STATE TOURNAMENT Hoppel seeking second title as six area wrestlers remain

Jackson-Milton junior Nick Dierkes stayed unbeaten.
SPECIAL TO THE VINDICATOR
COLUMBUS -- Six area wrestlers remain from a starting field of 21 after the completion of Friday's championship semifinal and consolation quarterfinal matches in the state tournament at Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center.
Adam Hoppel of Beaver Local, a four-time state qualifier, will go after a state title for the second time in three years. He captured the 215-pound Division II title in 2002 and placed second last year in the same weight class.
Hoppel will attempt to wrestle his way into the 275-pound championship today.
Junior Nick Dierkes of Jackson-Milton (40-0) defeated Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy's Nick Spohn (40-3), 17-12, to earn his spot for the Div. III crown.
Consolation matches
Howland and Southeast each have two athletes still in contention in consolation‚ with a chance of placing third through sixth place.
Tigers senior Brandon Alexander (189, 37-3) lost a championship semifinal match, 10-6, to Chris Hahn of Minerva, while junior Rob Holbert (275, 35-4) won by a technical fall over Ben Doolittle of Gallipolis Gallia Academy, 16-0, in a consolation quarterfinal.
Southeast's Brian Dye (103, 28-7) lost 24-12 to Madison Davis of Ravenna in a championship semifinal, while teammate Jacob Bartley (25-2) lost to Ryan Cubberly of Pemberville Eastwood 9-6 in a championship semifinal.
Dierkes used his single-leg take-down from the neutral position to gain a 5-4 lead going into the third period against Spohn (40-3) when Spohn chose the down position.
Jackson-Milton coach Dave Tomaino said afterwards, "I was nervous going into the third period, because they were both so similar in style, but Nick gave me the sign that he wanted to go on his feet, so we went with it."
Dierkes said at that moment he was thinking, "I have to go hard. I have two minutes to get to the state championship match. It is all or nothing."
Dierkes gave his opponent the escape to tie the match at 5-5, then quickly took him down to his back to gain a five-point advantage, 10-5.
"I thought if I had a 3-4 point lead I could win," said Dierkes. "After he took me down in the third period, I knew I had to keep scoring because he is quick and strong."
Dierkes went back to his single-leg takedown two more times that period, eventually scoring 12 points in the last period to win.
"It feels great to be in the championship match," Dierkes said. "I have to wrestle a two-time state champ [Tanner Shearer, Sandusky St. Mary], but we'll see what happens."
Similar outcome
By beating Joe Morton of Fostoria by pin in the semifinals, Hoppel's match looked very similar to many of his other victories.
He took a first-period lead with a single-leg takedown. In the second, he reversed Morton, threw the legs and a power half and proceeded to pin him.
"He [Morton] was real big and I couldn't get under him very well," said Hoppel. "It took a couple tries, but I got my takedown. Then when I got the power half, I knew I could pin him."
Hoppel will face the defending state champion (Dustin Fox, Galion) in the championship.
"[Fox] is big too and I think he is a real good athlete so it should be a good match," said Hoppel.
Howland's Holbert threw his opponent and pinned him (Claymont's Brian Burdette) in overtime.
"I knew I had to be aggressive in overtime. I knew the farther we went into overtime, my chances of winning would decrease," said Holbert.
"I work on my throws so when the opportunity was there, I took it."
Eliminated
In Division I, Fitch's Nick Bodnar (130), Fred Weidenthal (160) and Eric Chine (189) were eliminated during consolation rounds Friday.
Derik Caudill (103), Grant Hoppel (140) and Jim Bowersock (215) of Beaver Local were also eliminated in Div. II consolations as was Brad Lanham (215) of Southeast.
Tristan Thompson (103) of Brookfield and Jake Hambrick (112) of Jackson-Milton also bowed out in Div. III consolations.