Sectional wrestling: Bigger and better, Black River's Mason Koberna has trip to Columbus on his mind

Black River senior Mason Koberna has been on a steady climb during his high school wrestling career — a district alternate as a freshman, qualifying to the Division III district tournament as a sophomore and upgrading his status to state alternate last season. There's only one more destination on his checklist. "It definitely just clicked in my head (after last year)," Koberna said. "I want to be a state qualifier. I want to wrestle at state. So in the offseason I went to my travel club — Forge Wrestling down in Wooster — and I traveled with them to Virginia Beach, Pennsylvania … just everywhere trying to get better and doing workouts with them." The work has paid off this season as Koberna enters the postseason with a 27-5 record, despite jumping up three weight classes. The move into the upper reaches of the lineup was made for multiple reasons. Koberna also stars on the Pirates football team, which rewards muscle gain and bulk, and felt he could be more effective on the mat if he wasn't drained from cutting weight all season. "If I was to cut down, I would lose muscle and I don't want to do that," he said. "I feel now I can push the pace and hit moves that (other 190-pounders) aren't used to seeing. A lot of the heavier guys don't see someone coming in as quick and flashy, and that definitely spooks them and frustrates them." Koberna knows frustration. He dominated his way into the district semifinals at 157 pounds last season — pinning his opening opponent before knocking off sectional champion Savva DiRienzo of Poland Seminary with a 7-3 victory in the quarterfinals — only to lose back-to-back matches, the second by just two points in the consolation semifinals. A win there would have sent Koberna to Columbus. "It was definitely devastating," he said. Black River coach Blake Owen said Koberna was able to shake off the defeat and refocus with a renewed drive toward becoming a better wrestler. "He's been going down to state with us the past three years, so he's eager to get down there himself and wrestle," Owen said. "He's definitely a special athlete. He's always got a good attitude in the practice room and in general, he never gets down on himself. That's probably one of the reasons why he does so well and is so confident." Koberna said he began wrestling in the sixth grade because of a friend's challenge. "He told me he would beat me in a wrestling match so I joined the wrestling team and that's how it all started," said Koberna, who added that he ended up beating that friend on the mat. "I was just good at it … I don't know how to explain it. I still had to come in and learn the rules and the moves and all that, but I ended up like two matches away from making it to elementary state. That was actually kind of crazy." Koberna and the rest of the Black River seniors hold a special place in Owen's heart. "This was the first class that I've coached since they were in the seventh grade, so he's been with me every year that I've been the head coach," Owen said. "He's not a slow starter. He's one of those athletic kids and the way he wrestles is kind of funky … it's not a traditional style. But he always finds a way to win those matches where you just didn't think he was going to." Koberna pulls double duty as a leader on the mats and in the practice room. "He's our team captain and he holds everyone accountable," Owen said. "He's just one of those kids that likes to make a team get after it and make sure that we're working hard." Wrestling has topped the list of Koberna's favorite sports, so much so that he is contemplating competing at the next level. "I've definitely thought about it," he said. "I go to school at the Career Center for construction and electricity because I want to get into the trades, but college is still on my mind." That is a decision for another day. Koberna knows he has just three weeks left — hopefully — in his high school wrestling career and hopes to make the most of them. "There's definitely some stress … I don't want it to be over," he said. "I love high school wrestling and it's brought me some great memories. I'm going to miss being in the wrestling room with my teammates. "But I've got to come (into the postseason) focused. I can't be messing around … I have to stay locked in." If he does that, everyone agrees he should complete that climb. Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on X.