During the winter sports season, basketball has always been the center of attention at Ottawa-Glandorf.
However, there’s a group of athletes who are starting to turn heads.
The past few seasons, the O-G wrestling program has made a strong argument as being worthy to be mentioned along the same lines as its counterparts.
This year, O-G’s wrestlers continued to shine throughout the regular season, and now entering the postseason, are poised to make a run to the state tournament.
At the Western Buckeye League Championships, the Titans finished second in the league tournament, and third overall in the WBL final standings.
This past weekend, O-G finished second at the Division III sectional tournament at Lima Central Catholic. Last season, the Titans won the sectional tournament – their first sectional crown in 35 years.
The Titans will be sending eight wrestlers to this coming weekend’s Division III district tournament at Troy’s Hobart Arena. The top four placers in each weight class at the district tournament will advance to the state tournament at Ohio State (March 8-10).
Winning sectional titles Saturday for O-G were Evan Ellerbrock (132 pounds), Grant Goecke (160), Danny Rosales (170) and Daniel Beemer (182).
Other O-G grapplers advancing were Isaac Hernandez (126, second place), Kobe Noirot (152, second), Brent Siefker (145, third) and Matt Schmersal (195, third).
Heading the list of district qualifiers for the Titans is Beemer.
Beemer, a senior, is a two-time state-placer. Last year, Beemer placed fourth at the state tournament in the 195-pound weight class. The year before, Beemer placed fifth in the 182-pound weight class.
This season, Beemer has pretty much manhandled his competition. After Saturday’s sectional tournament, Beemer’s record this season is 33-0.
At last year’s state tournament, Beemer competed in the 195-pound weight class, where he weighed less than 190 pounds. Beemer was just one win away from getting into the state finals, but lost his semifinal match and had to wrestle in the third- and fourth-place match.
That semifinal loss has stayed with Beemer since last March.
“It hurts,” Beemer said in an interview earlier this season. “I was 36-0, heading into that semifinal match. I was within two matches of capping off a perfect season. That left a bad taste in my mouth.”
This season, Beemer elected to drop down to the 182-pound weight class, where he feels confident of his chances.
So far, the move has paid huge dividends.
Beemer also was a standout football player at O-G, where he was a two-way player for the Titans – playing running back and linebacker.
“O-G’s always been considered a basketball school,” Beemer said. “Wrestling is starting to make a name for itself.”
Randy Ebbeskotte is the head coach of the Titans. His sons, Tyler and Derek – who were both former O-G wrestlers – are on the coaching staff.
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