MANSFIELD — Mason Turnbaugh took his place among J.C. Gorman Invitational luminaries Saturday evening.
The Ontario senior may have some company in the coming years.
Turnbaugh joined an exclusive fraternity when he knocked off Centerburg’s Chris Marshall 10-5 in the 150-pound finals, becoming just the 23rd wrestler in the event’s 62-year history to win three individual titles. He won 138-pound crowns in 2023 and 2024.
“It’s pretty massive, especially for me,” said Turnbaugh, who had three first-period pins Friday before cruising to a 9-0 win over Vermilion’s Aiden Kyser in Saturday morning’s semifinals.
“Nobody in my family has won it besides me. It’s pretty awesome.”
Three other area wrestlers, Clear Fork’s Blake Schlosser and Ashland’s Mason Bauer and Guardian Miller, won their second Gorman titles. Both Bauer and Miller are sophomores, meaning they might join Turnbaugh in the three-timers club — and could become four-time champs.
Bauer, who was the 106-pound champ last year, beat Galion’s Gradey Harding 1-0 in the 126-pound finals. It was his second 1-0 win over Harding in as many weeks after edging the talented Galion junior in the third-place match at last week’s Medina Invitational Tournament.
Miller, last year’s 132-pound winner, beat Northmor’s Cowin Becker 12-3 in the 144-pound finals. Miller qualified for last year’s Division I state meet at 126.
“I moved up three weight classes, so I’m wrestling against a lot of guys who I don’t know,” Miller said. “These guys are bigger and stronger, but I’ve gotten bigger and stronger, too. I got the job done.”
Clear Fork’s Schlosser repeated as the 175-pound state champ. The senior cradle specialist pinned Medina Buckeye’s Liam Neitenbach in 4:36.
“This never gets old. It just keeps getting better,” Schlosser said. “I’ve been known to cradle quite a few people. Everyone knows it’s coming, but you can’t stop it.”
North central Ohio produced four other individual champs.
Ontario’s Aiden Ohl beat cousin Max Ohl of Ashland 10-1 in the 113-pound finals. It was first high school meeting between the two, who embraced after the final whistle.
“This is the first time there’s been two Ohls in the finals at the same time,” Aiden Ohl said. “This might be the first Ohl vs. Ohl matchup ever.”
Clear Fork freshman Anthony Oscar won the 138-pound crown, while Ashland’s Talon Boyd won the 165-pound championship and teammate Drayston Martin won at 215.
A junior, Boyd was a sub-.500 wrestler last winter. He didn’t place at the 2024 Gorman.
“I just kept going to practices and open mats and doing all the off-season stuff,” Boyd said. “I kept showing up and getting better day-by-day.”
Ashland finished second in the team standings with 225 points. Medina Buckeye defended its Gorman team title with 227 points. The Arrows knocked off Buckeye for a team title at last week’s Medina Invitational Tournament.
“We would have liked to have won, but we’re pleased with the way our guys are wrestling,” Ashland coach Tommy Bauer said. “The kids are working hard.”