COLUMBUS — Brock Durbin began his quest for the top of the state podium in overwhelming fashion.
Mapleton’s 144-pounder and the defending Division III state runner-up at 126, Durbin cruised to a workmanlike 17-1 technical fall victory over Cincinnati Madeira’s Aidan Thiele in the opening round of the Division III state wrestling tournament Friday at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
A four-time state qualifier and three-time podium finisher, Durbin is looking to become Mapleton’s eighth state champ. He would join Joe Collins (1974), Dave Rohr (1982), Justin Kerr (1994) and two-time champs Corey Kline (1994, 1995) and Marcus Gordon (2001, 2002).
“My approach is the same as it is for any tournament. Go at it and don’t look ahead,” said Durbin, a projected state runner-up. “I feel pretty good right now.
“This being my fourth time at state, I don’t have the jitters like I did when I was younger. I’m out here taking it one match at a time.”
Durbin was one of nine Ashland-area wrestlers in action on opening day and one of four to advance to the championship quarterfinals with first-round victories.
Ashland freshman 106-pounder Mason Bauer opened with a thrilling 3-1 sudden victory win over Massillon Perry’s Lincoln Rohr. The match was tied 1-1 after six minutes of regulation before Bauer scored a takedown in the one-minute sudden victory period.
“It was a fantastic match. Mason gutted it out,” said Ashland coach Tommy Bauer, Mason’s father. “He got the takedown when he needed it and won the match. He wrestled a great match and set himself up nicely for the rest of the weekend.”
Crestview had a pair of wrestlers win opening-round matches. Projected state champ Caleb Cunningham pinned Cincinnati Madeira’s J.J. Hoeffel in the second period, while Naomi Gearheart scored a 3-0 win over Canal Winchester’s Razilee Wisseh in the girls 155-pound division.
Cunningham placed eighth at 215 last year. That experience served him well Friday.
“It wasn’t as bad this year,” Cunningham said. “I got the nerves out.”
A freshman, Gearheart won a regional championship last week.
“There’s a lot (of butterflies) but I was able to control it,” Gearheart said. “It’s very exciting.”
Crestview 126-pounder Qwintin Howard dropped his opening-round match but rebounded with a 6-1 win over Nelsonville-York’s Holden Hodgson.
Ashland’s Guardian Miller (126) and Cayden Spotts (215) both dropped a pair of matches on opening day, as did Mapleton’s Taren Kramer (140) and Skylar Hopstetter (145).