2 locals notch 100 career wins on the mat

For every wrestler, being able to reach their 100th career win is a huge milestone in their high school career.That's exactly what Seneca East junior Kiera Depinet and Mohawk senior Owen Patrizi did this past weekend.Most don't reach that milestone in their junior year, which is what Depinet accomplished at the Fremont Vantage Lady Giants Wrestling Invite.Yet, that's exactly what Keira Depinet did this past Saturday at the Fremont Vantage Lady Giants Wrestling Invitational.She was runner-up at the invite in the 140-pound class on a tech fall to Youstina Hanna from Columbia and had a 19-2 record at the invitational as well."Being able to hit that 100th milestone in her junior year sets her on pace to possibly hit 150 wins for her senior year, and it's kind of cool to see that she could hit that milestone," Seneca East assistant coach Travis Salyer said."I found out at the beginning of the year, and I thought it would be a pretty quick thing," Depinet said. "I was really excited to find out that I would be hitting that milestone this season."Depinet is the first female wrestler at SE to get 100 wins. SE started its girls wrestling program officially in 2024, and are now up to eight girls in total for the program."I think hitting 100 is a huge milestone for anyone in high school wrestling," Salyer said. "Especially hitting it as a junior. It just goes to show how dominant she is."Salyer coaches both wrestling programs at SE, and has seen both programs excel over the years. The match that Depinet got her 100th win was the semifinals match. "It wasn't a very long round," Depinet said. "I was a little nervous. I went out there probably a little fast and then got it over with. It was an exciting match for sure."She took down Gabby Scherger of Woodmore on a fall with 1:11 into the round. "Kiera did what she does best: she got to her offense and it was her signature butcher move that she got that win with," Salyer recalled. "It's her signature move."Depinet competes year round, but her biggest competition was going to the national stage at Fargo during the summer, and competing. That reignited the spark that was starting to burn out at the end of last wrestling season."The fire certainly has been re-lit," Depinet said candidly. "I have been trying a lot harder. For some reason, last season was getting repetitive, but I have been wrestling for a long time. When I came back from Fargo, it reshaped my mindset."Depinet has been more open to trying new things and with the sport already being mentally tough, it's hard to not go stagnant."You have to be able to try new things, and do different things," Depinet said. "Everything else going on around you both on and off the mat affects what you produce on the mat. This sport is difficult mentally not only to stay consistent, but to also stay happy. Once you find the passion and fire for it, then it gets easier to keep going and to keep pushing forward."Winning the 100th match is a milestone checked off the list of goals, and now gives her more goals to work towards."It allows me to ask myself what's next for me," Depinet said. "I have more to try and accomplish. I have more to work towards and to have the greatest support system between my amazing teammates and my family here to support me and see me achieve it, makes it all that more motivational. It made me want it so much more."Depinet's goals remaining this season – hitting 100 pins and to win state. Salyer's goals for Depinet align similarly to what she wants as well."I think the state championship," Salyer said. "I think it's feasible for her this season and I think she expects it out of herself and holds herself to that same standard that we hold her to as well. I know that is what she has her eyes set on, and with having been fourth and fifth state placer, the next step would be to bring home a state championship. She does that, it would be a first for both SE programs."For Patrizi, added another piece of hardware to his list of achievements.Patrizi took fifth place on Saturday at the Maumee Bay Classic at Oregon Clay High School, and snagged his 100th career win.Patrizi has committed to Division III Heidelberg University for wrestling.The senior knew it would happen this season, but wasn't sure when."We didn't want him too focused on the upcoming milestone and did a great job on not making that his focus," Mohawk coach Brad Rice said. "We wanted to make sure he was focused on the matches in general."He earned the win against Dawson France from Kettering Fairmount on a tech fall. Patrizi wrestled Blake Cancel of Elyria in the 144-pound class on Day 2 and won on a decision of 12-3 to take fifth place in the semifinals round. The Maumee Bay Classic was new to the Mohawk's schedule this season, and hosted schools from both Ohio and Michigan, allowing athletes to wrestle Division I and Division II athletes when they normally wouldn't get the opportunity to. The MBC has been around since 2011 and grows more competitive each season.The annual invite hosted 58 teams, and Mohawk placed 24th out of the 58 teams with 55 points."He celebrated for a little bit," Rice said. "But then he gets right back to being focused on his season's goals. Mohawk is very proud of him for achieving it, but we also need to continue to focus on what he wants to accomplish."That attitude is exactly why he has been the team captain for the last few years, along with the solid focus. "Owen is an amazing athlete for all the sports he is in," Rice said. "He has solid leadership in both the weight room and the classroom, which is why he has been leading this team."Patrizi's goal for the season is to make it back to state and get on the podium once again at the Schottenstein Center. He took third place last season, which was the first time in 18 years that Mohawk had two on the podium at state and is aiming to make a repeat with a higher placement."State championship, nothing more and nothing less." Rice said.