Trace Williams of North Union has his arm raised in victory after a match from earlier this season. Williams will compete this weekend during the Division III state tournament at The Ohio State University.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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North Union’s Gabe Hansen (right) goes through a takedown drill against an opponent earlier this week. The session was held at Marysville High School. Hansen is one of three Wildcats who will compete this weekend during the Division III state wrestling tournament at The Ohio State University.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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North Union wrestling coach Garret Andrews, right, helps Shan Swank adjust his head gear before a workout this week at Marysville High School. Swank will begin competition in the Division III state tourney on Friday.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Very few wrestlers this season have been able to conquer the trio that will represent North Union High School during this weekend’s state tournament.
Junior Trace Williams (113), senior Gabe Hansen (126) and senior Shan Swank (190) have taken to the mat 138 times so far during the 2021-22 campaign.
Of those matches, the NU grapplers have come out on top 119 times.
Hansen, who has reached 100 victories for his career, leads the way with a 46-4 mark.
Williams, who is also a member of the 100-win club, boasts a 42-5 record, while Shank has come up victorious during 31 of his 41 bouts.
Each is making his first appearance at the Division III state tournament that will begin at 3 p.m. Friday at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
The tournament will run through Sunday evening.
“I’m not sure qualifying for the state tournament has really sunk in yet,” said Hansen during a workout this week at Marysville High School. “It probably will right before my first match.”
Hansen, who placed second during last weekend’s district competition, will put his record on the line during the opening round of the state against Crestwood sophomore J.P. Wrobel (34-4).
The NU grappler said he knows what he’ll need to do in order to have success against the top wrestlers in his weight class.
“I’ve got to work on my upper body stuff,” he said. “I’ve got to get into better positioning to get my body locks down.”
Hansen said success at the state tournament will not only depend on his physical attributes.
“I have to keep improving my mentality,” he said. “I have to keep my mind sharp and just take it one match at a time.”
Williams, who was fourth in the district tournament, said he hasn’t yet experienced any pre-state tourney jitters.
“I’m really not as nervous as I thought I would be,” he said. “I guess it’s that I’ll be wrestling in a big venue with a lot of matches going on at the same time.
“I won’t have all of the eyes on me.”
Williams said he has to go out and wrestle his best in order to advance to the tournament’s awards (top eight in each weight class) podium at the conclusion of competition.
“I don’t want to overthink anything,” he said. “I have to go out on the mat and let it flow.”
Williams’ first state contest will be against Max Hermes, a junior from Milan Edison who has a 44-3 record.
Swank knows he has a very tough weight class.
He’ll start off against Berkshire’s Lucas Stoddard, a senior who sports a 42-3 record.
“He’s the projected state champion,” said Swank.
“I’m a little nervous, but I’m also ready,” he said.
“I’m going to go out and wrestle like I have all year,” Swank noted. “I don’t have anything to lose.
“I like being a dark horse and have people underestimate me.”
North Union coach Garret Andrews has high praise for the trio.
“Gabe, Trace and Shan put in the most work of anybody on the team after our season ended a year ago,” he said. “They worked very hard during the spring, summer and fall to get where they are today.
“That’s why they’re still wrestling.”
Andrews noted how much the off-season work has paid off for the trio since the 2020-21 campaign ended.
“Gabe finished fifth during the sectional last year and Trace was fifth at the district,” the coach said. “Shan had a losing record (6-12).
“They’ve all climbed the ladder this year and have provided our team with solid leadership,” said Andrews. “They help out during practices and have worked with our younger wrestlers all year.
“All three display great sportsmanship and are fun to be around.”
The Wildcat coach said the trio must remain focused on the match at hand during the tournament.
“There will be some roadblocks, but we’ll see how they manage them,” said Andrews.