Hawken Hawks wrestler Will Greenberg has been laser focused all season. His vision — to wrestle on Sunday night at the ‘Schott.'
Hawken Hawks wrestler Will Greenberg has been laser focused all season.
His vision — to wrestle on Sunday night at the ‘Schott.’
After an amazing junior year which saw Greenberg finish as state runner up, he decided to make a change in his technique.
Working diligently over the summer to perfect this new style of wrestling, Greenberg focused on the things he needed to do to take the next step in his wrestling career.
Greenberg, the number one ranked Div. II heavyweight wrestler in the state of Ohio, soared to new heights as he plowed through the competition on his way to the OHSAA State Wrestling Finals.
Then, on Sunday night at the Schottenstein Center, in front of thousands of screaming wrestling fans, Greenberg completed his journey, becoming an OHSAA State Wrestling Champion.
To get to the state championship match, Greenberg (41-4) first pinned Breese Bollenbacher from Van Wert with 15 seconds remaining in the first period of the opening round.
Next, Greenberg quickly pinned Hatcher Sabatin from Minerva in the quarterfinals.
This dominance continued in the semifinals on March 8 as Greenberg defeated the No. 2 ranked Div. II wrestler in the State of Ohio, senior Andrew Winner from Greenville.
In defeating Winner, the Hawks heavyweight got the pin at the tail end of the first period.
After securing his spot in the finals, Greenberg described the surreal moment and his mindset he would take to the championship match.
“Sometimes, it just doesn’t feel real,” Greenberg said. “All through my experience of last year, it feels, not that it’s too easy, but it has not been too crazy. In my mind, right now at this moment, it’s just another wrestling match on a Sunday night. It just happens to be in front of a lot of people on a big stage.”
On March 10, after an exciting Parade of Champions, Greenberg wrestled Eli Sanchez from Perkins for the Div. II 285-pound division title.
Greenberg got out to an early 6-2 lead after the first period. He then went on to claim the State Championship with a 10-5 victory over Sanchez.
Afterwards, Greenberg expressed his thoughts about winning the state title.
“It still doesn’t feel real,” said Greenberg. “The fact that I won the match is real, but ‘State Champion’, it’s like crazy to me. I mean, I have no words right now. This is the best moment of my life.”
In addition to Greenberg winning the first State Wrestling Championship in Hawken school history, making the podium for the Wolverines were Brian Denamen and Zander Joltin.
Denamen placed sixth in the Div. II, 165-pound division and Zander Joltin placed sixth in the Div. II 126-pound division.
Denamen and Joltin became the Wolverines’ 19th and 20th wrestlers to place and make the podium at the OHSAA Wrestling State Tournament.
To make the podium at the State Championships, Denamen won his first two matches as he made the OHSAA semifinals in the Div. II 165-0pound division.
In the opening round, Denamen (46-9) defeated Collin Isaac from Tippecanoe, 10-9.
In a thrilling final period in which Denamen was trailing 9-7, he took Isaac down with 39 seconds remaining in the match to claim a 10-9 victory.
Denamen then defeated Hayden Groll from Napoleon, 9-4, to secure his spot on the podium.
Joltin (53-8), who this year set the all-time school record for most victories in a season, followed Denamen by also securing a spot on the podium on March 8th.
To get in the round of eight which guaranteed a podium placement, Joltin garnered three straight victories.
After a close 2-0 loss in the first round to Zavian LaFountain from Wauseon, Joltin quickly overcame adversity.
Needing three more victories to stand on the podium, Joltin defeated Nile Abbuhl from Franklin, 2-0.
In his next match against Dareyan Egner from Franklin, Joltin got behind 6-0. However, Joltin rebounded spectacularly in the second period to pin Egner.
“We knew going into it, it was a tough kid,” said Joltin. “In the second period, I knew I needed something big. So I got in the over under position and I just felt it. We always say ‘let it fly, leave it all on the mat’, so I went to a lat drop, and we got it down, left everything on the mat.”
To secure his spot on the podium, Joltin defeated Carter Abella from Maysville, 16-1.
“Zander had some huge wins, to get himself on the podium,” said Coach Joe Joltin. “He’s worked tirelessly to get here and accomplish his goals.”
Overall, Coach Joltin was proud of the Wolverines wrestlers at the OHSAA State Championships.
Also, wrestling at the OHSAA State Wrestling Championships were Berkshire (Preston Garling , Danny Tiller), Chardon (Alex Ash, Caden Foley) and Kenston (Brady Baran, Carter Baran).
