Comeback of the year? Fast-healing Ohl leads highly-ranked Ontario/Galion group to state mat fest

ONTARIO – Three weeks ago, Jacob Ohl was carried from the mat after defaulting in the finals of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference tournament, his senior wrestling season seemingly in peril.

Now, remarkably, he could be instrumental in carrying Ontario to the third top 10 finish in program history at this weekend’s state meet in the Schottenstein Center.

A two-time state medalist and 2022 state runner-up, Ohl is a projected Division II state finalist at 113 pounds and one of a Richland County-high five qualifiers from Ontario for the three-day mat fest in Columbus.

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Seeing Ohl, 29-2, almost miraculously bounce back after aggravating an ankle injury in the MOAC meet to beat Galion’s third-ranked freshman Carter Trukovich 11-10 in the sectional finals and then 4-0 in the district finals for his 150th career victory was not only inspiring to Ontario coach Wes Turnbaugh but totally believable.

“I’ve said it over the years, Jacob’s our hardest worker,” Turnbaugh said. “Even if he suffers an injury, if he’s on fire like he was in the district finals … we beat a good kid. Carter has just as good a chance to be in the state finals as we do.”

Ohl fought through injury to earn an eighth-place medal last year after being ranked No. 1 all season. This year, he got hurt in the finals of the MOAC meet for the second year in a row and practiced only one day the week of sectionals. He spent hours on a stationary bike and ate mostly fruit to keep his weight down.

Last week he felt more like his normal self and it showed. After needing a reverse in the final 10 seconds to beat Trukovich in a back-and-forth sectional finale, he pitched a shutout in their district rematch.

“It’s my defense,” Ohl said. “I’ve probably only been taken down twice all season.”

Once was by Trukovich’s teammate Gradey Harding when Ohl moved up to 120 for the MOAC meet. The other time was when he lost to Medina Buckeye’s No. 1-ranked Blake Bartos 4-2 in the finals of the J.C Gorman Invitational. That was Ohl’s only loss in a match that went to completion.

He was hoping he and Bartos would end up in opposite half-brackets at state, but it wasn’t to be. If they get through the first two rounds they will meet in Saturday’s semifinals.

“We’ve wrestled (Bartos) already, so we have that under our belt, and we’ll see him in the semis, where everybody is still in that weight-cutting process (with another day to go in the meet after that),” Turnbaugh said. “If we’re a good weight-cutter and (Bartos) is not, and fighting to make weight, that could make a difference.

“Two years ago in the finals, (Jacob’s opponent) probably weighed 15-20 pounds more than him because after making weight he was able to get right back up to his natural weight since he’s not cutting (anymore after that final weigh-in).”

Ontario, Galion could finish top 10

Galion has three qualifiers, all ranked No. 3 in the state, in Trukovich, Harding and heavyweight Alex Griffith, the Tigers’ first four-time qualifier. Harding and Griffith were district champions, along with Ohl and junior Mason Turnbaugh (138) for Ontario.

Ohl’s sophomore brother Aiden (106), ranked No.1 in the state, and Ontario senior Landon Campbell (215) joined Trukovich as district runners-up.

Also finishing in the top four to secure state berths in DII were Ontario senior Cole Dille (fourth at 157) and Clear Fork senior Luke Schlosser (third at 165), along with two Ohio Cardinal Conference reps in Madison’s Mike Thomas (fourth at 120) and Lexington’s Aedan Nicol (fourth at 285). Schlosser was a fourth-place state medalist last year, the highest finish by a Clear Fork wrestler since 2012.

Ontario and Galion began the post-season ranked as the No. 5 and 9 teams, respectively, in DII, and they have a chance to live up to that acclaim if their top 10-ranked wrestlers score well in the meet.

There are two banners hanging in the wrestling room at Ontario, one of them commemorating the sixth-place finish in the 1986 state meet. The other honors the fifth place finish in 1990. This Ontario team wants to make it three of a kind.

“Putting another banner up on this wall has been a goal of ours,” Turnbaugh said.

Even though the two Ohls and Campbell are projected finalists, no one is more locked in for Ontario than the younger Turnbaugh at 42-2. He pinned his way to a sectional title and nearly repeated that feat at districts, settling for a 12-0 major decision in the finals.

“It’s fun to sit in the coach’s corner for his matches,” his dad said. “There’s just no emotion from him. He goes out there, does what he does. He looks over at us, shrugs and keeps doing what he’s doing. He doesn’t get excited. In his mind, he’s where he needs to be and he’s ready to finish this thing on top.”

Campbell, who spent his first three years at Galion, beat Jacob Ohl to victory No. 150 by one day, but defending 215 state champ Max Shulaw of Columbus DeSales was a pinning machine and prevented Campbell from the win he really wanted in the district finals. It was his first loss in 44 matches this season.

If they meet again in the state finals, that at least guarantees Campbell becomes a state placer for the second time after placing sixth in 2022.

At least one unlikely qualifier

Should Ontario go five-for-five in reaching the podium, Dille’s story will be the most improbable. He overcame two knee surgeries two years ago as a sophomore and also withstood a broken wrist and broken hand along the way to finally win his first career title in this year’s league meet.

“He just has to keep the momentum going where he’s excited to be at state and not just hoping someone looks past him,” Turnbaugh said. “I tell these guys you only have to win two matches somewhere (on the bracket) to place.”

Harding and Trukovich give Galion two potential state champs going at it every day in practice. It doesn’t get any better than that.

“He’s just a great drill partner,” Harding said. “He’s a tough kid. We wrestle completely opposite, so it works out. He’s more of a funky wrestler and I’m more traditional.”

Trukovich would welcome a chance to face Jacob Ohl in the finals for the third week in a row.

“Since we’re from the same area, it’s exciting to experience all this with someone from a neighboring school,” he said. “I think me and him will be more prepared than most of the people there (because of their showdowns). I think we’ll both be ready for high-level wrestling.”

Griffith is bigger than Galion’s two lightweights combined, but he’s dropped 20 pounds after maxing out in the 285 class before.

“(Coach Brent Tyrrell) has been on me for years, but I just wouldn’t listen,” he said. “I was just lazy. I didn’t want to lose the weight. But now I feel quicker. I’m in better shape, with better consistency. I went to double overtime twice (at districts). I was able to grit those matches out. I don't know if I would have been able to if I added 20 more pounds.”

Griffith and Tyrrell staged a “Biggest Loser” competition to see who could drop the most weight. Tyrrell wanted to shed some pounds after having a knee replaced in April, but now the contest is on hold since he’s a new dad and those late night cravings are hard to resist, especially since he’s already up.

“It’s been a great ride with Alex,” Tyrrell said. “I love that kid to death. He loves everybody. You see him hugging everybody. He’s a very social kid, lot of fun to coach. I’m going to miss him next year, but we’ve still got big things to accomplish this week.”

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Fast-healing Ohl leads highly-ranked Ontario/Galion group to state mat fest