The Aurora Greenmen wrestling team brought three wrestlers to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state tournament and all three placed. In addition to senior 120-pound Johnny Green taking seventh, senior 165-pound Cole Walton placed eighth with a 2-3 record and junior 157-pound Drake Brasiel also came in eighth by going 2-3 last weekend at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
For Brasiel, it capped off a breakout season after his debut at the Division I state meet last year had him going 0-2.
“This year I came into it with the mindset that I was going to win,” Brasiel said. “Right after the season last year I was like I have to get stronger because I was not strong enough.”
On Friday, the Aurora junior captured his first state victory when he pulled off a thrilling comeback victory against Cincinnati Moeller junior Noah Jackson 5-4.
Trailing 3-2 in the third period, Braisel wrestled from the top position in a reset but made the strategic decision to allow Jackson to escape, pushing the deficit to 4-2 but putting both wrestlers on their feet inside the final minute.
“I thought when I was on top of him and there was a minute left, there was no way I would be able to turn him because he was good and staying solid,” Brasiel noted. “I would rather try to win than lose by holding on.”
Brasiel secured a takedown in the closing seconds, to go ahead 5-4 and earn a berth in the quarterfinal.
On Saturday, Brasiel lost his quarterfinal bout against senior Jake Piontowski from Olentangy by a 5-3 decision.
Later that day, Brasiel captured a spot in the top eight when he dominated junior Otis Boyette from Xenia, winning by a 16-0 technical fall.
“Getting down here last year was huge for Drake,” said Coach Jeremy Johnson. “Being down here and on the floor and wrestling. We had expectations for him to place last year and it didn’t happen and I think that motivated him this offseason to get in the weight room and do the extra work and really put time and energy in and there is proof out there that it shows but there is also proof that we have work to do.”
Brasiel suffered his second loss of the day when he fell in the consolation quarterfinal to Massillon Perry junior Brennan Warwick.
On Sunday, Brasiel’s state run ended when he was defeated by senior Joey DiTullio from Elder in a 7-2 decision.
After experiencing a resurgent season following a short stint at the 2024 season, Brasiel has his sights set on bigger things for his senior year.
“It is definitely going to light a fire under me,” he said. “It becomes my goal to become a state champion because that was my goal so definitely this summer, I am working towards that.”
For Walton, although he finished in eighth place for the second consecutive season with a 2-3 record, he got the full state experience this year after his time at the state meet last year was cut short due to injury.
“It feels good,” he said. “Last year it ended with a knee injury. I have been blessed to be healthy throughout this tournament and the postseason.”
After he won his match in the second round of the consolation bracket last season, Walton said he injured the LCL in his left knee, which forced him to withdraw from his remaining matches.
Walton acknowledged that he reinjured his knee at the beginning of the season but he recovered in time for the postseason.
On Friday, Walton let his lead slip away in his first match and was defeated 7-3 by Little Miami senior Austin Dipzinski.
Later that day, Walton advanced to day two when he overpowered senior Wyatt Smith from Louisville, winning by a 16-0 technical fall.
On Saturday, Walton won his blood round match, defeating Suburban League Conference rival senior Troy Myers from Wadsworth by a 16-6 decision to clinch a spot as an All-Ohioan.
“We are proud of Cole,” said the Greenmen’s second-year Coach. “He is a two-time state placer for us, and he has really turned it on the last few years. He was a guy who did not start in the line-up as a freshman and did not make it down here as a sophomore. The first time he made it down last year, he placed and he comes down here and places again.”
Walton was ousted from the consolation quarterfinal when he lost 13-7 to Mount Vernon senior Jake Taylor.
In his final match on Sunday, Walton held an 8-0 lead halfway through the second period but got caught in a takedown and was eventually pinned by North Olmsted senior Matthew Chalkwater with 44 seconds remaining.
