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By Mark Altstaetter
The dream of every high school wrestler is to compete at the state tournament.
All season long, wrestlers are maintaining or cutting their weight, putting in extra mat time and keeping themselves healthy, in hopes they can have a chance of fulfilling their dreams of competing at the Ohio High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Championships.
This year, the state tournament was slated to run March 13-15 at Ohio State’s Jerome Schottenstein Center.
However, many dreams were quickly crushed as the COVID-19 pandemic put an abrupt halt to this season.
The area grapplers who had qualified for the state tournament had to come to grips that their successful seasons were suddenly over.
For some, it would have been the first trip to the state tournament. For others, it was a chance to return to the “Schott” in attempt to accomplish their ultimate goals – whether it was to get on the awards podium, or to win a coveted state title.
Before the cancellation of the state tournament, Allen East’s season was unfolding just the way longtime coach Mike Abbey wanted.
The Mustangs had six athletes qualify for state, and had high hopes of not only getting several wrestlers onto the awards podium, but possibly notching a top-five team finish in Division III.
Drake Carmean (Jr., 44-4 record, 126-pound weight class), Kade Wireman (Fr., 43-9, 138), Blake Hershberger (Jr., 48-8, 160), Garrett Neth (Sr., 44-1, 195), Eli Criblez (Fr., 16-6, 220) and Brennan Davies (Sr., 46-8, 285) were the six Allen East athletes that had punched their tickets for the state tournament.
“We thought we had three, maybe four (state-) placers; and we were hoping for a top-five team finish,” Abbey said. “Just to go down there with six guys and being able to experience it all, was going to be a lot of fun.”
This would have been Neth’s third trip to the state tournament. Last season, Neth placed sixth in the 195-pound weight class in Division III.
Carmean was going to be making his third trip to Columbus. Last year at state, Carmean placed sixth in the 120-pound weight class.
Davies was scheduled to make his second appearance at the state tournament.
“For those two seniors (Neth and Davies), you just feel for them,” Abbey said. “Garrett had not lost a match at 195 all year. He lost to (Evan) Kaeck from Wapak the first week of the season at 220, down at the Sidney Invitational. And he did not lose another match all year. He only gave up two take downs (all season). … He was special.”
For Van Wert senior Gabe Steyer (43-2, 138), it was a final opportunity to bring home the hardware.
Steyer, a four-time Western Buckeye League champion, was making his third trip to the state tournament, competing in Division II.
Columbus Grove junior heavyweight Jeff Meyer (42-4) was heading to the Division III state tournament for the third time.
At last year’s state tournament, Meyer placed sixth at 285 pounds.
At Wapakoneta, the big question of whether senior Evan Kaeck (220, 35-5) would be able to complete his successful comeback from a shoulder injury, will never be answered. Kaeck looked poised to compete for at least a podium finish this season in Division II.
Kaeck did not wrestle last season as he underwent surgery for his shoulder, following the football season. In 2018, as a sophomore, Kaeck placed sixth at 220.
Kaeck’s teammate, junior Colin Mellot (106, 37-5), was heading to state for the second time.
At Lima Central Catholic, the Caprella brothers, Chase and Gavin, were making a trip to state together.
Chase Caprella (34-3, 132), a senior, was making his fourth trip to the Division III state tournament. Gavin Caprella (35-2, 106), a sophomore, was scheduled to compete at state for the first time.
Another brother duo – sophomore twins Tyler Hisey (45-3, 106) and Trevor Hisey (22-3, 113) from St. Marys – were planning on competing at state in Division II.
Bath senior Zachary Simpson (28-4, 182) was poised to close out his high school career with his first state appearance, competing in Division III.
Chase Martin, a junior at Delphos St. John’s (38-6, 170), had stamped his ticket for his first trip to the Division III state tournament.
Bluffton had two athletes that had plans to compete at the Division III state tournament. Thayne Kleman (Fr., 30-11, 106) and Kaden Basil (So., 28-16, 138) were poised to hit the mats in Columbus.
Kenton senior Noah Eikenbary (31-4, 220) was heading to state in Division III.
In all, there were 20 area state-qualifiers who had their seasons halted because of the pandemic.
For the underclassmen, there will be more opportunities to fulfill their dreams.
However, for the seniors, there will always be an empty feeling.
The lingering question of how they would have performed on the big stage will always be there.
However, one thing holds true.
These young athletes will always be champions in most peoples’ hearts.
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