Boys state wrestling: Medina's Cliff Nicholson, Buckeye's Blake Bartos win titles

COLUMBUS — Senior Cliff Nicholson won Medina's first state championship in 30 years Sunday night at the Division I state wrestling tournament, while Buckeye's Blake Bartos captured his second D-II title in three years. Those championships highlighted a great weekend for Medina County at Ohio State University's Value City Arena. Nicholson needed nearly every second to win a Medina County state final at 285 pounds against Wadsworth senior Jacob Earnest, emerging 9-7 in the final D-I match of the night. After three lead changes, the match went to the third period tied 6-6 and Earnest chose the down position. Nicholson rode tough before Earnest took a 7-6 lead on an escape with eight seconds left. Nicholson countered with a takedown with two seconds left to earn the title in his first time placing. The All-Ohio defensive lineman in football joins Mark Balog (125, D-I, 1996) and Jerry Lee (185, Class AAA, 1977) as state champions from Medina. "I know what that means at Medina," Nicholson said. "We've had two state champs, and we see them (their names) in gold every day. I'm going to be the third name in gold." Bartos joined former teammates Colyn Limbert and Kaden King as two-time state champions for the Bucks. Bartos also became the first Buckeye wrestler to place four times. Bartos took control right away and won his 138 final by 8-0 major decision over Copley's Desmond Childers. The finals appearance was the third straight for Bartos, who finished second at 132 last season and won at 113 as a sophomore. "I'm feeling awesome because a lot of work went into this," he said. "It was heartbreaking last year. It really fueled the fire to be the best version of myself." Bartos scored bonus points in every match at state despite wrestling on a torn LCL, PCL and hamstring in his left leg. He sustained those injuries during a match at the Top Gun Tournament in January. "I thought my season was over," he said. "I put a lot of work into coming back, and I'm here." A Penn football recruit, Earnest nearly joined brothers Chris Earnest (2022) and Jordan Earnest (2018) in winning state titles Grizzlies before being taken down by Nicholson at the very end. "That's the sport of wrestling, you know?" Earnest said. "You've got to wrestle all six minutes, and I didn't do that. (Nicholson) kept wrestling, and I gave up a takedown in the last two seconds." Nicholson refused to be deterred after giving up the escape, Earnest's first of the match after two takedowns. Nicholson had two takedowns to go with three escapes. "This match is still going, I keep going, get the takedown and get the win," Nicholson said of his mindset after falling behind for the third time. "Can't stop, won't stop." Earnest was joined by Highland's Brandon Bickerton (113) and Niko Giatis (165) as state runners-up. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.