Four Brecksville-Broadview Heights Wrestlers to Advance to State Championship

LORAIN – Anyone who loves stories about the underdog, especially when they come out on top, will love this one about Brecksville-Broadview Heights wrestler Marshal Willet.

After missing out on a trip to districts last season, the senior standout worked hard this season.

“That really motivated me,” Willet said. “My coach told me after I lost in sectional last season that he was going to get me back at in the offseason and summer, and that if I listened to him I could make it to the state meet.”

Not only did he do that, but in doing so, he downed a favored St. Edward wrestler to take home the district championship.

“Oh, wow, it’s an amazing feeling,” Willet said not long after the win. “Winning a match like that with just 15 seconds left, it made my day, and shows who I am and how I got where I am.”

Willet showed exactly what hard work and determination can do in his district finale, as he battled St. Ed’s Jacob Davis at 171 pounds down to the wire.

He eventually came out on top with an exciting 4-3 decision that had the crowd on its feet. Before the match, his character showed as he paced the mats, listened to music and made sure everything was ready to go.

“Early in the year, I looked at the names of guys I would have to face, and thought they are amazing,” Willet said. “But coming down through the stretch, I knew everyone had my back, my whole team and all my training this season has showed. Knowing I am the winner of this, I have a good feeling heading to state, as most here will place there.”

Willet started districts with a pin of John Marshall’s James Austin in 1:10. He followed that up with a 20-4 tech fall over Springfield’s Mike Kohlhofer, and then a hard-fought 8-2 victory over Luke Boff of Perrysburg before taking home the district crown.

Willet was just one of the stories that made Brecksville-Broadview Heights’ trek to districts a success.

In all four stories, Brecksville-Broadview Heights made it to the state meet, and eight placed as the Bees took third as a team with 130 points. St. Edward ran away with the meet, while last year’s Division I state champion Wadsworth was second.

Also taking home first for the Bees was Mitch Baran at 130 pounds. Baran won his first match of the tourney with a pin over Bowling Green’s Doug Cope in 3:34. In his next match he downed a tough Narcisco Inchaurregui of Lorain 5-3. He then took a major decision from Midview’s Josh Ayers before winning his championship 6-4 over Wadsworth’s Alfredo Gray.

Also making the trek to Columbus this week will be Kyle Roddy, who took home second place at 160 pounds, with a default in his finale, and Quinton Hiles at 140 pounds, who took home fourth. Two other Brecksville-Broadview Heights' wrestlers earned state alternate status with their fifth place finishes.

Tommy Pruchinski (112) and George Saridakis (145) each earned that honor. The Bees also had two sixth placers, as both Andrew Barr (152) and Dylan Good (135) just missed being alternates.