COLUMBUS — Christopher Marshall is one win from shocking the Ohio high school wrestling world.
Centerburg’s junior 138-pounder, Marshall thundered into Sunday’s Division III state championship match with a pair of resounding victories Saturday at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
He beat Gibsonburg’s Antonio Salazar 10-1 in the quarterfinals before cruising past Defiance Tinora’s Anden Ankney 8-3 in a semifinal match that was never in doubt.
He will wrestle Norwood’s Wyatt Hinton for the state title.
“Nobody expected me to be wrestling for a state championship, but I came here and put forth the effort and got it done,” a jubilant Marshall said moments after his semifinal victory. “It feels great. My goal was to come here and place higher than my brother. I’ve done a lot better than expected.
“I put in a lot of work this season and earned it.”
Marshall’s brother, Donnell, placed sixth at 145 pounds at the 2021 state tournament. Donnell Marshall was Centerburg’s highest state placer until his younger brother came along.
Centerburg has never produced a state champion.
“I still haven’t wrapped my head around it,” Marshall said. “I’m so excited.”
Another area grappler will go for the top of the podium.
Highland’s Cael Gilmore has reached the final match at 144 pounds in the Division II draw. Gilmore defeated Benicio Torres, of Wauseon, 3-1 in a semifinal duel.
That sends the Scots’ star into the finals against Brogan Tucker of Graham Local. Tucker (38-4) won by a 14-5 major decision over Danny Beckett, of Buckeye.
Gilmore will bring a 48-4 record into that matchup. Torres fell to 45-11 after his loss to Gilmore.
Mount Vernon’s Alex Taylor and Ashlynn Brokaw both reached Saturday evening’s semifinals before dropping their first matches of the weekend.
Taylor, a sophomore 215-pounder, fell to Cincinnati Moeller’s Will Adkins 3-1 in the sudden victory overtime period. Brokaw, a freshman, was pinned by Harrison’s Chloe Dearwester.
“I feel like I could have done many better things in that match, but I’m going to place at state as a freshman,” Brokaw said. “It’s pretty big for me.”
East Knox’s Blake Elliott dropped his quarterfinal match Saturday morning, but won a pair of matches later in the day and will wrestle in the consolation semifinals Sunday morning.
“I was able to put the loss behind me and refocus,” Elliott said. “You live and learn from your mistakes.”
A three-time state qualifier, Elliott will become East Knox’s first-ever state placer. He can finish no worse than sixth place.
“I guess the third time was the charm,” Elliott said. “It feels really good to know I’m going to get on the podium.”
Mount Vernon’s Brock Blankenhorn, Mavrik Gregory, Jake Taylor and Emma Rinehart saw their state tournaments come to an end Saturday. All four finished one win shy of the podium.