These Marysville High School wrestlers will compete this weekend during the Division I state wrestling tournament. They are from left, front row, Erryl Will, Lincoln Heard and Jack Golla; back row, Colton Powers, Ben Bickerstaff and Zach McMinn. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Marysville High School will be sending six athletes to the Division I state tournament that will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The event will be held at Hilliard Darby High School.
Monarch grapplers who will contend for state honors are seniors Lincoln Heard (138) and Zach McMinn (heavyweight); juniors Erryl Will (152), Jack Golla (160) and Ben Bickerstaff (195); and sophomore Colton Powers (170).
Heard, McMinn and Powers finished as district runners-up.
Will and Golla placed third, while Bickerstaff was fourth.
Heard and Will qualified for last year’s state tournament, but were left out in the cold when the event was canceled due to COVID-19.
“We felt good last year going up to the state tournament,” said Heard. “We had wrestled well in the sectional and district.
“Erryl and I had drilled hard to prepare for the state,” he said. “On Thursday of that week, we learned it was going to be canceled.”
“That was very disappointing,” said Will. “That was the first time I had qualified for the state and I felt I could make a run for it.
“I took the cancellation pretty hard.”
Both said last year’s disappointment makes this year’s tournament very important.
“It’s special,” said Heard, who has earned his third state berth. “However, I also see it as picking up where we left off last year.”
“This year is special because I haven’t really been there,” said Will. “Even though I qualified last year, this is technically my first time at the state tournament.”
Each Monarch wrestler talked about qualifying for the state tournament.
“This is a goal I’ve been working toward,” said McMinn. “I had a good district tournament.”
The Monarch heavyweight was a relative latecomer to the sport.
“I didn’t start wrestling until I was in seventh grade,” he said. “I didn’t participate in youth wrestling, but now I wish I would have.”
This will be McMinn’s first state appearance in four attempts.
He said it’s a good way to cap his mat career.
McMinn will go on to play football at Tiffin University.
“I’m not going to wrestle in college,” he said. “I’ve always been more of a football guy, but I’ve enjoyed every second I’ve been in this room (the MHS practice facility).”
“This is very big for me,” said Golla. “I placed fifth at the district last year and fell one match short of going to the state.”
“My goal was to be a district placer,” said Bickerstaff. “It feels good to be going to the state.”
“This was a goal to reach the state tournament,” said Powers. “It feels good to qualify, but I also want to get on the awards podium.”
The top eight placers in each weight bracket will earn a medal for the tournament.
Heard comes from a wrestling pedigree.
His father Jason, brother Walker and cousin Lucas Grimes each competed in past state tournaments.
“I’ve been raised on wrestling,” he said. “Walker taught me early in my high school career about the hard work that wrestling requires.”
Each MHS grappler knows the competition will be fierce from the first match on during the tournament that will conclude on Sunday.
“Everybody is there for a reason,” said Powers. “Every wrestler is going to be tough and you’ll see everyone’s best in each match.”
“Every one there is a very good wrestler,” said Bickerstaff. “I’m just going to give it my best.”
“You can’t take any opponent lightly,” said Golla. “However, I don’t think they can take me lightly, either.”
“You’re going to see the best dudes from around the state,” said McMinn. “However, I trust my training.
“I’m going into the tournament with my best mindset and preparation,” he said. “That’s how you succeed.”
“I also have to go in with the right mindset,” said Will. “I’m just going to wrestle like I’ve always done and have fun.”
Each Monarch athlete agreed they will have to take the state tournament one battle at a time.
“You’re usually not going to earn a tech fall or major decision at this level,” said Heard. “You’ve got to fight for every point.”
They noted that short memories may be needed during the tournament.
“If anything bad happens (and they are forced into consolation bracket), you have to shake it off,” said Powers.
First-round matches for the Monarchs are as follows:
-Heard (24-6) vs. Max Boaz (36-2), a senior from Lakota East;
-Will (35-6) vs. Luke Marsh (35-4), a junior from Lebanon;
-Golla (35-5) vs. Enrique Munguia (31-1), a senior from Elyria;
-Powers (30-5) vs. Luke Vanadia (21-7), a Brecksville sophomore;
-Bickerstaff (31-9) vs. Marvelous Rutledge (21-0), a senior from Dayton Stebbins;
-McMinn (35-4) vs. Radical Rothermel (36-7), a junior from Trenton Edgewood.
The time schedule for both days is as follows:
Saturday
Session 1-10 a.m.
Weight classes 106-145
Championship preliminaries, championship quarterfinals, consolation rounds 1-2.
Session 2-4:30 p.m.
Weight classes 152-heavyweight
Championship preliminaries, championship quarterfinals, consolation rounds 102.
Sunday
Session 3-10 a.m.
All weight classes
Championship semifinals, consolation quarterfinals, consolation semifinals and third, fifth and seventh placement matches.
Session 4-4:30 p.m.
All weight classes
Championship matches.
Approximately session times are as follows:
Session 1: 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Session 2: 4:30-9 p.m.
Session 3: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Session 4: 4:30-6:30 p.m.