State wrestling: Highland's Brandon Bickerton one more short in bid for title

COLUMBUS — Highland junior wrestler Brandon Bickerton's attempt to do what few have done came up one move short Sunday night. Competing in only the fourth bracket all time to have three returning state champions — and the first in Division I — Bickerton's bid to knock off a second straight returning champion was blocked by Brecksville's Rylan Seacrist, the top-ranked wrestler in the country, in the 113-pound championship match by 4-3 decision. "It's tough," Bickerton said. "I came all the way down from 120 to try to do something that really hasn't been done before. I took a big step this weekend, but ultimately I came up short." Bickerton, who won the state title at 106 as a freshman and finished third at 113 as a sophomore, attempted to overcome a 4-2 deficit with a flying squirrel, the same move he used to beat Perrysburg's Ayden Dodd for his championship in 2024. Seacrist blocked it with 20 seconds left. Bickerton was one of 16 boys and two girls from Medina County to finish on the podium. Fellow Hornet Niko Giatis (165) also finished runner-up in a hotly contested battle, taking Brecksville's Zack Aquila to the limit before giving up a takedown in the sudden victory period for a 4-1 loss. The placement was Giatis' first at state. "I've wrestled that kid countless times, and I get closer and closer every time," Giatis said. "I thought I was going to be able to take him down, but he got me out of position in the last five seconds. "It was a good tournament. Yeah, I got runner-up, but it wasn't what I came here to do." Buckeye's Blake Bartos (D-II, 132) won his second title with an 8-0 major decision over Copley's Desmond Childers, while Medina's Cliff Nicholson won his first with a 9-7 decision over Wadsworth's Jacob Earnest at 285. After falling 7-6 in the quarterfinals to former state champion KyLee Tibbs of Gahanna Lincoln, Black River junior Taylor Owen (155) won four straight matches in the girls consolation bracket to take third. She scored the first eight points in an 8-5 victory over Lebanon's Natalie Carlisle in her final match. Owen already is thinking about bigger dreams next season. "I feel awesome," she said. "I know it's not first, but it's a really good feeling that I can make it this far. Only losing in the quarterfinals by one, it gives me a lot of confidence that I can get first (next year)." Owen was the only one to win a third-place match out of four countians. Despite a 5-4 defeat to Springboro's Khary McCall, Brunswick's Carter Wickes (165) was optimistic about his next two years. "I felt good," Wickes said of his overall performance. "I felt the matches I lost I didn't wrestle my best. Coming here, seeing that mat, I won't have those nerves next year. The more I wrestled here, the calmer I got." Medina's Taegan Gilmore (120) and Wadsworth's Kyle Jardine (157) battled back from semifinal losses to the consolation finals. They both took fourth for their first podium spots after Gilmore lost a 17-1 technical fall against four-time state placer Dodd and Jardine took a 4-0 loss to Dublin Coffman's Eli