices to Ohio State and Wisconsin, will be back next year for his fourth state title.
In what was the highlight match of the whole tournament Huston Evans of Graham, who is ranked No. 7, took on Chaz Gresham of Goshen No. 9 at 182 in a rematch of last year's 189 finals. The matches were not without controversy as Gresham was called with a questionable slam call that negated what could have been three back points. Gresham then went on the offensive, cutting him and setting the pace. With the score 2-1 late in the third, Evans was then warned for his second stall call which now tied the match. In overtime Gresham continued to press the pace and was awarded another point for stalling which ended the match in sudden victory and gave Gresham his second state title.
In Division III the team race was won by Apple Creek Waynedale who had 3 finalists and one champion outdistancing from DIII power Troy Christian to claim their first team title. The highest ranked wrestler in DIII took the mat first Daniel Kolodzik of Miami Valley Christian got revenge for his district loss to claim his first state title.
With the Ohio high school wrestling season finished for 2012 3 wrestlers will now go for their fourth state title in 2013. Nathan Tomasello, Dean Heil and Bo Jordan will all look to join that exclusive club in Ohio wrestling history; if Jordan would win he would join his dad as a four-time state champion, becoming the first father-son combo to each win four titles. Graham also looks to make history as they try for their 13th straight team title a task that has not been done before in the 75 years of Ohio wrestling.
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