Marysville’s Gage Counts, right, hooks up against a Hilliard Darby opponent during a match from earlier in the 2023-24 season. Counts, a 285-pounder, is one of three MHS boys who will compete in the Division I state tournament this weekend.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Aleksei Pavloff)
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Marysville High School’s boys wrestling squad, for the first time in program history, filled all 14 of the weight brackets for the Division I district tournament.
It’s at the second level of the post-season where the crowd begins to thin out in each size category.
When the dust settled last weekend at the conclusion of the district tournament, a trio of Monarchs were still alive for the state event.
Boston Burkhardt (144) and Carson Mize (175) will be returning to the state tournament, which begins later today.
Gage Counts (285) will be making his inaugural appearance on the sport’s highest stage.
All three are juniors.
Burkhardt and Mize have recently come off injuries.
Burkhardt dislocated his left shoulder, which led to a torn labrum.
Mize suffered a badly sprained right knee and partially tore his LCL.
Both, however, came back to perform well during the post-season.
Mize won the district title in his weight class, while Burkhardt placed fourth.
The top four athletes in each weight class at the district qualified for the state tournament.
“My knee feels pretty good and I’m ready to go,” said Mize. “I wear a brace to protect it.”
“My shoulder hasn’t been great,” admitted Burkhardt. “It won’t until I eventually get it fixed.
“As long as it keep my rotator cuff strong, I’ll be OK.”
The Division I boys tournament will begin today (5 p.m.) at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein center.
Burkhardt will put his 30-11 record on the line during the opening match against Stone Busler (35-9), a senior from Cincinnati Moeller.
Mize (26-5) will get started when he tangles with Logan Morehouse (30-11), a junior from Toledo St. John’s Jesuit.
Counts will take to the mat for the first round against Painesville Riverside senior Antonio Bottiggi.
The Monarch grappler stands at 30-9 for the season, while Bottiggi has claimed victory in 46 of his 48 bouts.
“I just have to wrestle the way I always have,” said Burkhardt, “I have to focus on the match in front of me.
“I haven’t thought too much about the bracket,” he said. “I think I got the best draw that I could… I’m ready.”
“The guy I’m going up against during the first round is pretty good,” said Mize, who placed seventh during last year’s state tournament. “However, I’ve wrestled him twice and beaten him both times.
“I’m ready for the state.”
“I feel the season has gone well for me,” said Counts, “and I’ve gotten better as it has progressed.
“I feel I’ve improved from the top position and if I get that first turn, I can have success.”
Counts said his first-round opponent will be tough.
“I will need to make my opponent wrestle my type of match, which is to go at my pace,” he said. “I will need to take control of the match.”
“All three of our guys have matches they can win during the opening round,” said Marysville head coach Nathan Andrews. “The brackets look good, but we can’t look too far ahead.
“Boston and Carson have already been at the state and Gage has proven to be a very good competitor,” said the coach. “We’ve told them they just need to focus on scoring points… after that, the matches will take care of themselves.”