Jackson-Milton wrestlers guaranteed with five on the podium

COLUMBUS — With a crutch under one arm and a noticeable limp in his step, Jackson-Milton High wrestling coach Dave Tomaino took a breather alongside a back hallway of the Schottenstein Center after a long, hectic, stressful, grueling, wonderful day.

“I’m floating on Cloud Nine right now,” said Tomaino, who is guaranteed to have five state placers for the first time in school history. “There’s hardly any pain in my hip.”

Tomaino had his hip replaced last June, the first of five surgeries following a nasty bout with a staph infection, and his doctor would rather see him sitting in a recliner than coaching wrestlers.

But, then, he would have missed all the fun.

The Bluejays are in 10th place in Division III after Friday’s second day of competition at the state wrestling meet.

Read the story in Saturday’s Vindicator and on Vindy.com.