Esguerra. County wrestlers fared much better in fifth-place matches, as Medina's Dominic DiFilippo, Highland's Austin Bickerton (120), Brunswick's Marisa McCartin (130) and Wadsworth's Kolten Mellon (144) won. Buckeye's Collin Bartos (120) was pinned by Cincinnati Alder's Rayce Watson to take sixth. McCartin pinned Ravenna Southeast's Riley Diehl in one minute, and DiFilippo beat Louisville's Paxton Laughlin by 13-4 major decision. Mellon blanked Brecksville's Cole Speer 4-0 in his final high school match for his third time on the state podium. That came after losing his first match Friday. "That one hit me pretty hard," Mellon said of the first-round loss that forced him to win three straight matches and 4-of-5 to take fifth. "I wanted to finish my last state tournament on top." Austin Bickerton had eyes on winning as well. After back-to-back losses in the championship semifinals and consolation semifinals, the junior bounced back with a 4-2 win over Mayfield's Asilbek Anvaroz in his placement match. Bickerton was emotional about his hunger for more next season. "I didn't expect to be wrestling this session (Sunday morning)," he said. "It took a lot for me to come back and take fifth. "I really wanted (a state title) this year. I'm struggling to find the words to describe what's happening today, but coming out with a win was important." Wadsworth's Blake Frantz (132) and Brunswick's Brayden Miles (150) finished seventh after beating Highland's Kyle Scavuzzo and Brennan Kicker, respectively. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results DIVISION I Standings: 1. Perrysburg 173.5, 2. St. Edward 168.5, 3. Dublin Coffman 127.5, 3. Massillon Perry 127.5, 5. Brecksville 106.5, 6. Archbishop Moeller 73.5, 7. Highland 64, 8. Olentangy Liberty 58.5, 9. Medina 53, 10. Ashland 52.5, 11. Wadsworth 48.5, 12. Harrison 47, 13. Springboro 35.5, 14. Louisville 34.5, 15. Cincinnati St. Xavier 31.5, 16. Oregon Clay 27, 17. Brunswick 24.5, 18. Cincinnati Elder 22, 19. Avon 21, 19. Hilliard Darby 21, 21. Aurora 19.5, 22. Miamisburg 19, 22. Toledo Whitmer 19, 24. North Royalton 18.5, 25. Hoover 16, 25. Trotwood-Madison 16, 27. Vandalia Butler 15, 27. Marion Harding 15, 27. Olentangy 15, 30. Middletown 13, 31. Northmont 12.5, 32. Brush 12, 32. Lorain 12, 34. Mount Vernon 11, 35. Marysville 10, 35. Uniontown Lake 10, 35. Whitehall-Yearing 10, 38. Mayfield 9.5, 9. Strongsville 9, 40. Cincinnati Anderson 8.5, 41. Beavercreek 7.5, 41. Elyria 7.5, 43. Olentangy Berlin 7, 43. Walsh Jesuit 7, 45. Delaware Hayes 6, 45. New Albany 6, 45. Normandy 6, 48. Austintown Fitch 5, 48. Colerain 5, 48. West Chester Lakota West 5, 51. Barberton 4, 51. Green 4, 51. Teays Valley 4, 51. Troy 4, 55. Piqua 3, 56. Thomas Worthington 2.5, 57. New Philadelphia 2, 57. Watkins Memorial 2, 57. Westerville North 2, 57. Xenia 2, 61. Fremont Ross 1, 61. Hilliard Bradley 1, 61. Mason 1, 61. Massillon Jackson 1, 65. Massillon -3. 106 — Collin Bagdonas (P'burg) m.d. Preston Webb (Mia), 12-0. 113 — Rylan Seacrist (BBH) d. Brandon Bickerton (High), 4-3; FIFTH — Dominic DiFilippo (Med) m.d. Paxton Laughlin (Lou), 13-4. 