Local wrestlers vying for top finishes at state

Eight local grapplers will step into individual uncharted territory Friday when they make their first appearance at the Division II-III state wrestling tournaments.Mohawk sends the junior duo of 132-pounder Owen Patrizi (36-9) and 138-pounder Brant Kirian (22-6) along with sophomore teammate Kaden Bish (31-4) at 175 pounds, with Seneca East junior 215-pounder Alex Young (41-10) joining them.While this is the first trip to state for the four, their coaches said they were not surprised by them reaching the season's final tournament."I think those three have really come on strong towards the end of the year and have really gotten to the point where their minds are where they need to be and their bodies are where they need to be and they're ready to keep wrestling," Mohawk coach Brad Rice said of his trio."Credit should also go to their practice partners, because they wouldn't be there without the other guys on the team," he added.Focus also plays a big part.Young saw last year's promising season end at the sectional tournament, Seneca East coach Tom Gayheart said, and rebounded with a drive that started with summer workouts and just kept progressing from there."He just wanted to get better, and he knew he was better than how he performed last year. He just had it in his mind that he was going to make it down there (to state) this year," he said."He always does whatever we ask, with no questions asked, and he always gives his 100 percent. I think it's just his mental attitude toward everything," Gayheart said. "That's a big key to wrestling, just the mental aspect."Each will have their mental aspect challenged in different ways when they first hit the mat Friday.Patrizi, a district champion, faces Triad sophomore Wyatt Smith (44-13).Kirian faces a district runner-up in Barnesville sophomore Colt Carpenter (34-8).Bish, a district runner-up, competes against Canton Central Catholic senior Issac Ray (33-8)."From the first round to the last round down at state, they're all going to be tough matches," Rice said. "They're there for a reason, they have the same goals as every other kid that's in that bracket. I truly feel like all three of them have a great shot of being on the podium, they just have to come and control their attitude and effort."That's what we've been preaching all year, there's only two things you can control in a match, so why not do it to your best ability," he said.Gayheart said it's the same for Young, who starts off against a district champion in Harrison Central freshman Knox McKibben (44-3)."Everybody down there is good," Gayheart said. "If he just goes out and does what he does and try to work through the other guy's mistakes — Alex, he's a thinker, so he likes to think of the matches beforehand, and he's always asking questions on how he can get better."We've got a gameplan," he said. "We'll see how it goes, and hopefully, if he's wrestling good and just stays on his offense, I think he'll be fine."Six area grapplers head to the Division II state wrestling tournament Friday, with four of them competing there for the first time.Bellevue 144-pound junior Ben Jacobs advanced last year at 132 pounds while Clyde 113-pound sophomore Heath Norris returns after reaching last year's tournament at 106 pounds.They'll be joined by the Bellevue duo of 157-pound senior Jeremiah Hash and 190-pound junior Tatum Gore, Clyde 144-pound junior Michael Gessner and Upper Sandusky 157-pound junior Ethan Lewis.Both Clyde grapplers face district champions in their first match — Norris (48-9) goes against Caledonia River Valley sophomore Karson Jenkins (39-4), while Gessner (39-10) takes on Steubenville junior Cooper Smith (40-5), who ended sixth at 144 pounds last year.Although tough first draws, Clyde coach Cliff Andres said his Fliers focus more on the match ahead of them than the opponent."They don't look at rankings, they don't look at who they're wrestling (in regard to standings), they just wrestle the kid in front of them," he said. "Doesn't matter if he's ranked second in the state or 32nd in the state, they don't even know it."Of course, you get a lot more ranked kids this time of year," Andres said.But that's nothing the pair hasn't already experienced.Norris beat Jenkins last year at state and Gessner has downed former state placers this year."It's nothing new," Andres said. "It's 'get prepared for the match that's in front of you.' We'll reinforce some things that they do good and go over some things that may be some situations that they're not as good in, just to prepare them for everything, and they'll go down there and let it fly."I think they both have the ability to be top six," he said. "Again, they're going to have to bring their 'A' game and wrestle in every position because everybody's down there because they're pretty good at this sport."Lewis may have the toughest opening draw among the locals. He opens against 40-0 Thornville Sheridan senior Coltyn Reedy, a district champion who took third last year at 150 pounds and fourth two years ago at 138.Upper Sandusky coach Matthew Luikhart said Reedy spent most of the year ranked second in the state and enters the tournament after upending the previous top-ranked 157-pounder."Every match is a new match, but every year, 4s beat 1s, so we're hoping to be part of that 4 beating a 1," Luikhart said."But my main goal for him is to just keep his mind straight — not let the nerves get to him, just think of it as another match, another day and just go out there and enjoy it and have fun, soak it all in and score points."And Luikhart said Lewis has the skill to do that, adding that the junior's success this year has been to stick with his offense and press the attack."Last year, a lot of times when he'd lose a match, it'd be by a point or two or whatever and (the opponent) just keeping it close," Luikhart said."He's got a pretty good snap, so when he starts matching that with his shot takes and everything, moving, he's pretty hard to stop," he said.Jacobs (42-3) makes his return to the state tournament for Bellevue fresh off a district championship and faces Cambridge freshman Mason Hill (33-12) in his first match.Hash (42-3), a district runner-up, opens against McConnelsville Morgan senior Bradley Spencer (45-8).Gore (28-21) squares off with a district champion in Canfield sophomore Gabe Miller (29-2) in his opening match.