High school wrestling: Brunswick's Derek Fields faces daunting challenge after advancing to semifinals

COLUMBUS — The stage is set for one of the biggest days in Derek Fields' life. What happens in the next 24 hours is up to the North Carolina State wrestling commit, but it could be the biggest back-to-back wins for the Brunswick senior if he pulls through. The most anticipated match of the semifinals happens this morning after Fields rolled through the first two matches at the Division I state tournament on Saturday. Up first is a mountain of a match against Elyria's Enrique Munguia (160 pounds) and there's history between the two. Both are friends and both committed to wrestle at a weight class that also includes the top-ranked wrestler in the nation and 2019 state champion in St. Edward's Paddy Gallagher. "It is pretty exciting because one of us is going to have to wrestle Paddy and try to take that title home," Fields said. "It'll be a fun match for sure. Munguia, who is ranked sixth in the nation, won by major decision and pin on his way to the semifinals. Fields, who is 11th, pinned Dublin Coffman's Dez Gartrell and teched GlenOak's Brandon Batson to his round of four. Munguia opened the 2019-20 season with a 4-2 win over Fields at the Ironman. Fields got revenge at the Greater Cleveland Conference Tournament with a 9-1 major decision win and then beat him again 8-4 at the Perrysburg District. Munguia finished third at the Super 32 in the fall, however, which pushed him ahead in the rankings of Fields, who was eighth. "I'm always trying to have fun, so it should be exciting," Munguia said. "He's got the last two wins on me, so I'm going to try to wrestle hard and wrestle better than I did before." A win there by Fields, would most likely bring Gallagher, who he took down to start last week's district semifinal, but ultimately lost 16-7. "You have to look at what's in front of you right now," Fields said. "You have to focus on the match you wrestle first before you wrestle the next match." He wasn't the only Medina County state semifinalist as Wadsworth's Jaxon Joy (106), Chris Earnest (132), Logan Messer (170) and Jon List (195). For Joy, who already owns a 2-1 victory over projected state champion Vinnie D'Alessandro, the evening was about resetting and thinking about anything but wrestling. Joy pinned Lancaster's Toby Hutsler in the second period and then rolled Perrysburg's Ryan Avalos 14-3. He'll have Solon's Kevin Grunzweig, who finished fourth in the Perrysburg District, in his semifinal match. "I'm going home and taking a shower and will refuel," Joy said. "I'm going to think about anything other than wrestling. You start to get in your head and play out different scenarios. I'll probably relax and play video games." Earnest knocked off Archbishop Moeller's Brayden Zenni, 7-4, and then rallied to knock out Dublin Coffman's Ethan Birden, 9-4, to reach the semifinals. Waiting in the wings is projected state champion Richard Delsanter, which should cause nerves. "I'm just going to eat for sure and hang out with my teammates," Earnest said. "I get really nervous before my matches, especially after not being able to go last year. It's just nerve-wracking." A three-time state qualifier, Messer isn't worried about nerves, rather he's excited to take in the last night of his high school wrestling career and enjoy his time with teammates he's known for a long time. "You have to make sure you enjoy the night," Messer said. "You have to get something to eat after you make weigh outs of course and have fun with your teammates and block wrestling out of your mind. It's good to come in fresh and feel like you're ready for a state title." He'll have Northview's Conner Liber in the semifinals. List opened with a decision over St. Edward's Aris Darshiell and then beat Westerville North's Brennan Albertini 11-0 to set up his semifinal with Delaware Haye's Clay Ours. Contact Brad Bournival at bournival929@gmail.com.