'It's sibling rivalry': Brothers and sisters add new dimension to OHSAA wrestling

Ohio high school wrestling history includes tons of champion brothers.

With OHSAA girls wrestling growing, however, there's a new dimension to on-mat sibling rivalries.

Even before OHSAA sponsored the sport, girls who succeed in wrestling tended to have family ties.

Paige Nemec, the Crestwood pioneer who became the first girl to qualify for the OHSAA boys state tournament, came from a wrestling family. Brother Connor Nemec was an All-Ohioan at Crestwood, while cousin Sean Nemec was a state champion at St. Edward.

Miami East's Olivia Shore became Ohio's first female All-Ohioan in 2021, and brothers Max and Cooper Shore each were state finalists.

With more girls entering wrestling, expect those family medal hauls to swell.

Mozden siblings set "standard" for Alliance high school wrestling

When looking for evidence of sibling success, one must start with the Mozden family from Alliance.

Last March, Aidan and Abigail Mozden made history, joining each other on the state podium in their first trips to Columbus. Aidan finished third in Division II at 215 pounds, while Abigail finished eighth at 135 in the inaugural girls OHSAA meet.

There could have been even more joy for the family, but Abigail's twin sister, Adilyn, was unable to wrestle the second half of last year because of a rib injury.

Alliance coach Dane Johnson has been with the Mozdens every step of the way.

"As long as they've been wrestling, I've been coaching them," said Johnson. "I was also Aidan's middle school coach, so I know the family very well.

"It's sibling rivalry. That's all there is. They want to show each other up. They're all great athletes and fantastic wrestlers. One wins, and they all try to win. They all feed off each other."

Johnson said the family has been a pillar of Aviators wrestling, especially on the girls side.

"There's a standard in our room and it's going to stay the standard," he said. "It's going to get tougher. The growth in the girls sport has been incredible."

Aidan got the family started in the sport around age 5, with Abigail being one of his biggest fans. By the time she hit middle school, Abigail wanted to put on the singlet.

"I was always sitting on the edge of the mat watching him," Abigail said

"When she started I knew she's going to be fine," Aidan said.

Seeing the siblings come through Alliance to reach All-Ohio status together was gratifying for Johnson.

"To have it here at Alliance, man, was pretty special," Johnson said. "They were both district champions — well, district for Aidan for the boys, regional for Abi with the girls — they both won their weight classes. It was little bittersweet with Adilyn hurt, but it was pretty sweet to get the two of them through."

Mozdens experience both joy and pain in wrestling

So far, the 2023-24 season has been a case of good news, bad news for the Mozdens.

The good news is Adilyn will be back on the mat. She was a state qualifier her freshman year at the final OHSWCA state meet in 2022.

Adilyn said she would love to join Abigail as the first All-Ohioan twin sisters. The twins also plan to wrestle at the World Junior qualifiers after the high school season.

The bad news is Aidan looks to be out for the season after suffering a knee injury during football.

"It's hard just not being out there on the mat for my last year," he said. "This was supposed to be the year I win state. It sucks, but it happens to people. The world doesn't revolve around me."

Aidan said he plans to be an assistant coach for Johnson every time he can for his sisters. With her brother sidelined, Abigail wants to bring home the family's first state title.

"It's important. It's really my top goal this season," Abigail said. "I feel like being third in the state puts a target on my chest."

By the way, the siblings agree Aidan has the best single-leg takedown in the family, but Abigail has the best side headlock.

"Aidan is just freaking strong," Johnson said. "I could handle him for a while. I'll still roll with him once in a while, but I'm just like, 'Please don't hurt me.' [Abigail] has a lot more freestyle experience. We roll together year round."

Twinsburg's McLaffertys: Little sister joins big brother on the mats

Like Aidan Mozden, Twinsburg's Caden McLafferty has wrestled more than a decade.

"I first got into it to get better at football," he said. "My first year, I didn't win a single match, but it kind of flipped a switch in my head. Year after year, I just got more enamored with it."

Cameron McLafferty didn't feel this urge to join her big bother on the mat — until this fall.

"I'm just jumping into it. I have no clue about the sport," she said. "I saw something about it on the THS news and said, 'Yeah, I want to do that.' It was so spontaneous and it looked so fun."

Cameron admitted Caden was "a little surprised" when she announced she would try wrestling.

"I was drinking water and I choked on it a little," Caden said.

Spit take aside, Caden is all in on his sister wrestling.

"Now that's she's here, it's awesome," he said. "You have to put yourself to a better standard because she is watching everything and trying to learn from you. It's not so much a brother-sister thing; It's more like a 12-year senior wrestler and a first-year sophomore."

Cameron admitted her first practice was an eye opener, and she's been sidelined with a foot sprain. She hopes to get her first official match after Christmas break.

"I want to go all the way to my senior year," she said. "My ultimate goal is I want to make varsity so bad."

Caden conceded he has to keep his big brother instincts in check when Cameron in on the mat.

"It's something you always think about when she's out there," Caden said. "That's my little sister. But it's part of the sport. Losing is part of the sport. Getting your butt kicked is part of the sport."

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Ohio high school wrestling sees growth in brother-sister combinations