Wrestling: Worthington Kilbourne Wolves’ Escobar battles top competition at state

Michael Rich, ThisWeek
·4 min read
In his first state tournament appearance, Kilbourne senior Iain Escobar went 0-2 at 150 pounds. He lost to the state runner-up and third-place finisher.
In his first state tournament appearance, Kilbourne senior Iain Escobar went 0-2 at 150 pounds. He lost to the state runner-up and third-place finisher.

Worthington Kilbourne wrestling coach Jose Martinez has been there before. So, when Iain Escobar went 0-2 in the Division I state tournament March 11 and 12 at Ohio State, Martinez offered up some encouragement based on his own experience.

The 150-pound senior lost to Perrysburg’s Wynton Denkins by a 16-3 major decision and Eastlake North’s Ethan Smith 8-1 to finish 42-6. Denkins was state runner-up and Smith finished third.

“Iain shared a very similar experience to me on one of my state appearances,” Martinez said. “I made it to state one year (at New Port Richey, Florida, Ridgewood in 1994). I actually lost to the state champion and to the guy that finished third.

“With wrestling, sometimes it could depend on where you’re placed in that bracket. So, that’s what happened to him. He wrestled the two and three best kids in the state. I don’t think he has anything to hang his head about.”

Escobar took comfort in Martinez’s experience, especially after missing out on state last year. He finished fifth at district at 145 after falling 4-3 to Watkins Memorial’s Gabe Droesch on penalty points in the final seconds of their consolation semifinal match.

“Nothing I’ve done has been easy,” Escobar said. “It was a tough draw (at state). It was a cool similarity. I knew how successful (Martinez) was in college (at West Liberty), so I have good things to look forward to.”

Escobar is choosing between Ohio Wesleyan, Tiffin and the University of Indianapolis.

“The goal is to win a state championship,” Martinez said. “But he’s done a lot for the program. He knows he probably should have been a two-time state qualifier given what happened last year. He’s got over 100 career wins. He plans to wrestle in college, so it’s on to the next thing. He wants to keep working toward that next step and maybe get a national championship.”

Escobar was fourth at district March 5 at Hilliard Darby. Senior David Barone (144) went 0-2 to finish 14-17, junior James Culver went 0-2 to finish 16-26 and sophomore Nolan Pham went 0-2 to finish 6-17.

“I think (Escobar) set a good example,” Martinez said. “There’s some younger guys (who) hopefully saw this and go even further than what Iain did.”

Thomas senior Brayden Jamison went 1-2 at state at 220 pounds after going 0-2 last year at 182.
Thomas senior Brayden Jamison went 1-2 at state at 220 pounds after going 0-2 last year at 182.

•Thomas senior Brayden Jamison couldn’t help but be disappointed after going 1-2 at state.

Jamison, who competed at 220, was defeated by Oregon Clay’s Ty Cobb 5-3 before beating Cincinnati Moeller’s Will Adkins 4-3 and falling to Trenton Edgewood’s Wyatt Walker by pin to finish 34-9.

“I wish I did better,” Jamison said. “I felt like I could have won a couple of those matches.”

It was his second appearance at state after going 0-2 last year at 182.

“It’s an improvement (from last year) and I’m proud of that,” Jamison said. “It was a fun four years. That’s what it’s about. I learned how to work hard with a group of people that were willing to work hard, too. So, that helped a lot.”

The Cardinals had six representatives at district, where Jamison finished fourth. Sophomore J.J. Dodt (106) went 2-2 to finish 28-14, freshman Dean Poppy (120) went 1-2 to finish 22-14 and junior Jaden Fields (175) went 2-2 to finish 31-12.

Thomas loses seniors Charlie Erickson (126) and Michael Blain (150). Erickson went went 0-2 at district to finish 22-16 and Blain finished sixth, going 2-2 to finish 24-7.

mrich@thisweeknews.com

@ThisWeekRich

KILBOURNE

•OCC-Capital standings: Westerville North (7-0), Delaware (6-1), Big Walnut (5-2), Dublin Scioto (4-3), Canal Winchester (3-4), Westerville South (2-5), Franklin Heights (1-6), Kilbourne (0-7)

•Seniors lost: David Barone, Iain Escobar, Alberto Pablo-Naredo and Malcolm Saas

•Key returnees: James Culver, Yousuf Elafi, Nolan Pham and Will Snyder

•Postseason: Seventh (74.5) at sectional behind champion Dublin Coffman (285.5), tied for 25th (19) at district behind champion Coffman (247)

THOMAS

•OCC-Cardinal standings: Marysville (5-0), Olentangy Berlin (4-1), Hilliard Darby (3-2), Thomas (2-3), Olentangy (1-4), Dublin Jerome (0-5)

•Seniors lost: Michael Blain, Chris Earliwine, Charlie Erickson, Brayden Jamison and Xavier Thevenin

•Key returnees: J.J. Dodt, Jaden Fields and Dean Poppy

•Postseason: Fifth (142.5) at sectional behind champion Upper Arlington (231.5), 16th (38) at district behind champion Coffman (247)

This article originally appeared on ThisWeek: Wrestling: Kilbourne’s Escobar battles top competition at state