EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was authored by Russell Peterson.
COLUMBUS — Ashlynn Brokaw and Alex Taylor will chase history Sunday evening.
Both Brokaw, Mount Vernon’s sophomore 105-pounder, and junior heavyweight Taylor will wrestle for state championships after Saturday’s overwhelming victories at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
Mount Vernon has never had a wrestling state champion. The school could boast two before Sunday is over.
Brokaw turned in a dominant performance in her state semifinal match, a 13-4 win over New Richmond’s Charlie Jones. Taylor was even better in his semifinal match, pinning Toledo St. John’s Caleb Bowman in the first period to punch his ticket to the finals.
The top-ranked Taylor has yet to trail in a state match.
“This is something I’ve done since I was a little kid, getting there to the biggest matches and wrestling my best is what I’m best at,” Taylor said after his semifinal victory. “I know that when I’m on the mat, I’m the most dangerous dude. I’m the best wrestler.
“I want to be our team’s first state-championship winner.”
When it comes to Brokaw, she has also paved her way to the state finals with pure domination. She won twice by technical fall before her state semifinal victory.
“I feel good, I’m ready to become a state champion. I know my body’s ready. I’ve been training this whole year for this moment,” she said. “These are the best coaches.
“They are always there supporting me, telling me what I need to fix — helping me fix little things, boosting my confidence, not degrading me after I make a mistake.”
Her father, Jay DePolo, is also Brokaw’s coach.
“I’m incredibly proud of not just her getting here, but all of the hard work she’s done to get here,” DePolo said after Brokaw qualified for the state championship match. “Even though I’m her dad and she sometimes doesn’t want to listen to me, she’s very coachable. We’ve trusted the process and I’m glad that her hard work is paying off.
“As her dad, I’m never nervous for the match, but nervous for her. At the end of the day, she’s always going to rise to the occasion.”
Jake Taylor, a senior 165-pounder and Alex’s older brother, will conclude his career as an All-Ohioan. Taylor won his opener before falling in the championship quarterfinals.
He bounced back with a win in his first consolation match, ensuring a podium (top-eight) finish.
“Moments like this are what’s made my career and is the story of my life,” the elder Taylor said. “It’s amazing.
“This was my dream. You’ve just got to outwork everyone and jump levels. That’s exactly what I did.”
East Knox senior Blake Elliott and Centerburg senior Chris Marshall also will finish as All-Ohioans after two consolation victories Saturday.