Among them was becoming just the 26th four-time state champ in the 77-year history of the state tournament. The fact that his father and coach (Jeff) and older brother (Bo) were already part of the club entered his mind, as is his uncle (State Sen. Jim). A win would give the Jordans four of the 26 four-timers.
“It was a combination of all of them put together,” Jordan said after claiming his fourth title with a pin in 1:44. “It was a lot of relief to get my fourth. There was some pressure there, but I had to go get it.”
Jordan recorded two takedowns prior to securing the fall in the 145-pound Division II tilt to earn the family’s 22nd state title (cousins Ben and Isaac, Jim’s sons, each had three) and improve the family’s record at state to 96-2.
“It is really special being part of the family,” Jordan said. “To be able to win four state titles and being with those guys is special.”
Junior Eli Stickley (113), freshman Kyle Lawson (138) and sophomore Alex Marinelli (160) also claimed titles for Graham while sophomore Brent Moore (132) dropped a 3-1 decision in overtime in his title match.
Graham claimed its 14th consecutive Division II team title with 188 points to break a tie with Lakewood St. Edward for consecutive state titles (13).
“Everyone knows records mean nothing to me, but this is one record that makes me proud,” Graham coach Jeff Jordan said. “With this group, and with it being Mickey’s (Micah) senior year, it is nice making history.”
Mechanicsburg senior Austin Reese also felt relief. After watching a lead disappear in the state finals his junior year, Reese entered with a mission to close out his career with a state title.
“I had it last year and I didn’t close the book on it,” Reese said after claiming the title at 160 in D-III. “I remembered that this year and told myself I just had to keep going for six minutes and not let it happen again.”
Reese recorded an early takedown and led throughout. He led 6-3 late in the match before letting Norwayne’s Kollin Moore up for a 6-4 advantage. Reese hung on late in the match as Moore tried to tie the match.
“I was nervous about whether or not they were going to give him the takedown,” Reese said. “When time expired it was the best feeling … it was the best feeling ever.”
Moore presented one issue. Wrestling his 54th match and fourth in three days was another.
“It is hard wrestling really tall kids,” Reese said of the long, lanky Moore. “And, it is getting late in the tournament, late in the season and you get worn down and tired. But I was not giving it up. It is a great feeling.”
Reese’s win helped Mechanicsburg reach their team goal. The Indians finished fourth – one spot higher than their previous high – with a school-record 60 points, just five points away from third-place Apple Creek Waynedale.
The Mechanicsburg senior also got to watch his drill partner — freshman Kaleb Romero — win the state title at 138 with a 1-0 decision, setting him up for a possible run at four titles.
“He is my best friend and my drill partner and we have been really busting it all year,” Reese said. “We have really been getting after it. We have stayed late, gone other places to get more work … whatever we had to do to keep getting better.”
Romero tipped his hat to Reese for helping him get better on top, something which came in handy as he rode out Dayton Christian’s Alex Becker for his title.
“Austin’s made me so much better on top,” Romero said. “He has really worked with me because I wasn’t as good as on top as I needed to be.”
Urbana sophomore Jack Harris fell in the D-II 182 title match 5-4 on an escape in the final 15 seconds of his match against defending state champ Aaron Adkins of Akron St. Vincent St. Mary’s.
Greeneview senior Armani Robinson led defending champ Travis Linton 2-0 late into their D-III 182 title, but fell 3-2 after letting Linton go and giving up a takedown just inches from being out of bounds.
“I told Armani in his whole high school career, that is the best match I have ever seen him wrestle,” Greeneview coach Mike Sizemore said. “We just had a five- to seven-second lapse that cost us. At that level, they want that gold medal. He said maybe it is a sign of bigger things to come, and I believe that 100 percent.”
Rams sophomore teammate Logan Lacure got a better result, holding on for a 5-4 overtime victory over Jamie Baldridge of Galion Northmor in their 145 title bout. Greeneview finished eighth as a team with 46 points.
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