MANSFIELD — Ashland’s Mason Bauer and Galion’s Gradey Harding are on a collision course again this weekend.
Both Bauer and Harding rumbled into the semifinals during the opening day of the 62nd J.C. Gorman Invitational on Friday inside Pete Henry Gym.
The two could potentially meet in Saturday evening’s finals after squaring off in the third-place match at last week’s Medina Invitational Tournament.
The history between Bauer and Harding extends well beyond last weekend. The two have been friends and drill partners for years.
“We’ve trained together since we were little,” said Bauer, who beat Harding 1-0 last week. “It’s fun, but also we know everything about each other so it’s hard to wrestle each other.
“There’s no secrets between us.”
A sophomore, Bauer won a Gorman title at 106 pounds last year before placing fifth at the Division I state tournament. He was Ashland’s first-ever freshman state placer.
“He’s a great wrestler and a great friend of mine,” said Harding, who was the Division II state runner-up at 120 last year after placing second at the Gorman. “Last week didn’t go the way I wanted it to, but I’ve got to just keep working harder and learn from my mistakes.”
Neither Bauer nor Harding broke a sweat to reach the semifinals. Bauer opened with a tech fall before registering a pair of pins. Harding recorded a pair of tech falls.
Bauer, who is ranked seventh in Division I at 126, will meet Marion Elgin’s Cooper Schlaegel in the semis. Harding, the projected 126-pound state champ in Division II, will take on Indian Valley’s Brock Albright.
“I’ve got a tough kid in the semifinals, but that’s what I’m looking for, to wrestle (Harding) in the finals,” Bauer said. “It’s a toss-up when I wrestle him. It’s always a good match.”
Bauer is one of seven Arrows who reached the semifinals. He is joined by Max Ohl (106), Isaak Wickham (132), Guardian Miller (144), Talon Boyd (165), Cooper Smith (190) and Drayston Martin (215).
Ashland leads the team standings with 117.5 points. Medina Buckeye (115) is second.
The Arrows beat Buckeye for the team title last week at the MIT.
“It was unexpected, but it was really cool,” Bauer said of last week’s team championship. “That gave our team confidence that we can beat anybody.”