State Wrestling Notes: Cole Schulke finishes fourth, leaves legacy at Columbia

COLUMBUS — Cole Schulke came into the Division III state tournament with a big goal he was unable to meet, but it's clear the mark he left on the Columbia wrestling program will last for a long time. "It was a great four years," Schulke said after finishing fourth at 113 pounds Sunday morning. "I was able to do a lot of cool things and it's all a bit overwhelming, but I definitely enjoyed every moment of it." Schulke wrestled at 106 pounds his first three high school seasons, finishing as the state alternate as a freshman, taking fourth as a sophomore and finishing third last season. Schulke opened Sunday's morning session with a 6-2 victory over Fairland sophomore C.J. Graham but was then pinned by Bethel-Tate junior Logan Dean in his placement match. He said the last defeat was similar to the 4-2 loss in Saturday night's semifinal against Edison's Abe Hermes. "It was just little mistakes," he said. "Like not bringing the single back in during that semifinals match. Then I was in on (Dean's) legs at least six times in that last match, but it was just small things. "But it's in the past and I'm just proud of what I did." Schulke plans to wrestle in college but has yet to decide what school he wants to attend. What is certain is he'll be missed in the Raiders wrestling room next season. "He worked so hard — all the extra morning workouts, workouts after practice, just trying to keep in shape and get stronger — I just feel so bad (that he didn't reach the state final)," Raiders coach Dan Juliani said. "But I think he's in a good place. He knows how good he is and everything he's done. So I hope he looks back and is proud of everything he's done because it's not something that's very common." Schulke is just the second Columbia wrestler to become a three-time state placer, joining Bo Wilkovich (champion in 1991, third in '92 and third in '93). He also finished as the program's career wins leader with 156. "I don't regret anything … it was good," Schulke said. "I mean, it really hasn't hit me yet (that it's over), but I'm sure it will soon. But I've enjoyed every moment." TAKING THE FIFTH Elyria senior Riley Banyas put the wraps on the most prolific high school girls wrestling career in Lorain County history, splitting two matches to finish in fifth place at 100 pounds."My senior year didn't end the way I wanted it to … God, I really wanted that state championship," Banyas said through tears. "But I'm just glad I have amazing coaches on my side. They really helped me get through that last match. I'm just so thankful."Banyas opened with a 2-1 loss to Dublin Scioto sophomore Justine Perez in the consolation semifinals, then pinned Oak Hills junior Bri Graves — ranked No. 4 in the state — in 2:35 in her placement match."(My high school career) went by so fast," said Banyas, who finished as a four-time state placer and two-time state runner-up. "Me and (coach) Paul (Felton) were just talking about how quick it's gone by. I feel like it's still my freshman year and now I'm getting ready to start college."Banyas will wrestle at Campbellsville University in Kentucky and hopes her path from high school to college will be followed by local girls for years to come."Being able to show these girls not to let a loss get in your head, I think, was important," Banyas said. "I feel like that's setting an example in itself." Keystone senior Lydia Gould went from state alternate to state placer in one season and pulled off several big wins during her weekend trip to Columbus.She wrapped up her high school career with a 7-4 win over Oak Hills senior Lexi Grant — ranked No. 4 — to finish in fifth place at 115 pounds."I think it's super cool to be able to finish with a win down here," Gould said. "I'm just glad I have the opportunity to be here in general, because I came down but didn't get to wrestle last year. This is a big deal."Gould became Keystone's first girls state placer, and doing it at the tournament where Tristin Greene became the Wildcats' first state champion made for a special weekend."We're just down here making history for our school," said Gould, who will be joining the U.S. Marine Corps after graduation. "I've been thinking all day about how this is the end of my season and I'm so upset I don't get to wrestle next year. I'm just wishing that I had more time, but you have to keep moving on." Vermilion junior Lauren Ficker made the most of her decision to move up from 100 pounds, where she was ranked No. 16 in the state, to 105 for the postseason."I just felt stronger and I was putting on muscle weight, so I was like, 'I don't want to cut, I want to be at my best,' so I just went for it," she said.The move paid off with a podium finish as Ficker split matches Sunday to finish in fifth place. She opened with a 7-2 loss to Columbus Academy junior Cecelia Cece Reitter in the consolation quarterfinals, then bounced back to pin Teays Valley junior Ava Miller — ranked No. 2 — in 4:58 during her placement match."At first I thought I wasn't going to win because she's pretty strong," Ficker said. "She was ranked second and I was a little intimidated, but in the second period she was starting to break. I was like, 'OK, I've gotta do what I've gotta do,' and that was it." St. Edward sophomore Adam Butler, an Avon resident, split his final two matches to finish in fifth place at 120 in D-I.He opened with a 10-3 loss to Cincinnati LaSalle junior Aiden Allen in the consolation quarterfinals — Butler defeated Allen 9-5 in his opening match Friday — but bounced back for a 3-0 win over Mayfield's Sal Palmisano in his placement match. SEVENTH HEAVEN Columbia freshman Cailyn Demagall did everything she had hoped for Sunday morning. She won her final match, finished on the podium in the first OHSAA girls state tournament and avenged a regional loss in her placement match, pinning Alliance's Jayda Patrick in 2:42 to finish seventh at 155 pounds. "I'm very, very happy I didn't end on a loss," Demagall said. "I lost to (Patrick) earlier but my coach (Hannah Ferry) helped me practice the things I needed and she's the reason I won that match." Demagall plans to wrestle freestyle during the offseason, heading to the Viper Pit in April and competing at the Ohio state fair this summer. She said the ultimate goal is to qualify for the nationals at Fargo, North Dakota. "It was awesome just being able to be here as a freshman," she said. "I'm happy with how it went … I am. But next year I'm going to go out there and take what's mine." EIGHTH IS ENOUGH Midview's Austin Dye became a Division I state qualifier as a sophomore last year and upgraded his status to state placer by finishing eighth at 285 pounds. Dye had dreams of a higher podium finish, and the 10-1 major decision loss against Teays Valley senior Joey Thurston that ended his season just prolonged them until next season. "It wasn't exactly what I was hoping for, but next year we're going to come down here and shoot for first place," Dye said. "I guess my best match I wrestled this weekend was against the St. Ed's kid (a 7-2 win over Nathan Gregory in the consolation second round) and if I'd wrestled every match like that I think I would have placed a little higher." WHIZZERS Former Firelands standout Kaden King, who transferred to Medina Buckeye before his junior year, finished as the Division II state champion/runner-up at 157 pounds.King defeated Indian Creek senior Dominic Paterra 6-4 in the final. Scottie Burnett — a three-time state champion at Elyria Catholic and younger brother of former Elyria coach Erik — led Perrysburg to its second straight Division I runner-up team trophy. The Yellow Jackets lost the title 195.5-152.5 to St. Edward. Columbia Station's Collin Palmer, who won four state titles at St. Edward, was named the Division II Coach of the Year after leading Columbus St. Francis DeSales to a conference championship and top-10 finish at state. Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on Twitter.