COLUMBUS, Ohio — It took a member of Ohio high school wrestling’s royal family to finally derail Sid Ohl’s march toward a Division II state championship.
Ashland’s 152-pounder fell to St. Paris Graham’s Rocky Jordan 8-0 in the finals Saturday night inside Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
Jordan, the youngest of Graham coach and four-time state champ Jeff Jordan’s three sons and the nephew of four-time state champ and U.S. Congressman Jim Jordan, won his second straight state title and finished with a spotless 30-0 record. The junior, who was a state runner-up as a freshman, didn’t surrender a point in four state tournament matches.
“I’d say it was a pretty good match, probably one of his closest all year,” said Ohl, who finished 55-3. “The goal the whole year was to (reach) the state finals because he was the only competition in the whole state since the beginning of the season.
“I’m glad I made it here and was able to compete with him.”
Ohl and Jordan met in last year’s state quarterfinals, with Jordan cruising to a 17-1 tech fall victory. The senior kept it considerably closer in the rematch, nearly scoring a takedown in the second period.
“He didn’t turn me left and right this time,” Ohl said. “My only defensive tactic was I ended up stalling the whole time, which I was aware of.
“I’m just glad I wasn’t turned left in right. That’s pretty degrading going out in the state finals and looking silly. I’d rather stall then get turned left and right.”
Bounce Back: Mansfield Senior 220-pounder Brandon Myers rebounded from a disappointing loss to Grafton Midview’s Spencer Berthold in Friday’s Division I semifinals to take third place Saturday afternoon. In a rematch of his tourney opener, the personable Myers beat Aurora’s Bubba Arslanian 2-1 in the consolation semifinals then pinned Olentangy Liberty’s Mike Ezenekwe in the consolation finals.
“My coaches tell me it’s not always about who wins a tournament,” said Myers, who was 4-1 on the weekend and finished 42-6. “It’s about who fights back and gets the next best thing. That shows more character.”
Bright Lights: Shelby’s Devin Williams took third at 285 in Division II, while teammate Brahm Ginter was seventh at 160. Both Williams and Ginter admitted to being a little overwhelmed by the big stage.
“I looked up and it was like, ‘Wow, this place is really big,’ ” Ginter said. “The biggest place I’ve ever wrestled in.”
Ginter beat Chillicothe Unioto’s Ben Davenport 9-5 in the seventh-place match, while Williams pinned Warren Howland’s Brandon Matlock in the consolation finals. Williams, who was 5-1 on the weekend, beat Matlock 6-3 in his opening-round match.
“I wrestled like garbage (against Matlock on Thursday),” Williams said. “I guess I was nervous. Seeing all the people, it was scary out there.
“My second match, it was the same way. I came out nervous and lost 11-4. It was the first time all season I’ve been taken down.”
Placers: In addition to Ohl, Ashland had two other placers. Matthew Taylor took fourth at 126, while Josh Bever was seventh at 195.
Madison’s Carson Speelman finished sixth in Division II at 138. Speelman was penalized for an illegal hold just nine seconds into his fifth-place match against Carrollton’s Justin Shaw. Shaw couldn’t continue and was awarded the win.
