COLUMBUS — Dalton Ishmael just might achieve his quest for an elusive state wrestling
title.The North Baltimore senior will find himself on one of the three raised mats on center stage in
the Value City Arena Saturday as he attempts to win the Division III 195-pound state championship.“It’s
going to be awesome to be wrestling on one of the three mats and also the Parade of Champions, that’s
pretty sweet,” Ishmael said of the finals.In Friday’s morning quarterfinals, Ishmael found himself in an
unusual place — the second period.He took Colin McConnahea of Delphos Jefferson down and turned him for
two sets of nearfall with two different combinations. He used a third one in the second period and it
worked for the pin in 2:47.The air got even thinner in the semifinal match with Ryan Weber of
Loudonville.Ishmael scored a takedown and an near fall in the first period.“I knew when he was coming up
top I had my slid by,” said Ishmael.A four-point lead became five when Weber was hit for stalling.
Ishmael escaped and then fought off a two-on-one when they were neutral. He won 6-1.“It was
frustrating,” said Ishmael. “I didn’t rush anything. I wasn’t going for pins or anything. I’m happy with
the win.”He has to beat Tyler Beck of Galion Northmor to take home the title after losing in the
semifinals last season.Three county wrestlers have a shot a third place.J. P. Newton of Perrysburg made
it to the semifinals with a win over Andrew McNally of Uniontown Lake.He built an 8-0 lead in the first
period and survived a cradle attack in the third period and won, 10-7.“I got the takedown with a
double-leg. When I got on top I went to work right away because that is when the tilt works best,’’ said
Newton.In the semifinals, he was pinned by two-time state champion Anthony Collia of Solon, which
dropped him into today’s consolation.“I’m wrestling for third now and I’m going to focus on my goals,”
said Newton. “He was a tough kid. I’ll keep the same game plan.”At 106, Mario Guillen of Perrysburg
moved on with a 6-4 win over Jake Donahue of Massillon Washington in the morning session. Guillen
trailed 5-2 in the final period, but scored two sets of nearfalls at the end of the period to win.“I
really knew I was strong on top once he took bottom,” said the Perrysburg 106-pounder.The match giving
him the opportunity for third place was a carbon copy of his last. With a 3-2 lead he tilted Payton
Gutierrez of Pickerington North for two nearfall points to ice the match.“He’s going to be unreal,” said
coach Sam Cotterman about his freshman. ‘‘He’s been used to the big stage. He’s been in matches like
this his entire life.”In the Division II 170-pound class Randy Caris of Eastwood also has a shot at
third. He won his morning match by accumulating 15 points in just two periods over Matt Dennis of
Claymont, winning by technical fall 15-0.“That was the best match he has wrestled in quite a while,”
said Eastwood coach Joe Wyant. “He went back to the tilt and did a good job tilting the kid. That’s the
way he should wrestle.”“Getting wrist control and wrestling the way we are taught. It’s just a big thing
we have been working on this year,” said Caris.In his evening match Caris posted a 4-0 decision over
Tyler MacClellan of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy“I’m ready to come back like I did last week,” said
Caris. “I got to get that attitude.”Perrysburg’s Cale Bonner at 285 found himself in a familiar spot
tied 1-1 in the third period and working for a takedown. His opponent, Yoshi Akutsu of Dublin Scioto,
was penalized for stalling near the end of the period which resulted in another one-point victory (2-1)
for the Perrysburg heavyweight.“If you keep working good things will come I guess,” Bonner said of his
relentless pressure on his feet. “If you work harder than anybody else you’ll win.”Bonner lost to Jacob
Burton of Lakota East, 5-3. He’’ now wrestle for seventh place.In Division II Trenton Soto of Otsego
lost 5-0 to Dustin Marteney of Delta in his match to place.“His inability to gain hand control was his
downfall,” said coach Joe Gerwin.“I couldn’t stand up”, said Soto, “It was good experience down
here.”Soto finishes 35-10.