The boys wrestling season culminates with the state tournament Friday-Sunday at Value City Arena.
Competitors advanced to state by earning a top-four finish in their weight class at district.
In Division I district action at Hilliard Darby, Dublin Coffman (237.5) won the team title ahead of Olentangy Liberty (216.5) and Olentangy (110.5).
In Division II, DeSales finished second (165.5) behind Wauseon (191.5) at Norwalk and Watterson was second (180) behind St. Paris Graham (236) at Wilmington.
In Division III at Heath, Galion Northmor finished second (104.5) behind Barnesville (245.5).
Here are five storylines entering state:
The Braves have found their footing under first-year coach Matt White, who previously led Dublin Jerome for six seasons.
"We knew we were going to have a solid program," White said. "I don't think we realized that we were going to do as well as we have. These kids have really come a long way from where we were at the beginning of the season to now. They've competed at a high level."
Junior Kurt Mokros (30-5) will compete in his third state tournament after finishing first at district at 113 pounds. He will be joined at state by his freshman brother, Luke (34-14), who won the district title at 106.
Senior Nolan Gregson (126, 28-12), junior Jake Piontkowski (138, 43-4) and sophomore Preston Schuler (120, 34-7) also qualified for state.
"I want to get up there on that podium (with a top-eight finish)," said Kurt Mokros, who did not place at state as a sophomore and freshman. "That's 100% my motivation. It's a big arena, but the circle is the same size everywhere, so you just have to keep that in mind."
White said Luke Mokros became the first Olentangy freshman to win a district title.
"Kurt definitely pushes me a little harder than somebody else would," Luke said. "We have that connection."
The brothers have been practice partners this season.
"It's been really fun," Kurt said. "It's been a great experience having your brother and someone that looks up to you constantly and hope to lead him down the right path."
The Shamrocks enter state coming off their sixth consecutive district title.
Coffman qualified 10 wrestlers for state, including seniors and 2023 state champions Omar Ayoub (144, 36-2) and Ethan Birden (165, 43-2) . Ayoub, a Nebraska commit, also won a state title two years ago. Birden will wrestle for Ohio State.
"Ten is a good number," coach Chance Van Gundy said. "I really don't have a goal for this weekend because I try to practice what I preach. The pairings are up and your most important match is your next match, so we don't look at you could do this or you could end up with this. I just want these guys to go out there and finish strong."
Senior Joey Baumann (138, 20-9) will compete after suffering a cut under his left eye during a district quarterfinal match against Thomas Worthington's J.J. Dodt. Baumann, who finished fourth at state last season at 126, beat Dodt 4-3 and went on to place second at district, losing to Piontkowski in the final 8-5 on tiebreaker criteria.
"It's been really difficult this season," said Baumann, who has battled other injuries. "There's no way I'm going to sit out. I have to finish out the year. You just have to be tough, tough it out."
Other state qualifiers are seniors Nick Lawrensen (106, 32-9), Sam Moloney (175, 31-7), Storm Beane (190, 36-8) and Charlie Mitchell (215, 34-13), sophomore Grayson Woodcock (157, 38-1) and freshmen Blaze Van Gundy (120, 37-5) and Eli Esguerra (150, 36-8).
"Show up and wrestle" might seem like a simple goal for the Patriots' eight state qualifiers, but coach Mark Marinelli and his competitors know it means giving their best in every match.
Liberty had three district champions in seniors Jaxson Rosselli (120, 16-2) and Prestyn Parks (132, 29-6) and sophomore Huggy Williams (126, 35-9).
Other state qualifiers are seniors Tyler Deericks (157, 34-8), Broc Fitzpatrick (175, 27-8) and Brady Quillin (215, 35-8) and juniors Zade Archibald (138, 29-11) and Lincoln Gardner (165, 12-5).
"We're just going to show up and wrestle," Marinelli said. "All of our guys are good enough that they can do something if they want to. Anyone who is going to the state tournament from our team is capable of doing it."
Senior Max Shulaw (215, 45-1) and his junior brother, Lincoln (190, 36-8), are expected to lead the Stallions in the Division II tournament.
Max Shulaw won the state title last season at 215 after placing second at 215 as a sophomore and fourth at 195 as a freshman.
Lincoln Shulaw finished second at 175 last season and seventh at 165 as a freshman.
"(Last season's runner-up finish has) been my motivation all season," Lincoln said. "I've been kind of angry pretty much all year. I just have to wrestle my style. I have to be constantly on the attack and going for it. If I keep that pace up the whole match, I don't think anybody is going to be able to stop me."
Both Shulaws, junior Andrew Barford (175, 31-9) and freshman Joel Welch (157, 23-7) won district titles. Seniors Aidan Rush (150, 31-10) and Zack Lopez (165, 26-9) were district runners-up.
"It's not too complicated once you get to state," coach Collin Palmer said. "It's the best time of the year. It's also one of the most stressful times of the year. There's a lot of expectations and everything else, but we've invested the time and the work. At this point, it's just go get your job done."
It's been a record-setting campaign for the Eagles, and coach Felix Catheline hopes that continues at state.
Watterson qualified seven wrestlers for state, matching the program record set in 1979.
The Eagles finished second at district for the first time after qualifying a program-record 12 athletes.
Watterson should be led by junior Mitchell Younger (150, 34-4), a two-time state champion at 144. Sophomore Joe Curry (126, 37-3) won the title at 120 last season.
Junior Neal Krysty (120, 36-5) finished third last season at 106, and sophomore James Lindsay (138, 31-4) was fourth at 132.
Other state qualifiers are senior Luke Hangen (144, 32-11), junior Greyson Conyers (113, 25-8) and freshman Michael Boyle (165, 39-4).
"It's going to be an exciting weekend in Division II," Catheline said.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Greater Columbus boys wrestling notes for OHSAA state tournament
