Erryl Will, left, of Marysville, locks the head of Medina-Highland’s James Scavuzzo during a Division I state tournament 157-pound match. The state tournament returned to The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center this past weekend for the first time since 2019. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Gabe Hansen, left, North Union’s 126-pounder, attempts to free his arm from eventual Division III state champion Max Shore of Casstown Miami East. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
Jonathan Alder’s Oliver Byerly, right, escapes from Elida’s Conner Douglass during a state tournament match. Pioneer coach Tony Watson is shown in the background (right) shouting encouragement. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
There was something that just felt right about the recently-completed state high school boys wrestling tournament.
It was back home where it should be… The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
Everyone had gotten so used to the Schott being the home of the sport’s biggest high school stage that you had to stop and think about something.
Last weekend’s state tournament was the first time in three years the tournament was held on the OSU campus.
The last time up until this past weekend was 2019.
The coronavirus pandemic canceled the state tournament in 2020.
The 2021 event was divided into three different locations as COVID-19 continued to create havoc throughout the state.
The Division I tournament was conducted at Hilliard Darby High School.
D-II grapplers took to the mats at Marengo Highland High School.
The competition to determine the best Division III wrestlers was held at Marion Harding High School.
I heard several people say this past weekend they didn’t like the fact the divisions were split up among high schools a year ago.
They said those facilities didn’t seem appropriate for state champions to be crowned.
On one hand, they were correct.
There is nothing like a large Schottenstein Center crowd to get athletes, officials and coaches juiced for great competition.
It started mid-afternoon at OSU on Friday of last week and continued through sessions that ran multiple hours on Saturday and Sunday.
It was announced – and I can’t remember the numbers – that attendance for this year’s first two sessions were the most for the state tournament in a decade.
Seating was packed as fans from throughout the state watched more than 600 athletes, including 10 Union County-area wrestlers, give it their all against top-notched competition.
Representing Marysville in Division I were Erryl Will, Colton Powers, Jack Golla, Josh Melms, Brady Seger and Ben Bickerstaff.
Will and Powers made their way to the awards podium with respective fourth and seventh-place finishes in their weight classes.
Oliver Byerly was Jonathan Alder’s lone competitor in Division II.
He ended up being our top-ranked wrestler with a third-place finish.
North Union’s Gabe Hansen finished eighth in his weight class in Division III.
The four Union County athletes who were recognized on the awards podium earned All-Ohio accolades.
Unfortunately, we didn’t have any local grapplers competing for first or second place.
If there had been, they would have had the thrill of participating in the state’s impressive Parade of Champions Sunday evening.
It is a breath-taking smoke and light event that pumps everyone up for the final matches of the season.
If you’ve never witnessed it, you’ve really missed something special.
On the other hand, at least there was a state tournament a year ago.
The top wrestlers who competed during the winter of 2019-2020 missed out when the tournament was canceled due to the virus.
The first and second-place finishers in 2021 didn’t experience the parade as The Schott wasn’t utilized for the state tournament.
The 2021 guys can, however, say something the wrestlers from 2020 can’t…. “at least we had a state tournament.”
Let’s hope no post-season tournaments are canceled for any reason ever again.