Boys state wrestling: Seven locals end season on podium

COLUMBUS —While the dream of all state qualifiers is to finish on top of the podium, the focus switches to still making it onto the podium if the suffer a defeat in the championship bracket. Seven area boys wrestlers managed to do just that Sunday as they worked their ways into placement matches to finish between third and eighth. Sophomore Bodey Gibbs (113 pounds) and senior Michael Frye (120) of Columbia each accomplished the feat in Division III. Gibbs finished fifth after an 8-4 decision over Martins Ferry freshman Jayce Nixon in their placement match, while Frye took sixth after medical forfeits in his final two matches. It was an especially tough pill for the pair to swallow as each had won a Division III state championship — Frye at 106 in 2024 and Gibbs at 106 last season. "I just wanted to wrestle my match and just stayed on my attack for the last one and got to my stuff," Gibbs said. "I'm just glad everything worked out. The overall outcome of the tournament wasn't what I wanted it to be, but it was a fun tournament and I'll be back next year. It was great having all my teammates and coaches here supporting me doing what I do. I'm just going to keep working over the summer, working on my attacks and my stuff and continue to try and get better for next year. I just need to get to my attacks more often. That's where I'm good." Gibbs was dropped into the placement match after losing an 8-2 decision to Lake Catholic junior Chance Wuhr in the consolation semifinals. Gibbs had defeated Wuhr at the district tournament. "Bodey just wanted to come back to what he does best which is getting after his attacks," Columbia coach Chet Cochrane said. "He got out there and got his shots set up. He was attacking well. He came away with a W, which is a nice way to finish up the tournament. We've all been around the sport for awhile. We know some of the things that he wanted for his own goals, but we know and say as coaches he knows what to do and he responds properly is to go out there and do the next best thing can do which is reach back and continue to try and get the best spot on the podium that you can. That's the biggest thing for him, is walking out of here with a W. "Michael (Frye) will be fine. There were a few things going on from the previous week. He had some stuff going with his eyes from districts. He'll be on the podium later this evening." TITANIC FINISH Lorain senior DJ Otero (106) finished in fifth after pinning St. Edward sophomore Andrew Mlynarczyk at 4:29 after the Titans wrestler fell behind 2-0. It was an interesting high school finale for Otero, who wrestled for St. Edward as a freshman before transferring to Lutheran West and ultimately Lorain. "It feels good to win, but it's definitely upsetting that I couldn't place higher," Otero said. "This match was just about positioning. It felt like he was weakening and more tired. I'm happy that I got it done especially being against my ex whatever. I ended up hurting my shoulder there (at St. Edward) so ended up transferring out. My shoulder was just too messed up. It's definitely not easy from where I came from ... I just found a way to get it done." Otero dropped into the placement match after losing his consolation semifinal 8-2 to Harrison sophomore Greyson Boner. "It was a great season for him," Lorain coach Dan Findley said. "There was a lot of ups and downs, a roller coaster of emotions. We got into some tough battles (when) we were ahead. Lost some close matches. He locked in towards the end and did what he needed to do to finish it out. It's not exactly where we wanted to be but going out this last match the way the tournament started with the win was special, especially since it was against St. Edward." STRONG FINISH Elyria junior Bennett Wachter (106) finished seventh in Division I after scoring a 16-1 technical fall over Louisville freshman Emilion Rodriguez. "It's nice to end on a win," said Wachter, a two-time state qualifier. "I finally opened up my offense. It's obviously not where I wanted to end up but, again, it's good to end on a win and still place in the state. "The game plan moving forward is to work harder than everyone else. I'm going to take this personally because I believe I should have been on top of the podium but you know it happens. (Placing) is a nice feeling. I deserve it." "I think I say it all the time. I couldn't be more proud of the kid whether the result goes in our favor or it doesn't," Elyria coach Armando Torres said. "I know what we have in him and I know he works harder than anyone in the state at his weight class. We use this progression going into next year. He's going to work harder than ever. Our goal is to be a state champion. His goal is to be a state champion. We are going to do everything in our power to make it happen next year. I know he is going to do the work. "It's no surprise when we are working out every single day and you see all those brackets on the wall. We have one that says, 'who's next?' I think if this guy starts believing in himself, he will be next. That's what we're going to try and instill in him. He's the No. 1 person he needs to beat. He's the guy standing in front of his own way." TIGHT LOSS Clearview sophomore Noah Huston (113) finished eighth in Division III after dropping a tough 5-3 decision, losing on a third-period takedown in the last 30 seconds to Tinora freshman Jaxten DeWeese. "I've very proud of him. He came out and gave it his all," Clearview coach David Cooper said. "He left it all out there. The kid was in there. He kept fighting until the end. He just couldn't defend that last shot." SAILING ON Vermilion senior Ayden Kyser (157) made the podium in Division II as he finished eighth after losing to Upper Sandusky senior Ethan Lewis by a 14-4 major decision. It was the third straight weekend Kyser and Lewis clashed. Lewis won the first meeting 8-5 in the sectional semifinals, while Kyser beat Lewis 5-4 in the district placement match for third. "Once I knew that I was on the podium it wasn't as stressful going out there," said Kyser, a 2024 state qualifier. "I jut let it fly and tried to have fun with my last match. So the win-loss didn't matter that much to me. I missed the postseason last year because of an elbow injury. That kind of pushed me more to do more in the offseason. Wrestled more, lifted more, took practices more seriously. It helped me a lot because I won a lot more matches." Kyser is Vermilion's first boys state placer in 12 years. "Ayden is an absolute joy to coach," Vermilion coach Brandon Gilbert said. "I think anyone that watches him realizes that. Even the officials notice. Just watching their faces because they're smiling because they see the joy it brings him. He truly has a zest for it and has enjoyment in the process. Very rare that you find that." Contact Paul Heyse at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.