COLUMBUS — Jesse Palser flexed his muscle again Friday.
Mansfield Senior’s 170-pounder assured himself a spot in this evening’s Division I state championship match with a pair of wins on Day Two of the 77th annual state wrestling tournament at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center.
A junior, Palser (42-1) opened the tournament with a 6-4 upset victory over 2013 state runner-up Quinton Rosser of Cincinnati Moeller on Thursday. He came back Friday to stun two-time state placer Isaac Bast of Massillon Perry 3-1 in sudden victory overtime in Friday’s quarterfinals and then dumped Hilliard Darby’s Jake Stratton 5-3 in the semifinals.
He will try to become Senior High’s third state champ and first since Roger Merrell in 1997 when he meets projected state champ Joe Heyob of Cincinnati St. Xavier’s in tonight’s title match. Heyob knocked off Wadsworth’s Tim Knipl 3-0 in the other semifinal match. It was Knipl who handed Palser his only setback of the season in the semifinals of last week’s Cleveland State University district meet.
“It feels pretty good,” the unassuming Palser said of reaching the championship match. “I wasn’t expecting all this, not this year, but I’ve worked hard for it. I’ve been waiting for this my entire life.”
A tactician who only has a handful of pins all season, Palser was never in serious jeopardy during his semifinal match against Stratton. After a scoreless first period, he opened a 5-2 lead heading to the third.
“The way Jesse is, he’s really good on his feet,” Senior High coach Billy Steens said. “Our strategy for I don’t know how many matches is to get two takedowns and an escape from the bottom and you can beat anybody. It’s really hard for anyone to score on him. He’s extremely strong, extremely powerful and (has) great balance.”
Palser’s Mansfield Senior teammate, 182-pounder Traevon Dickerson, earned a spot on the podium but it came with a hefty price tag. Dickerson won by default after Anthony McLaughlin of Cleveland St. Ignatius illegally slammed him to the mat during a second-round consolation match. Dickerson’s arm was pinned and he couldn’t break his fall. His head slammed to the mat and it appeared as though he lost consciousness.
“The doctor said he had a pretty serious concussion,” Stevens said. “He’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
Dickerson will finish eighth.
In Division II, Lexington 195-pounder Bailey Faust and 285-pounder Nate Temple assured themselves of podium finishes. Faust was upset by Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s Tyler Maclellan 2-0 in his first match Friday, but won a pair of consolation matches and will wrestle Perry’s Kyle Kremiller for a spot in the third-place match today. Meanwhile, Temple was 1-2 on Friday and will wrestle for seventh place today.
In Division III, Crestview 182-pounder Logan Campbell battled his way through the consolation bracket to earn a rematch with West Salem Northwestern’s Kile Schaefer. Schaefer handed Campbell a 6-4 loss in Thursday’s opening round. A senior, Campbell responded with three victories to reach the consolation bracket semifinals. He cruised to a 7-3 win over Brookville’s Dylan Williams in his final match Friday.
“I felt like I was in control. I got the first takedown, which is what I was looking for. I wanted to get on top real quick,” Campbell said. “I feel pretty good. I’m looking forward to the rematch with Schaefer.”
Follow Curt Conrad on Twitter @curtjconrad.
