State wrestling notes: Jardine will place for first time

COLUMBUS — Wadsworth senior Kyle Jardine knew what it felt like to fall one match short of placing at the Division I state tournament. On Saturday, Jardine skipped the danger when he beat Perrysburg's Ben Takats 4-2 on a takedown with 44 seconds left in the 157-pound quarterfinals. That win guaranteed Jardine his first placement and a top-six finish. "A year ago, there's a hallway down here with some fridges, and I took my headgear and the nicest way I could put it is I beat the (crap) out of that fridge," Jardine said. "I screamed and I cried, and my coaches and I talked about remembering that feeling. A match that comes down to the wire and you get a takedown, that's what that moment stands for." Jardine was one of 16 boys and two girls from Medina County who placed Saturday. Where he and others finish will be determined Sunday. Along with Jardine, Buckeye's Collin Bartos (120), Medina's Dominic DiFilippo (113) and Taegan Gilmore (120) and Highland's Austin Bickerton (120) lost in the championship semifinals. Bartos beat Clyde's Heath Norris 9-2 in the D-II quarters, while DiFilippo bested Troy's Callen Owen by 15-0 technical fall. "It feels good," DiFilippo said after the quarterfinal. "My goal all year was to get on the podium. Now I want to go as high as I can." Bickerton toppled Mayfield's Asilbek Anvaroz by 15-5 major decision. Gilmore defeated Perrysburg's Ayden Dodd 5-4 with a takedown with nine seconds left Dodd is a three-time state placer and was a projected champion. "It's awesome, but the job's not done yet," Gilmore said. "I'm not going to back off at all. I just have to push the pace like I know how." Bickerton is a three-time placer, while the other four placed for the first time. THE LONG CLIMB Along with 10 semifinalists, including Highland's Brandon Bickerton (113) and Niko Giatis (165), Buckeye's Blake Bartos (138), Wadsworth's Jacob Earnest (285) and Medina's Cliff Nicholson (285) competing for titles tonight, the county saw six more boys and two girls earn placements through the consolation bracket. Highland's Kyle Scavuzzo (132) and Brennan Kicker (150), Wadsworth's Blake Frantz (132) and Kolten Mellon (144), Brunswick's Brayden Miles (150), Carter Wickes (165) and Marisa McCartin (130) and Black River's Taylor Owen (155) climbed through the blood round. Miles won 2-1 in overtime on an escape after riding out Cincinnati Elder's Kameron Bedel. "I feel great," Miles said. "I told my coaches beforehand, 'It's a grind. It's the state tournament.' I've never been here before, and there's no free passes. Anything can happen. I gave it everything I have and got the job done." Wickes pinned Piqua's Nickolai Kaye just before time ran out to win his blood-round match, Frantz edged by with a 1-0 win over Marysville's Jack Williams and Mellon won by 15-0 technical fall. Kicker pinned Olentangy's Landon Moses and Scavuzzo took a 3-1 decision over Brecksville's Lucas Schulz. Owen pinned through the blood round against West Branch's Grace Bates, and McCartin won an 11-0 major decision against Perry's Savannah Mulkey. Frantz will face Scavuzzo for seventh today, while Miles and Kicker will have a first-round rematch for seventh. The other consolation placers will finish between third and sixth. On the other side of the blood-round formula were Black River's Mason Koberna (190) and Buckeye's Brody Zoul (165). COUNTY CONNECTIONS Three wrestlers with county ties are wrestling for titles Sunday, including St. Edward's Karson Brown (138), who is seeking a fourth championship. Teammate Aiden Peterson (215), a former Cloverleaf student, and the daughter of former Highland great Jesse Leng, Cami Leng (120) of Marysville, also will try for golds. Cara Leng (140) will finish between third and sixth, as will Marengo Highland's Cael Gilmore, the cousin of Taegan Gilmore and nephew of Medina coach Chad Gilmore. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.