120 — Oliver Lester (Coff) d. Bradley Bauman (St. Ed ), 9-2 (UTB); THIRD — Ayden Dodd (P'burg) t.f. Taegan Gilmore (Med), 17-1; FIFTH — Austin Bickerton (High) d. Asilbek Anvaroz (May), 4-2. 126 — Grey Burnett (P'burg) d. Tommy Wurster (Coff), 4-1. 132 — Alex Denkins (P'burg) med. fft. Liston Seibert (Perry); SEVENTH — Blake Frantz (Wad) d. Kyle Scavuzzo (High), 7-0. 138 — Karson Brown (St. Ed) d. Urijah Lopez (P'burg), 6-1. 144 — Garrison Weisner (Clay) d. Mason Rohr (Perry), 7-4 (SV); FIFTH — Kolten Mellon (Wad) d. Cole Speer (BBH), 4-0. 150 — Kane Shawger (Xav) m.d. Guardian Miller (Ash), 11-0; SEVENTH — Brayden Miles (Brun) p. Brennan Kicker (High), 2:11. 157 — Noah Jackson (Moe) d. Drew Moro (BBH), 4-1; THIRD — Eli Esguerra (Coff) d. Kyle Jardine (Wad), 4-0. 165 — Zack Aquila (BBH) d. Niko Giatis (High), 4-1 (SV); THIRD — Khary McCall (S'boro) d. Carter Wickes (Brun), 5-4. 175 — Brennan Warwick (Perry) t.f. Drake Brasiel (Aur), 18-3. 190 — Frankie Pieffer (St. Ed) d. Caige Horak (Perry), 4-1 (SV). 215 — Aiden Peterson (St. Ed) p. Eian Englehart (Avon), 1:04. 285 — Cliff Nicholson (Med) d. Jacob Earnest (Wad), 9-7. DIVISION II 1. Columbus Bishop Watterson 110.5, 2. Columbus DeSales 94.5, 3. Kettering Archbishop Alter 72.5, 4. Beaver 52, 5. Clear Fork 47, 6. Wapakoneta 44.5, 7. New Lexington 41.5, 8. Marengo Highland 39.5, 9. Napoleon 38.5, 10. Buckeye 38, 10. Galion 38, 12. Canton South 37, 13. Perry 36.5, 14. St. Vincent-St. Mary 35.5, 14. Claymont 35.5, 16. CVCA 35, 17. Cincinnati La Salle 34, 18. Benjamin Logan 33.5, 19. Sheridan 32.5, 20. Ontario 31, 21. Streetsboro 30.5, 22. Licking Valley 29.5, 23. Perkins 29, 24. West Geauga 28, 25. Archbishop Hoban 27 26. Franklin 26, Steubenville 26, 28. Elyria Catholic 25.5, 29. Mansfield Madison 25, 30. Granville 24, Miami Trace 24, 32. Chillicothe 21, 32. Woodridge 21, 34. Copley 20, 35. West Holmes 19.5, 36. Celina 19, West Branch 19, 38. Indian Valley 18.5, 39. Benedictine 18, 40. Kenton 17, 40. Madison 17, 40. Tallmadge 17, 40. Wauseon 17, 44. Gallia Academy 16.5, 44. Jefferson Area 16.5, 46. Eaton 16, 47. Jonathan Alder 15, 48. Maysville 13, 49. Bellevue 12, 49. Cambridge 12, 51. Tri-Valley 11, 52. Warren 10.5, 53. Clyde 10, 53. Kenston 10, 55. Canfield 9, 55. Hubbard 9, 57. Defiance 8, 57. John Glenn 8, 59. Vermilion 6.5, 60. Upper Sandusky 6, 60. Westfall 6, 62. Alliance 5, 62. Columbus Bishop Hartley 5, 64. Caledonia River Valley 4, 64. Coventry 4, 64. Washington Court House 4, 67. Dayton Chaminade Julienne 3.5, 68. Goshen 3, 68. Indian Creek 3, 68. Ashtabula Lakeside 3, 68. Norton 3, 68. Wilmington 3, 68. Zanesville 3, 74. Hebron Lakewood 2.5, 74. University School 2.5, 76. East Liverpool 2, 77. Bloom-Carroll 1, 77. Bowling Green 1, 77. Brookville 1, 77. Carrollton 1, 77. Jackson 1, 77. Shelby 1. 106 — Grady Moos (EC) p. Zane Russell (Wap), 14-7. 113 — Jarreau Walker (Stre) d. Nolan DeShon (SVSM), 4-3. 120 — Aiden Ohl (Ont) d. Gavin Genovese (Wood), 7-2; FIFTH — Rayce Watson (Ald) p. Collin Bartos (Buc), 4:17. 126 — Joe Curry (LV) d. Carter Trukovich (Gal), 7-1. 132 — Maddox Laymon (Sher) d. Cannan Smith (Chil), 7-3. 138 — Blake Bartos (Buck) m.d. Desmond Childers (Cop), 8-0. 