Gazette MVP: Buckeye wrestler Blake Bartos carries on family tradition

The Buckeye wrestling program was ingrained into junior Blake Bartos' DNA from the very beginning. The Bucks 132-pounder continued his family's proud legacy in the sport this season when he made it all the way to the Division II state finals before finishing second. With Bartos being Medina County's only state finalist as the final bullet point on his résumé, he was the clear choice for Gazette MVP. This year's prize is the third for the Bartos family, following his uncle Brian winning Buckeye's first two MVP awards in 1984 and '85. This was Blake Bartos' third time placing at the state tournament following a championship in 2024 and a third in 2023, matching cousin Eric Bartos for the most in the family. Eric placed seventh in 2015, third in 2016 and fifth in 2017. Brian won the title in 1985 and finished third in 1984. Blake's dad, Steve, finished fourth in the state in 1987. Building upon that legacy is something Blake Bartos and younger brother Collin, a freshman state qualifier this season, are constantly working toward. "We have a big name throughout Buckeye," Bartos said. "We're known for being state placers and state champs. Me and my little brother (Collin) are just trying to carry on the legacy of my cousin and my dad and uncle." It's not just the blood relations that have had a deep impact on Bartos. "I've grown up through Buckeye, and I love being a Buck," he said. "I'm just really appreciative of all the staff, my friends and family that I've gotten to know better through Buckeye. It's been a big part of my life, and I appreciate them very much." Coming off a state championship season, Bartos went 46-4 this season. His only losses came at the nationally prestigious Ironman tournament at Walsh Jesuit, the finals of the M.I.T. and the state finals. At the Ironman, Bartos lost to Kentucky state tournament most outstanding wrestler Jayden Raney and Illinois two-time state champion Deven Casey. At the M.I.T. it was Michigan two-time state finalist Preston Lefevre and at the state tournament it was two-time state champion Tate Hisey of St. Mary's Memorial, who edged Bartos by an 8-6 decision. "I saw a different drive out of him after that Ironman tournament," Bucks coach Mike Tecco said. "That kind of woke him up and made him realize, 'I've got to work harder if I want to be one of those elite guys in the country.' The same thing kind of happened after the M.I.T. He definitely learns from his mistakes and jumps another level when something like that happens." Mistakes don't happen often for Bartos, who has accumulated a 140-12 record in his first three seasons. The desire to learn and improve comes from an intense competitiveness that never allows Bartos to be satisfied and a deep love of the sport that he has been competing in for as long as he can remember. "I love the grit and the toughness that comes out of it," he said. "You don't get anything without working hard for it. To make those big jumps you have to be determined. The mental toughness is a big part. You have to have your head right and set that goal." Bartos accomplished everything he did this year while jumping three weight classes from 113 last year. It proved to be an interesting dynamic for him. as he was going against larger opponents, but he also didn't have to work as hard to make weight. "This year I really didn't worry about weight as much and just went out there and wrestled," Bartos said. "I think I just got better as a wrestler and as a person. I think I grew a lot from the beginning of the year." The crowning achievement of this year for Buckeye came when the Bucks won the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association state duals championship for the second time in three years. Bartos won his district title match to help Buckeye qualify for the final eight teams and then went 3-0 as the Bucks beat Plain City Jonathan Alder, Steubenville and Wauseon at Columbus Bishop Watterson. "I think it was huge for our guys that are younger and not as experienced," Bartos said. "The juniors and seniors had already been through this already, but I think it was a big confidence booster for our younger guys, the positive mindset toward it." Bartos was a key voice in the room for everything the Bucks accomplished. After spending last season learning from leaders like Eddie Neitenbach and Colyn Limbert, he was determined to be the one that set the tone this season. "He started right off the bat this year to be a leader," Tecco said. "He learned a lot from Eddie and Colyn last year on how to push his teammates and what to expect in the wrestling room. "Him and Austin (McKee) led by example by working hard in the room and getting the younger guys to buy into the system to train hard and do the extra stuff to be better and be a part of what we're trying to build at Buckeye." Watching the evolution of Bartos has been something special for Tecco, who coached him at the youth level as well. "I remember coaching him when he was in first grade," Tecco said. "Watching him progress through the years, you just knew he was something special and he was going to achieve really big things." Bartos has one more season at Buckeye to leave his legacy as he chases a third straight state finals appearance and the opportunity to join Limbert and Kaden King as two-time state champions for the school. "There's always things to improve on," Bartos said. "You're never really the best, even when you think you are. There's always work to be done. I'm going to lift really hard, train really hard and have fun." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.