5 Greater Columbus boys wrestlers capture OHSAA state championships
Frank DiRenna
CCL wrestlers were a dominant force in the boys state finals Sunday at Value City Arena.
Five central Ohio competitors captured titles, including three from CCL programs in Hartley’s Aiden King (132 pounds), Watterson’s Michael Boyle (165) and DeSales’ Max Shulaw (215).
The CCL titles came in Division II, where Bexley’s Marius Garcia capped an unbeaten season by winning the title at 106.
Dublin Coffman’s Ethan Birden was the area’s lone champion in Division I, winning at 165.
DeSales’ Shulaw caps CCL’s strong night
A Virginia commit, Shulaw (49-1) closed his prep career by pinning Wakakoneta’s Jace Knous in 3:08 for his second consecutive state title at 215.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “It means a lot for all the hard work and dedication, getting in the room every day and trying to get better. Find the little minute things that you need to work on. I just came out here on a Sunday night, in front of a big crowd.”
Shulaw’s junior brother, Lincoln, dropped a 17-8 decision to Medina Buckeye’s Eddie Neitenbach in the 190 final. He lost the 175 final a year ago.
King was motivated by his second-place finish at 126 last season. He defeated Warren Howland’s Adam Heckman 11-7 in the 132 final, capping a 49-6 junior season.
“It drove me a lot because I can’t get second place twice in my high school career,” King said. “Next year I’m going to come back better, in better condition, technically more aggressive and get that second state title.”
Boyle (43-4) entered the season with high expectations despite being a freshman and ended up capturing the 165 title, beating St. Paris Graham’s Bryce Kohler 5-1.
“This was fun,” Boyle said. “My coaches helped me all the way through the season, all the way through since I started wrestling. ... I trusted my training.”
Watterson coach Felix Catheline used the words “special” and “amazing” to describe Boyle.
“I’ve been coaching football and wrestling for 23 years and I’ve never coached a kid like that,” Catheline said. “His work ethic is absolutely unmatched.”
Garcia snaps Bexley’s state title drought
Garcia, a junior, entered the season confident he would be able to accomplish something a Bexley wrestler hadn’t achieved in 39 years.
He opened the Division II finals by edging Ontario’s Aiden Ohl 5-4, becoming the Lions’ first state champion since 1985, when Bernie Miller won the Class AA title at 175. Garcia went 51-0.
“This feels good,” said Garcia, who beat Ohl 3-2 in the district final at Norwalk. “I’ve been waiting a long time. I (credit) my conditioning and I’m tougher than anybody I wrestle. I’m not nervous or anything. I know I’m going to win.”
Garcia’s father, Alex, was the Division III state champion at 130 for Columbus Academy in 1993.
Garcia went 0-2 at state last season, also at 106, after not getting out of sectional as a freshman.
“He’s trained tremendously,” Bexley coach Chris Bragg said. “He’s worked his butt off. He’s done everything you could ask for. He’s done all the offseason stuff. He’s in the weight room. He does everything right. When you do that, this is what happens.”
Also in the Division II finals, Watterson’s James Lindsay lost to Graham’s Hayden Hughes 5-3 at 138 and Highland’s Cael Gilmore lost to Graham’s Brogan Tucker 8-3 at 144.
DeSales led area teams, finishing third (95) behind champion Graham (135.5). Watterson was fourth (83).
Coffman’s Birden earns second consecutive state title
An Ohio State commit, Birden (47-2) defeated Massillon Perry’s Landen Johnson 4-3 to win at 165 a year after capturing the 157 title.
“I’ll be training at Ohio State soon,” he said. “I have bigger stages (ahead of me), bigger goals, things to accomplish. I’ll only be 15 minutes away and all my fans and family will be able to come down. ... It feels more special that you won this in your hometown.”
Birden’s teammate, senior Omar Ayoub, saw his hopes of a third consecutive state title dashed in a 1-0 loss to Lakewood St. Edward’s Ryan Bennett in the 144 final. Ayoub will wrestle at Nebraska.
Also in the Division I finals, Olentangy Liberty’s Tyler Deericks dropped a 5-0 decision to Cincinnati Sycamore’s Eugene Harney at 157.
Coffman led area programs, finishing fourth (88.5) behind champion St. Edward (226.5). Liberty tied for sixth (67).
In the Division III finals, Centerburg’s Christopher Marshall lost to Norwood’s Wyatt Hinton 8-1 at 138 and Marion Pleasant’s Daxton Chase fell 5-1 to Barnesville’s Reese Stephen at 150.
