Hunter Ladnier (Photo/Rob Preston)Even with three nationally ranked teams, it is rather likely that No. 7 St. Edward will comfortably win the state championship. It would be a 30th individual state tournament title for the Eagles, all from 1978 going forward, also an 18th title in the last 20 years. They qualified a division-high 11 wrestlers for the state tournament led by state champion Allan Hart (126) and a pair of nationally ranked returning state runners-up in No. 9 Hunter Ladnier (138) and No. 9 Jared Campbell (220). Other cogs for St. Edward include impact freshmen Bryce Andonian (106) and Sam Dover (132), returning state placer Jack Conway (152), and returning state qualifier Matt Kazimir (113).
Three teams qualified eight to the state tournament, including No. 38 Olentangy Liberty. The Patriots are led by two-time state champion Kyle Lawson (160), who is ranked No. 12 nationally; returning state runner-up Brakan Mead (106), the favorite for a state title; and freshman sensation Connor Brady (132). Also to note are returning state qualifiers Jordan Rosselli (120), Zach Furnas (126), and Trey Grenier (145); as well as district champion Trevor Lawson (170). Also qualifying eight were Brecksville and Cincinnati Moeller.
Three teams qualified seven to the state tournament, including No. 20 Elyria, state dual meet runners-up. The Pioneers are led by two nationally ranked defending state champions, No. 4 Ben Darmstadt (195) and No. 3 Kevin Vough (285). Other state title contenders include returning state placers Brandon Fenton (113) and J.T. Brown (182); also with state experience is returning placer Mikah Price (152). They suffered significant setbacks at the district tournament last week when returning state qualifier Josh Breeding (120) and returning state placer Nico O'Dor (152) failed to advance to the state tournament. Also qualifying seven were Central Crossing and Massillon Perry.
Three weight classes have the potential to feature nationally ranked wrestlers facing one another. The battle of defending state champions at 145 pounds, No. 2 David Carr (Massillon Perry) and No. 8 Dominick Demas (Dublin Coffman); a rematch of last year's 195-pound final between No. 4 Matt Stencel (Oregon Clay) and No. 9 Jared Campbell (St. Edward), Stencel won that final by major decision last year and scored a first period pin in the Ironman semifinal before Campbell scored the 4-1 upset in last week's district final; and then a clash of undefeated wrestlers at 285 pounds between No. 3 Kevin Vough (Elyria) and No. 12 Kameron Teacher (Central Crossing).
The other major collision comes at 126 pounds. Defending state champion Allan Hart (St. Edward) and 2014 state champion Alex Mackall (Walsh Jesuit), ranked No. 18 nationally, are projected to meet in the semifinal round. Three-time state medalist Mario Guillen (Perrysburg), who placed third the last two years, beat Hart 1-0 in the district final and looms in the opposite half of the draw.
Division II
We are now into year 16 of the "Graham Dynasty" in the Buckeye State's medium-school division. The Falcons, ranked No. 3 nationally, are prohibitive favorites to win their 16th straight state title at the individual tournament, and 17th in 19 years. Not since 2001 has the margin between first and second been within 30 points, and seven times the margin has been over 100 points. Last year was the 6th time that St. Paris Graham scored over 200 points at the state tournament, the other five coming from 2007-2011.
Last year's national title team scored 250 points, second most in the history of the state tournament (St. Paris Graham had 282 points in 2009, which was David Taylor's senior year). This year's team will almost assuredly be over 200 points, the question is how much over that mark. The Falcons are led by returning three returning state champions, all of whom are nationally ranked: No. 12 Mitch Moore (126), No. 8 Brent Moore (138), and No. 2 Alex Marinelli (160); two other wrestlers are returning as state runners-up, Justin Stickley (120) and No. 13 Rocky Jordan. Also of note are impact freshman Jordan Crace (106) as well as returning state third place medalists Ryan Thomas (132) and Garrett Jordan (160). In all, St. Paris Graham qualified a state tournament high 13 wrestlers.
Among teams in the race for second are Lake Catholic, team state semifinalists who qualified eight for state; 2014 state runner-up Claymont, who qualified seven; team state semifinalist Steubenville and Canfield, who qualified six each; along with team state runner-up Wauseon, who only qualified four to state but have three potential top three finishers.
The division also features the two wrestlers in Ohio this year seeking to win their fourth state title, Tyler Warner (Claymont) and Alex Marinelli (St. Paris Graham). Warner, ranked No. 7 nationally at 120 pounds, is in a weight class that features seven other returning/previous state placers; however, it would be a clear upset for any of them to beat Warner. His path could involve facing a returning state medalist at each stage.
Though four other returning state placers are competing in Marinelli's weight class, to call any of them a threat would be inaccurate. Last year his state title run involved three technical falls and a pin, and for his state tournament career, nine matches have ended in pin or technical fall; only the 9-8 championship match his sophomore year was truly close. The future Hawkeye is likely to end his career with exactly 200 career wins, against just four losses, and a consecutive match win streak at 137.
There is, however, one absolute barn-burner of a potential final in this division. That comes at 126 pounds with two-time state runner-up Tariq Wilson (Steubenville) possibly to face returning state champion Mitch Moore (St. Paris Graham). Wilson, ranked No. 10 nationally, was champion at the Walsh Ironman while Moore placed third. However, the wrestlers did not face off. When the wrestlers did meet in a high leverage situation, it came in the match to place at the Super 32 Challenge four months ago; Wilson held a good sized lead before Moore rallied back, and was about to take the lead before securing the fall. This likely final should not be one to miss.
Division III
Delta, who is ranked No. 25 nationally, has won the team state title now four years running. However, in the previous three individual state tournaments, the Panthers were champions in 2014 with runner-up finishes sandwiching that title. They qualified eight wrestlers to state, led by returning state champions Drew Mattin (120), No. 18 Jake Spiess (132), and Chance Veller (285). Also present are returning state runners-up in Dustin Marteney (138) and Jesse Beverly (152), along with two-time state placer Devin Richard (220) and impact freshman Cole Mattin (106).
Also with eight state qualifiers in the small-school division are Mechanicsburg and Oak Harbor, both were team state participants with Mechanicsburg placing second. Those Indians are led by two-time state champion Kaleb Romero (160), who is ranked No. 11 nationally; also to note are returning state placers Tyler Wetzel (113), Alex Rhine (120), Tanner Smith (138), and Wade Smiddy (145). The Rockets of Oak Harbor in previous years have competed in Division II and return Dylan Mansor (132), Rhett Petersen (145), and Brandon Garber (285) with previous state tournament experience; also expected to place rather high are Bruce Hrynciw (120) and Kian Thompson (182).
Joining Mechanicsburg and Oak Harbor in the race for second behind Delta, or having a puncher's chance for the title should Delta slip, is Dayton Christian. The Warriors qualified six wrestlers to state led by two-time state champion Logan Lacure (145), who is ranked No. 10 nationally. Also returning as a state champion is Tommy Hoskins (113), who is ranked No. 16 nationally despite an overtime loss in the district final. Others qualifiers include returning state runner-up Nick Vestal (152), state placer Ronnie Pietro (106), now two-time qualifier Josh Clary (126), and Henry Danishek (138) who upset a two-time state placer in the district quarterfinal.
The most notable finals matches should come at 113, 138, and 152. Hoskins would likely see the undefeated junior Greg Quinn (Shadyside), who has already placed twice at state, and secured an upset victory over Drew Mattin in the team state tournament; there is a potential team state finals rematch between Smith and Marteney at 138, one that Smith won in overtime last month; and then there is a potential battle between returning state runners-up in Marteney and Vestal.
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