District wrestling: Highland's Brennan Kicker splits uprights; hopes for second straight state bid

NORTH CANTON — Highland wrestler Brennan Kicker is one win away from reaching to the state tournament for a second season in a row. If he can win either of his next two 144-pound matches, Kicker hopes to accomplish way more than simply qualifying after going 0-2 at Value City Arena last season. "If I did it once, I can do it again," Kicker said of qualifying for the state tournament. "I can make the podium, too. Last year, I thought, 'Oh, I got to state. The job's over.' I have to take over, not just take part." Kicker beat Austintown Fitch's Jaylin Danko by 17-2 technical fall and then Brunswick's Brayden Miles by 10-0 major decision during the first day of the Hoover Division I District on Friday. Miles can still reach the state tournament with three wins in the consolation bracket today. Kicker is one of six semifinalists for the Hornets (79 points), who sit in third place behind Massillon Perry (142.5) and Brecksville (113). The Panthers have all 14 wrestlers in the semifinals, while the Bees have 11. Wadsworth (64) is in fourth place with six semifinalists this morning. Like Kicker, Wadsworth's Kolt Mellon (138) has much higher hopes for state after finishing eighth in his first trip last season. His odds improved after three-time state champion Marcus Blaze of Perrysburg jumped up to 150 for the postseason. Mellon pinned Canton McKinley's Mathias Hill in 57 seconds and beat Amherst's Canin Fritz by 15-0 technical fall to reach the semifinals. "A lot of years, the goal would be to be a state finalist, because I don't think anyone in the state is beating Marcus Blaze," Mellon said. "With him kind of gone now, it really opened up the weight. I don't think there's anyone in March at the Schott that I can't beat." Freshman Carter Wickes (165) became Brunswick's only semifinalist when he pinned Barberton's Jamison Gurchie and powered past Brecksville's Tyler Soeder by 15-6 major decision. The confident Wickes has a matchup with Wadsworth's Troy Myers to clinch a state berth today. "I'm feeling great," Wickes said. "I'm feeling confident. Whoever steps on that line (today) is going to have to deal with me for six minutes. "I watched (Myers') match before mine. He's a tough kid, but he's not better than me. I'm going to give him everything I have." In addition to Kicker, Highland returning state champion Brandon Bickerton (113), returning state placer Austin Bickerton (120), Conner Haney (138), Niko Giatis (157) and Brady Bendau (285) all won two matches and sit one win away from state. Even with a loss in the semifinals, a wrestler would have another chance in his first consolation match to qualify. Along with Mellon, Wadsworth's Blake Frantz (120) and Jack Dinwiddie (144) are returning state placers in the semifinals. Dinwiddie has placed twice and qualified three times. Kyle Jardine (150), Troy Myers (165) and Brody Grimm (175) also qualified. Kicker's semifinal matchup is against Brecksville's Drew Moro, who he lost to 6-3 at the Suburban League Tournament. "I feel great," Kicker said. "When it comes to the postseason, I just have blind faith in the process we have in place at Highland. I believe in my coaches, my teammates and the culture that we have." Mellon has Perry's Cameron Plotts in the semifinals. "I'm excited, because I think there's a lot less pressure," Mellon said. "(Making it once) kind of takes off the built-in pressure to get to state and needing one more (win). I just want to go out there, wrestle loose and compete." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results Semifinal pairings 106 — Mason Massouh (Revere) v. Sam Adams (Massillon Perry); Ian Rottari (North Ridgeville) v. Lucas Schulz (Brecksville). 113 — Brandon Bickerton (Highland) v. Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville); Lincoln Rohr (Massillon Perry) v. Gavin Gruber (Walsh Jesuit). 120 — Austin Bickerton (Highland) v. Blake Frantz (Wadsworth); Cole Speer (Brecksville) v. Liston Seibert (Massillon Perry). 126 — Harrison Haffner (Brecksville) v. Chase Morgan (Westlake); Emeric McBurney (Massillon Perry) v. Brendan McGraw (St. Ignatius). 132 — Mason Rohr (Massillon Perry) v. Cayden Pluhar (Brecksville); Broderick McKinney (Massillon Jackson) v. Kaiden Barker (Louisville). 138 — Kolt Mellon (Wadsworth) v. Cameron Plotts (Massillon Perry); Conner Haney (Highland) v. Jace Jett (Brecksville). 144 — Drew Moro (Brecksville) v. Brennan Kicker (Highland); Joseph Sanderfer (Massillon Perry) v. Jack Dinwiddie (Wadsworth). 150 — Marshall Geckler (Massillon Perry) v. Luke Evensen-Hein (Walsh Jesuit); Kyle Jardine (Wadsworth) v. Vann Riordan (Massillon Jackson). 157 — Ben Hegler (Brecksville) v. Brennan Warwick (Massillon Perry); Benjamin Brownfield (Canton McKinley) v. Niko Giatis (Highland). 165 — Troy Myers (Wadsworth) v. Carter Wickes (Brunswick); Isaiah Fontes (Hoover) v. Landen Johnson (Massillon Perry). 175 — Brody Grimm (Wadsworth) v. Chase McKenna (Walsh Jesuit); Kyle Miller (Nordonia) v. Caige Horak (Massillon Perry). 190 — Johnathan Sims (Brush) v. Frankie Salvino (Massillon); Xander Horak (Massillon Perry) v. Edwin Rios (Brecksville). 215 — Landon Ristoff (Massillon Perry) v. James Moore (Normandy); Riley McPherson (Brecksville) v. Jackson Phillips (Barberton). 285 — Chris Fair (Massillon) v. E.J. German (Brecksville); Brady Bendau (Highland) v. Mike Millin (Massillon Perry).