Marysville’s Erryl Will is set to pin an opponent in this file photo. The Monarch mat program improved as the season progressed. (Journal-Tribune photo by Sam Dillon)
Under normal circumstances, the 2019-20 high school wrestling season would have concluded Sunday evening at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
The state tournament was planned for this past weekend.
The Union County area was to have been represented by Erryl Will and Lincoln Heard of Marysville and Reece Chapman of Jonathan Alder.
The “new normal,” at least for the foreseeable future, has brought about the suspension of high school sports.
The coronava virus, which has closed Ohio school districts for the next three weeks, has also wiped out schedules in the entire world of sports and that included the high school state wrestling tournament.
“We were supposed to be completing the state tournament today,” said Marysville High School head coach Shawn Andrews on Sunday afternoon. “The fact our two guys couldn’t compete in the tournament leaves a sense of being unfulfilled for our season.”
Despite the fact the season abruptly ended after the district tournament, Andrews was pleased with how much the Monarchs improved throughout the year.
“We started the season with not having guys in the proper weight classes (due to illness or injury),” he said. “At one point, we were also 1-5 in dual matches.”
For the first time ever, MHS did not have anyone place during the Brecksville Tournament as well.
“The challenge was not to hit the panic button,” said Andrews. “We just focused on improvement as the season progressed.”
Andrews said Marysville saw greater success as “the guys began to feed off each other.
“We grew closer as a team as the season progressed and we learned from each other through both successes and otherwise.”
The Monarchs’ dual meet record stood at 2-8 before things began to click.
“Part of that was scheduling,” said Andrews. “We had some difficult dual matches at the start of the season because we wanted to test ourselves.
“We saw growth as individuals and as a team as the season went on,” he said. “That’s what you look for every year.”
Marysville had only two seniors (Joseph Palmer and Garret Seger) on the roster this winter.
As such, there should be a strong nucleus returning for the 2020-21 campaign.
“It’s my hope that all of our returning wrestlers will be motivated by our second-half improvement to continue their growth,” said Andrews.
The Monarch coach said the Ohio High School Athletic Association still has a desire to crown state champions in winter and spring sports.
How that would happen remains to be seen.
“This just doesn’t feel right,” said Andrews. “We just have to take the next three weeks at a time and see what happens.
“We’re in uncharted territory.”