Boys State Wrestling: Four from Lorain County win in opening round in Divisions I and II

COLUMBUS — Lorain County sent 10 wrestlers to Friday's Division I and II Ohio High School Athletic Association state tournaments. Four of those wrestlers still have state championship aspirations. A trio of 106-pound wrestlers — Elyria Catholic's Grady Moos in Division II, Lorain's D.J. Otero and Elyria Bennett Wachter in Division I — won their opening matches. In the 215-pound bracket Avon's Eian Englehart made easy work of Delaware Hayes senior Cooper Frye, winning by pin 50 seconds into the match. All of the 106's won by relatively comfortable margins, beginning with Moos. The Panthers freshman didn't show any signs of nerves with a 16-1 technical fall win over Circleville sophomore Kevin Downing. Moos overpowered Downing in the match with four takedowns. "At first, it didn't go the way I wanted it to go, but I just kinda kept doing what I was doing and I got the job done," said Moos, who improved to 39-4. "I really didn't know anything about my opponent, I just knew if I was going to win, I'd have to stick to what I was good at." Growing up in a wrestling family, Moos had been to many state tournaments at the Schottenstein Center so he was ready for the moment. "Going out there and getting that first win out of the way was a sweet feeling," Moos said. Moos will face Bishop Watterson sophomore Sid Hunt in today's semifinals. Vermilion's Aiden Kyser is still alive in the consolation bracket at 157. Kyser lost to West Holmes' Louden Dixon in a 16-1 technical fall in his opening match but turned the tables to stay alive with 17-1 technical fall win over Reading's Malachi Jackson in his first consolation-round match. Firelands junior D'Mari Campbell (150) saw his state tournament end with a pair of opening-round losses. Otero, a senior, and Wachter, a junior, kept the dream of an all Lorain County final alive with their opening-round wins. Otero, who improved to 48-6, scored a 9-1 major decision over Cincinnati Moeller's Blackburn Savage. Otero, the state runner-up at 106 in 2025, will face Louisville freshman Emilio Rodriguez in the quarterfinals. "I'm just excited to be here," Otero said. "I've been here before, it's my third time here but I'm a senior, so I know it's my last time. "I'm comfortable with the arena and used to the experience, so it's probably a little bit easier. I've been working so hard for so long now, I'm finally able to come back out here and do my thing." In his second state tournament appearance, Wachter needed a third-period takedown, quickly followed by four nearfall points, to defeat Olentangy Liberty's Cole Perry 13-6. "I got the first takedown then I felt like I backed up and didn't get to my offense as much as I would have liked to," Wachter said. "I definitely didn't wrestle my match, but I'm past that now and on to the next match." Avon Lake's Brayden Patterson (150) and Ambrose Ieropoli (157), as well as Lorain's Caiden Roasrio (113) and Elyria's Blake Cancel (144) lost both of their matches and were eliminated. Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.