By: Andrew E.Gasber
As we continue on with our “Legends Of The OAC” posts we now get into the 78lb weight division from the year 2008. The time of this event that any wrestler nor any parent watching this particular weight could have foreseen three, 4-time High School State (OHSAA) & (IHSAA) Champions. The fact of the matter is, for some reason over the years this particular weight class has produced multiple High School State Champions! Junior High State (OAC) has seen so many State Champions come from their organization, but the amount of 78 pounders is mind-boggling. I am not sure if there is another weight class that has had as much success on the High School level as the 78-pound division. If there is, please feel free to inform us. We would love to hear your thoughts on what your opinion is for “Toughest Weights in Junior High State History (OAC)”.
Again we will start from 8th place on up to 1st.
8th: Robert Smith (Col.Bishop Ready & Hilliard Davidson) Bobby would go on to become a 4 time State Qualifier in OHSAA placing 3 of those 4 years. 5th as a Freshman, 1-2 as a Sophomore, 2nd as a Junior @ Hilliard Davidson, and injured his back Senior Year at state and finished 5th yet again.
7th: Cody Steiner ( Waynesville High School) Cody would go on to place at the OHSAA State Tournament 3 times and qualifying all 4 years, finishing 4th,2nd, and 3rd. He attended Campbellsville University @ 125lbs. He was ranked nationally at 125 as high as #3 in the country in the NAIA division.
6th: Michael Rix (Akron St.Vincent St.Mary High School) Michael would go on to become a 4-time OHSAA State Placer, finishing 4th,1st,4th,2nd over four years. He then went on to compete at Kent State University.
5th: Alex Moore (Lakewood St.Edward) Alex would go on to place once at the OHSAA High School State Tournament. Finishing 2nd place.4th: Jacob Danishek (Dayton Christian School) Jacob would go on to become a member of the most elite group in Ohio Wrestling. The 4 time State Champion Club! Winning 4 OHSAA State Wrestling Titles. He then attended The University Of Indiana where he continued his wrestling career.
3rd: Austin Reese (Mechanicsburg High School) Austin would go on to become a 4-time OHSAA High School State Placer finishing 5th,3rd,2nd and 1st. Attended Ohio University where he continued his Wrestling career with The Bobcats.
2nd: Nathan Tomasello (C.V.C.A) We are all familiar with this young man. Nathan would go on to dominate the OHSAA High School State Tournament for 4 years running. Winning all 4 years and capturing 4 State Titles. He also became a member of Ohio Elite Wrestlers to enter the “4 Time State Champ Club”. Nathan would attend Ohio State University where he would earn All-American honors all 4 years of college with one of those seasons (Freshman) Winning The NCAA Title for the Buckeyes and helping lead the team to a National Championship season! Nathan continues to compete to this very day and is a member of The U.S. Men’s National Wrestling Team. He was recently 3rd at this past Olympic Trials. He also is an assistant coach to Lou Rosselli at The University Of Oklahoma.
1st: Jered Cortez (Glenbard North High School Illinois) Jered would go on to also become a 4 time High School State Champion, but in the State of Illinois (IHSAA). He also became the 2009 Fargo Cadet Freestyle Champion and Fila Freestyle National Champion. 4 time Fargo All-American. Jered attended Penn State University and continued his wrestling career after transferring from The University of Illinois. He competed for the Nittany Lions up through the 2017-2018 season. He dealt with many injuries throughout his college career and this is likely why we did not see him on the podium at the NCAA Tournament.
The bottom line here with this weight class is, 78 pounds has produced some of the best wrestlers this country has ever seen as well as the state. OAC Junior High State Championships has had so many loaded brackets and this is just another one that we selected as a possible overall “Best of All-Time”. Let us know what your thoughts are. Share your stories from OAC Tournament’s past. Tell us what your favorite weight class was, or maybe a specific match that stands out to you!
Full 2008 Results Here http://oacstate.com/2008oac
2008 Podium Shots https://youtu.be/l94GF9N3bR0?t=4m57s
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