PPT Slide
Even with Nemec now at 135# this is a strong and diverse field headed by at least three
possible champs. My choice, and to some extent it’s a sentimental one, is Josh Horne.
We’ve had “feel good” type stories out of Columbus now for three years. It started with
T. J. Enright who everyone knew had paid his dues, but had never won a state title. I
was pleased when he won. On the other hand Tommy Cunningham fit that same
template, but it was not to be last year as he lost early and finished 3rd. Still no one
has had quite the track record of Josh Horne. He has been 2nd in the state four
consecutive years--at 108# to Schlatter in the junior high states and then to Luce
and Johnstone twice at Columbus. No high school wrestler has ever been a four-
time runner-up and I hope it never happens. Horne is no lock here--is not even
the favorite in many people’s eyes.
He was injured at Medina after winning the Midwest Classic, and has still not reached
peak form. It’s a tough weight cut and Davis and Crenshaw are very, very good, but I
like Horne to relax a bit and win it all this time.
Mikey Davis is very good. Horne beat him 6-5 in last year’s district semi-final and Davis ended 3rd there and then 3rd again at States. His only loss was 4-1 to two time state champion Johnstone. This year he is undefeated and rated ahead of Horne in Columbus. However, he is not unbeatable. The freshman Wilson gave him a terrific battle at Brecksville losing a semi-final thriller, 9-7, and Kriebel finished strong losing 6-5 in the final round. Both boys exit Darby so they should be apart in the state bracket.
The one who draws away from Crenshaw will have an advantage--and you double your odds of that by winning the district. Crenshaw has been exceptional this year and may be well be the best of the top trio. He was 4th last year at 140# losing a 9-7 semi-final to Ciracky. This year no one has been close as he has crushed every foe. However, his is the weakest district and he has not yet ventured out of it. He wouldn’t, shall we say, be getting strength of schedule points if he were in the BCS. Fortunately, it will be determined on the mat here.
As I said, Crenshaw has the easiest district. Mizener, Bohl, Hilton and Dettwiller are all possible qualifiers, but they are a giant step behind Crenshaw, and may not match up well with the best from other districts. I’ve also rated Geist, Gariety, and Braun, but after Crenshaw, this is pretty much a wide-open competition.
Unbelievably, Horne and Davis are not the only two state placers at Darby. Stevenson, 5th last year at 135#, also returns. Last year his first three district wins were by a combined 44-7 margin before dropping a 7-4 bout to Horne in the final. He, like the other two, also lost to Johnstone at States and ended with a 4-2 record. He, apparently, is still in the process of recovering from a badly broken ankle--a process that may not be totally complete by the end of February. Still, he managed a 6th at Brecksville and a title at Waite, and could still be a significant factor come tourney time. Harris and, maybe,
