Wrestling: Columbia's Bodey Gibbs wins second straight M.I.T. title; Avon Lake top local team

MEDINA — For the second straight season, Columbia sophomore Bodey Gibbs walked out of Richard J. Clevidence Gymnasium a Medina Invitational Tournament champion Tuesday. Gibbs used a reversal in the third period to beat two-time state placer Ethan Powell of Genoa Area 2-1 in the 113-pound final. Last season, Gibbs won at 106 pounds on his way to a Division III state title at the same weight. This year's match was a tighter one against Powell, who finished third at M.I.T. in 2024 after losing by 11-2 major decision to Gibbs in the semifinals. Powell has placed fifth and seventh in D-III at the state tournament the past two seasons. "It feels great knowing I made my way through and beat one of the top kids in D-III, but I know I can create a bigger gap between me and him," Gibbs said. "I knew it was going to be one flurry that was going to win it and it had to be mine. I was still trying to go after every point I could get, while being safe and keeping my positions." Gibbs was Lorain County's only champion at "the greatest show in wrestling," but was joined by teammate Michael Frye (fourth, 120) in reaching the podium and lifting the Raiders (90) to 12th out of 48 teams. Buckeye (141.5) won the overall title for the third time in the past four years. Avon's Eian Englehart (285) was the county's only other finalist. He was tied with Cliff Nicholson 4-4 in the second period when the member of the host Bees was able to trip up Englehart and get a pin in 3:23. "I can stand up fine, but I wasn't clearing my leg," Englehart said. "I shouldn't have held onto his head like that. It's just a couple little things. He's a good guy and he got me." Englehart was joined by Anthony Mrosko (eighth, 144) in reaching the podium as the Eagles took 28th with 55 points. Avon Lake (108.5) was the top local team, taking sixth with five placers. Ambrose Ieropoli bounced back from a tough loss in the quarterfinals Monday to reach the consolation final. He was edged by Genoa Area's Tyler Abbey 10-9 to finish fourth. The Shoremen also saw Kaeden Lademann (sixth, 138), Landen Kunzelman (seventh, 190), Pablo Secin (seventh, 215) and Nate Grieger (eighth, 120) place. Elyria Catholic (66.5) finished 25th behind Grady Moos (third, 106), Juelz Martin (third, 144) and Hakeen Garcia (seventh, 132). Moos beat New Lexington's Brody McNabb by 4-1 decision and Martin topped Copley's Desmond Childers 4-2 in their placement matches. Firelands' D'Mari Campbell (eighth, 150) rounded out the local placers. The Falcons (33) were 37th, while Midview (25) took 41st. Gibbs started his day with a 10-0 major decision over Medina's Dominic DiFilippo in the semifinals. It was his fourth bonus-point victory of the tournament to go with a pin and two technical falls on Monday. "All my family and a bunch of my close friends from my club are here," Gibbs said. "It means a lot that I can wrestle my best in front of them and for them against the other best kids in the state. I proved that I belong as one of the best kids in the state." Englehart also advanced to the finals with a major decision, beating Liberty Center's Logan Sifuentes 10-2 to go with two pins in earlier rounds. "This is a good measuring stick for districts," Englehart said. "I have a lot to improve if I want to do really well at districts. It was an OK showing." Moos was the county's other semifinalist and he took North Canton Hoover's Constantinos Paxos, the eventual champion, to overtime before falling 7-1 in the sudden victory period. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Team standings: 1. Buckeye 141.5, 2. Clarkston (Mich.) 133.5, 3. New Lexington 124.5, 4. Austintown Fitch 122.5, 5. Toledo Whitmer 114.5, 6. Avon Lake 108.5, 7. Medina 106, 8. Mayfield 103.5, 9. Louisville 102.5, 10. Genoa 98, 10. Sandusky Perkins 98, 12. Columbia 90, 13. Wauseon 89.5, 14. Hilliard Darby 85, 15. Upper Arlington 81, 16. Brunswick 80.5, 17. Casstown Miami East 80, 18. Uniontown Lake 78, 19. Aurora 74.5, 20. North Canton Hoover 74, 21. Liberty Center 73, 22. South Range, 23. Mentor 68.5, 24. Oregon Clay 67, 25. Elyria Catholic 66.5, 26. Newark Licking Valley 64, 27. Padua Franciscan 57, 28. Avon 55, 29. Beavercreek 54, 30. Pickerington North 52, 31. Copley 41.5, 32. Berea-Midpark 41, 33. Clearview 37.5, 33. Lewis Center Olentangy 37.5, 33. Norwalk Catholic 37.5, 36. St. Mary Central Catholic 35.5, 37. Olmsted Falls 33, 37. Firelands 33, 39. Olentangy Orange 32.5, 39. Granville 32.5, 41. Midview 25, 42. Springfield 24, 43. Tallmadge 23.5, 44. Green 20, 45. Cloverleaf 17, 46. Hughes 16.5, 47. Oak Harbor 14, 48. Holy Name 3. 106 — Constantinos Paxos (Hoov) d. Joseph Hahn (Clark), 6-0; THIRD — Grady Moos (EC) d. Brody McNabb (NL), 4-1. 113 — Bodey Gibbs (Col) d. Ethan Powell (Gen), 2-1; SEVENTH — Jacob Eichhorn (ME) med. fft. Noah Huston (Clear). 120 — Spencer Shore (ME) d. Asilbek Anvarov (May), 3-2; THIRD — Stamatios Paxos (Hoov) d. Michael Frye (Col), 5-0; SEVENTH — Nick Coverstone (Darby) d. Nate Grieger (AL), 15-8. 126 — Scotty Fuller (Gen) d. Joseph Curry (LV), 3-2. 132 — Gavin Culloty (Clark) d. Carter Stuckey (Waus), 7-3; SEVENTH — Hakeen Garcia (EC) p. Samuel Vivo (SR), 3:37. 138 — Blake Bartos (Buc) d. Kaiden Barker (Lou), 10-8; FIFTH — Joel Brink (Gen) p. Kaeden Lademann (AL), 3:32. 144 — Nathaniel Cartes (Clark) d. Tyson Spicer (NL), 11-6; THIRD — Juelz Martin (EC) d. Desmond Childers (Cop), 4-2; SEVENTH — Gage Older (Whit) d. Anthony Mrosko (Avon), 2-1. 150 — Benjamin James (SMCC) d. Harrison Ratliff (NL), 6-1; SEVENTH — Colten Pollock (Men) m.d. D'Mari Campbell (Fire), 14-1. 157 — Lukas Jordan (Lake) m.d. Travis Latta (Bru), 11-0; THIRD — Tyler Abbey (Gen) d. Ambrose Ieropoli (AL), 10-9. 165 — Tyson Seesholtz (SR) d. Carter Wickes (Bru), 10-3. 175 — Drake Brasiel (Aur) d. Kahle Albright (Waus), 4-1; FIFTH — Preston Nagy (Clear) m.d. Edward Stachowicz (SR), 15-5. 190 — Ryan Wilhelm (Buc) d. Brock DuVall (Whit), 3-2 (OT); SEVENTH — Landen Kunzelman (AL) d. Kevin Martinez (Pick), 7-6. 215 — Logan Krooner (Darby) d. John Harris (May), 7-2; SEVENTH — Pablo Secin (AL) p. Christian Vigilante (B-M), 2:29. 285 — Cliff Nicholson (Med) p. Eian Englehart (Avon), 3:23.