COLUMBUS — Revenge in sports can be a great motivator. At least it was for Elmwood’s Nick Goebel at this
year’s state wrestling tournament.
Goebel’s opponent in Friday’s 119-pound semifinal was Vinnie Pizzuto of Jackson-Milton. Pizzilo was the
person who kept Goebel from repeating as champion last season. Goebel did beat Pizzuto for third last
season.
This year, Pizzuto started out aggressive in the first period and Goebel was warned for staling. That lit
a fire in the Royal wrestler and he picked up the intensity. Goebel escaped in the second period and led
1-0 going into the third. Goebel rode Pizzuto hard in the third period to secure the 1-0 decision.
“I knew I had to work hard because I was warned for stalling,” said Goebel, “So I kept working for stuff
all the time. That’s probably my best position, on top. Toward the end he almost got out but I tried not
to panic and popped the leg in.”
In the morning session, Goebel made short work of his quarterfinal match against Dalton Hiltibran of
Mechanicsburg. After a snap-down go-behind takedown in the first period the Royal senior cranked off 12
points worth of nearfall using a tilt. An escape at the start of the second period completed the
technical fall 15-0.
Goebel will meet Tyler Heminger of Galion Northmor in the finals tonight and revenge may still be a
motive since Heminger beat him 4-3 this year at Medina.
Jake Baker of Elmwood, Ben Timmons of Lakota and Dalton Ishmael all have a shot at third in the
consolations today.
Baker (215) won his quarterfinal match with one of his patented overtime wins over Bryan Adams of
Tuscarawas C.C. An escape each in the extra period set up Baker for the winning point in the ultimate
tie-breaker and a 4-3 win. Next up was Ethan Hayes of Dixie, the defending state champion in the
semifinals. Hayes controlled the match with a takedown in each period and defeated Baker 7-2.
“He was really quick and he was hard to takedown,” said Baker. “Everybody dreams about a title, but I’m
going to place.”
Timmons (119) was overwhelmed by projected state champion Tyler Heminger of Galion Northmor and pinned in
5:23. He then faced Thomas McLaughlin of Nelsonville-York. Timmons led 6-4 in the second period, but
lost a takedown late in the period to tie the match. McLaughlin scored a point on a penalty to take the
lead. Timmons scored on a takedown and rode out the 8-7 win.
“It was a tough match,” said Timmons. “I got taken down twice. It was hard to come back from that. I gave
up a penalty point, but I got the takedown in the third. I needed that.”
In the consolation Timmons dominated Stephen Hill of Carlisle 15-2.
“This is the most focused I have ever seen him,” said Lakota coach Rick Whetsel.
North Baltimore’s Dalton Ishmael (189) didn’t last long against Alex Utley of Cuyahoga Valley Christian
Academy. The projected state champion pinned him in 1:43. The sophomore bounced back well in his first
consolation against Eric Puehler of Delta. Ishmael had split matches with Puehler in the districts.
After losing a takedown on a missed attempt in the first period, Ishmael reversed Peuhler in the second
period and pinned him.
“He was trying to be dominant with the throw at the beginning so I tried a throw and I couldn’t get it,”
Ishmael said. “In the second period it was the Peterson. It was elbow deep and I knew I could pin him or
ride out the period.”
He then totally dominated Tyler Beck of Galion Northmor and pinned him in 2:36.
“He is really wrestling well in all fazes of the game,” said NB coach Jesse Thomas.
In Division II, D.J. Recknagel (189) lost to Bobby Blankenship of Jonathan Alder 7-4 in the
quarterfinals. The Rossford wrestler could only muster four escapes in the match and Blankenship had
three takedowns.
“We didn’t get a chance to wrestle on the mat (in the quarterfinal). If we would have it might have been
a different story,” said coach and father Ron Recknagel.
In consolations it went much better in the second period versus Tyler Harble of Licking Valley scored on
a reversal and then threw in the legs and pinned Harble in 2:52. Recknagel lost 3-1 to Rusty Lockhart of
Coventry in the next round and will wrestle for seventh today.