144 — Anthony Oscar (CF) m.d. Kasey Clark (Mar. High), 12-1. 150 — James Lindsay (Watt) d. Beau Nezbeth (WB, 9-3). 157 — Jake Hughes (Beav) d. Tommy Rowlands (Watt), 2-1 (UTB). 165 — Joel Welch (DeSales) inj. def. Kamden Stout (Clay). 175 — Colin Wooldridge (LaSalle) t.f. Ethan Carpenter (Belo), 15-0. 190 — Rod Owens (Alter) m.d. Paul Tepley (CVCA), 12-3. 215 — Michael Boyle (Watt) t.f. George Eggers (21-5. 285 — Brydon Feister (Hob) d. Deangelo Spear (CS), 7-3. DIVISION III Standings: 1. St. Paris Graham 148, 2. Mentor Lake Cathlic 88, 3. Delta 74.5, 3. Waynedale 74.5, 5. Lima Central Catholic 72.5, 6. Barnesville 65.5, 7. Eastwood 62, 8. Southeast 58, 9. Garaway 55, 9. Versailles 55, 11. Union Local 46, 12. Bid. River Valley 39.5, 12. Liberty Center 39.5, 14. Archbold 37, 15. Genoa Area 34, 15. Northmor 34, 17. Mohawk 33.5, 18. Milan Edison 29.5, 19. Beachwood 29, 19. Monroeville 29, 19. Trinity 29, 22. Tuslaw 27.5, 23. South Range 27, 24. Legacy Christian 26.5, 25. Indian Lake 23, 25. Sand. SMCC 23, 27. Delphos St. John's 22.5, 28. Nelsonville-York 21, 28. Port Clinton 21, 30. Miami East 20.5, 31. Waynesville 19, 31. West Liberty-Salem 19, 33. Columbia 17.5, 34. Crestwood 17, 34. Mogadore 17, 34. Riverdale 17, 37. Day. Northridge 15, 37. Patrick Henry 15, 39. Elgin 14, 39. Toronto 14, 39. West Jefferson 14, 39. Woodmore 14, 43. Martins Ferry 13, 43. St. Paul 13, 45. Covington 12.5, 46. Preble Shawnee 12, 46. Williamsburg 12, 48. Chippewa 11.5, 49. Paulding 8, 49. Seneca East 8, 51. Defiance Tinora 7.5, 52. Huntington 6.5, 53. Berkshire 6, 53. Buckeye Local 6, 53. Clearview 6, 56. Allen East 5.5, 57. Northwestern 5, 58. Shenandoah 4, 58. Swanton 4, 60. Black River 3, 60. Carlisle 3, 60. Collins Western Reserve 3, 60. Elmwood 3, 60. Evergreen 3, 60. Van Buren 3, 66. Parkway 2.5, 67. Caldwell 2, 67. Liberty Union 2, 67. Newcomerstown 2, 67. Northwood 2, 67. Sal. Southern 2, 67. Sandy Valley 2, 73. Bridgeport 1, 73. Carey 1, 73. Dalton 1, 73. Madeira 1, 73. Mechanicsburg 1, 73. Rootstown 1, 73. South Central 1, 73. Springfield Catholic Centreal 1, 73. Symmes Valley 1, 73. Waterford 1. 106 — Cohen Reer (Edis) t.f. Gabe Brough (Eastw), 19-4. 113 — Cooper Breslin (Grah) p. Hunter Meeker, 1:53. 120 — Derion Williams (Trin) d. Brock Beckler (Wayn), 4-2. 126 — Tyler Barnes (Delta) d. Isaak Skelly (Wayn), 5-0. 132 — Nathan Attisano (LC) t.f. Owen Patchen (Monr), 19-3. 138 — Antwain Adams (LCC) d. Dominic Kemble (SE), 7-1. 144 — Jordan Neal (LCC) p. Gavin Cantera (SE), 0:40. 150 — Ben James (SVSM (d. Eddie Kessen (St. John's), 1-0. 157 — Caleb Greenwood (Beach) t.f. Logan Haer (Tus), 20-4. 165 — Jake Hoke (Grah) m.d. Tyson Seesholtz (SR), 22-8. 175 — Kyler Crooks (Grah) d. Marcus Nagel (Delta), 7-5. 190 — Budder Manley (RV) m.d. Danny Hoke (Grah), 13-3. 215 — Danny Zmorowski (LC) d. Logan Souders (Grah), 5-1. 