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Freshmen to near misses: Wrestlers aiming to place at the OHSAA tourney for the first time

alex harrison, cincinnati enquirer
·4 min read

It is the nature of the postseason. A number of talented wrestlers reach the postseason and weekend-by-weekend fewer and fewer are around to continue their seasons. Just reach district or state tournaments can be an accomplishment for many athletes, but placing on the final weekend is a greater challenge.

This list, featuring athletes in alphabetical order, features high school wrestlers that have not placed at state tournaments before but could reach the podium for the first time in 2024. From freshmen making their first push to seniors that have narrowly missed reaching status among the state's top finishers, here are seven Cincinnati boys wrestlers to watch for in the postseason as the sectionals begin next month.

More: OHSAA champs to NCAA All-Americans: Take a look at how standout wrestlers fared in college

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Mark Ellis (left) of Waynesville wrestles in the first round in Division III at 138 pounds at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.
Mark Ellis (left) of Waynesville wrestles in the first round in Division III at 138 pounds at the OHSAA 86th annual boys wrestling state tournament March 10-12, 2023.

Mark Ellis, Waynesville

Ellis is a two-time district qualifier who was a runner-up at 138 pounds last season, reaching the state tournament where he won his first consolation match. Ellis returned this year for his senior season and has been a top-10 ranked wrestler in his class, recently winning the Bellbrook Invitational at 144 pounds.

Sycamore senior Adam Gelman, right, finished second at 113 during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.
Sycamore senior Adam Gelman, right, finished second at 113 during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.

Adam Gelman, Sycamore

Now a senior for the Aves, Gelman is a three-time district qualifier who finished in fifth place in 2022 before winning the district title last season and advancing to the state tournament. At state, Gelman dropped his first-round match and went 1-1 in the consolation bracket.

This season, Gelman has moved up to 113 pounds and was a runner-up at the Coaches Classic while winning the bracket at tournaments such as the Ron Masanek Fairfield Invitational and the Sycamore Invitational.

Jovanni Greco, Ross

Greco was a Division II state qualifier as a sophomore when he was a sectional champion and district runner-up. At the state meet, Greco went 1-2, falling in the consolations to the fourth-place finisher. Last season, Greco was a Southwest Ohio Conference champ, but was unable to participate in the postseason.

Now a senior, Greco finished in third at 138 pounds at the Coaches Classic and at the Fairfield Invitational, pinning his way to the finals where he picked up a 3-2 tie-breaker win to take first place.

Anderson sophomore Marshall Morency, top, battles Ross senior Jovanni Greco for third place at 138 during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.
Anderson sophomore Marshall Morency, top, battles Ross senior Jovanni Greco for third place at 138 during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.

Marshall Morency, Anderson

As a freshman last season, Morency won over 40 matches as he secured an Eastern Cincinnati Conference title and runner-up finishes at the sectional and district tournaments to reach state.

This year, Morency has wrestled in a deep 138-pound weight class, finishing in fourth at the Coaches Classic.

St. Xavier freshman Kane Shawger gets his nose examined in the 132 final during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.
St. Xavier freshman Kane Shawger gets his nose examined in the 132 final during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.

Kane Shawger, St. Xavier

Shawger is a freshman for the Bombers and has made an immediate impact in tournaments across the state. The freshman competed at the Walsh Ironman in December, reaching the second day of the tournament. Shawger followed up with a runner-up finish at the Coaches Classic, a third-place finish at the Greater Miami Valley Wrestling Association Holiday Tournament, a championship at the Barnesville Doan Ford Open and a championship with a Most Outstanding Wrestler award at the Catholic Invitational Tournament.

Harrison senior Cohl Wandsnider, left, finished second to Legacy Christian senior Brayden Brown at 150 during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.
Harrison senior Cohl Wandsnider, left, finished second to Legacy Christian senior Brayden Brown at 150 during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.

Cohl Wandsnider, Harrison

Wandsnider, a Wheeling University signee, was a district placer as a freshman in 2021 and returned last year where he finished as the district runner-up in the 144-pound bracket. Wandsnider was one of three Harrison wrestlers to reach the state tournament last year, where Wandsnider finished his season going 1-2 in the final weekend.

In his senior campaign, Wandsnider has had a runner-up finish at the Coaches Classic with championships at the Fairfield Invitational and the Top Gun Invitational.

Jack Willen of La Salle, front, wrestles to the 165 title over Colerain junior Kyser Kostoff during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.
Jack Willen of La Salle, front, wrestles to the 165 title over Colerain junior Kyser Kostoff during the championship finals of the Southwest Ohio Wrestling Coaches Association Coaches Classic wrestling tournament Dec. 23, 2023 at Middletown High School's arena.

Jack Willen, La Salle

Willen has been a three-time district and two-time state qualifier for the Lancers who have among the state’s top programs in recent years. Willen went 1-2 at the 2023 state tournament, losing to the eventual fifth and eighth-place finishers at 157 pounds.

Willen and the Lancers have again been surging with Willen taking first at the Raider Rumble, Coaches Classic and the Mark Zimmer Classic with a runner-up run through the Brecksville Invitational.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati wrestlers that could place at state for the first time