285 — Ben Kaiser (Vers) d. Christopher Timms (IL), 4-3. GIRLS Standings: 1. Massillon Perry 83, 2. Harrison 71.5, 3. Olentangy Orange 70.5, 4. Marysville 59, 5. Gahanna Lincoln 47.5, 6. Archbold 46, 7. Berea-Midpark 37, 8. Columbus Bishop Hartley 32, 9. Elyria 31, 10. Little Miami 30.5, 11. Steubenville 30, 12. Austintown Fitch 29, 12. Chippewa 29, 12. Loveland 29, 15. Perry 28.5, 16. Tinora 28, 16. Walsh Jesuit 28, 18. Ashland Crestview 27, 19. Fremont Ross 26.5, 20. Port Clinton 26, 21. Barnesville 25, 21. Mount Vernon 25, 23. Jonathan Alder 24, 23. Maysville 24, 23. Shaw 24, 26. Garrett Morgan 23, 26. Greeneview 23, 26. Lebanon 23, 29. East Liverpool 22.5, 29. Warren 22.5, 31. United 22, 31. Watkins Memorial 22, 33. Carrollton 20.5, 33. Oak Hills 20.5, 35. Black River 20, 36. Tri-Valley 19.5, 37. Alter 19, 37. Seneca East 19, 37. Urbana 19, 40. No. Royalton 18.5, 41. Poland Seminary 17.5, 42. Canal Winchester 17, 42. Huntington 17, 42. Licking Valley 17, 42. Sherwood Fairview 17, 46. Grove City 16.5, 47. Lak. West 16, 47. Logan 16, 47. Miamisburg 16, 47. New Philadelphia 16, 51. Brunswick 15, 51. Clermont NE 15, 51. Clyde 15, Northmont 15, 55. Lak. East 14.5, 56. Cleveland Heights 14, 56. Lakewood 14, 58. Antwerp 13, 58. Brecksville 13, 58. Southeast 13, 61. Middletown 12.5, 62. Napoleon 12, 63. Beavercreek 11, 63. Ben. Logan 11, 63. Dayton Chaminade Julienne 11, 63. Liberty Center 11, 63. Liberty-Benton 11, 63. Pickerington North 11, 69. Brush 10.5, 70. Columbia 9, 70. Thom. Worthington 9, 70. Westfall 9, 73. Badin 8, 73. Brookville 8, 73. Eastwood 8, 73. Eaton 8, 73. McClain 8, 73. Shenandoah 8, 79. Mansfield Madison 7.5, 80. Aurora 7, 80. Claymont 7, 80. Fairborn 7, 80. Indian Lake 7, 84. West Jefferson 6.5, 85. Marengo Highland 6, 86. Cal. River Valley 5, 86. Carroll 5, 86. Centerville 5, 86. Dayton Northridge 5, 90. Batavia 4, 90. John Hay 4, 90. Lorain 4, 90. Fremont Ross 4, 90. Salem 4, 90. Tuscarawas Valley 4, 90. Valley Forge 4, 90. Wayne 4, 98. Alliance 3, 98. Avon Lake 3, 98. Big Walnut 3, 98. Chesapeake 3, 98. Delaware Hayes 3, 98. Findlay 3, 98. Finneytown 3, 98. Mapleton 3, 98. Mogadore 3, 98. North Ridgeville 3, 98. Norwood 3, 98. Princeton 3, 98. Shelby 3, 98. St. Marys Memorial 3, 98. Stebbins 3, 98. West Branch 3, 114. Columbus DeSales 2.5, 114. Hilliard Bradley 2.5, 116. Blanchester 2, 116. Brookfield 2, 116. Fairfield 2, 116. New Middletown Springfield 2, 116. Washington Court House 2, 121. Defiance 1, 121. Elmwood 1, 121. Greenville 1, 121. Perrysburg 1, 121. Springfield 1, 126. Wauseon -2, 100 — Bella Graziani (Tino) p. Aniya Polk (Shaw), 3:08. 105 — Mia Forberg (Perry) p. Isabella Thiel (Walsh), 5:41. 110 — Ashlynn Brokaw (MV) m.d. Emma Gorrell (Warr), 13-4. 115 — Ladyn Hines (Barn) d. Kaylee Vera (LM), 4-1 (SV). 120 — Mackenzie Carder (Lib) m.d. Cami Leng (Mary), 14-4. 125 — Kayla Moroschan (Chip) p. Paige Cowan (EL), 1:59. 130 — Carolyn Geckler (Perry) p. Eleanor Polking (OH), 1:47; FIFTH — Marisa McCartin (Brun) p. Riley Diehl (SE), 1:00. 135 — Talea Guntrum (Steu) p. Auston Brown (United), 2:53. 140 — Emma Shephard (Perry) d. Nora Johnson (Hart), 15-11. 145 — Naomi Gearheart (Crest) d. Reese Thomas (Alder), 12-11. 155 —KyLee Tibbs (Gali) p. Vivienne Legato (Arch), 2:42; THIRD — Taylor Owen (BR) d. Natalie Carlisle (Leb), 8-5. 170 — Elizabeth Madison (Love) p. Reghan Koch (Fitch), 1:24. 190 — Michaela Stork (PC) p. Riley Alborn (Carr), 1:54. 235 — Deionna Borders (B-M), p. Gabriella Oregon (Arch), 3:17.