GALION — The wrestling room at Galion High School isn’t a place for the faint of heart — and that’s just how Ryder Alberty likes it.
The 138-pound senior is one of four Tigers who qualified for this week’s Division II state tournament. Projected state finalist Carter Trukovich (126), projected state champ Gradey Harding (132) and state meet newcomer Kane Hay (150) will join him at Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
Ryder, who placed seventh at 138 pounds last year, will encounter nothing in Columbus he hasn’t already seen every day in the practice room.
“Everyone wrestles different,” Alberty said. “Gradey wrestles really quick. Carter wrestles really funky, and I wrestle heavy.
“It’s good to wrestle everyone with different styles.”
Alberty finished third at last week’s Norwalk district. He’ll take a 37-8 record with him to Columbus.
Like Alberty, Trukovich finished third at Norwalk last week. He fell to projected state champ Joe Curry 3-1 in the semifinals and brings a 31-4 record to Columbus.
“Me and these guys standing next to me all scrap in the room,” Trukovich said. “We’re making each other the best versions of ourselves.”
Trukovich missed time early in the season with a knee injury. He returned in mid-January, placing third at Maumee Bay.
“I’m healthy, I feel good and I’m having fun,” Trukovich said. “I’m looking forward to competing against the top guys in the state.”
The University of Buffalo-bound Harding is one of the most decorated wrestlers in program history. He is a four-time sectional champ, four-time district champ, three-time state placer and two-time runner-up.
“It’s a lot of fun,” Harding said of the sparring sessions with his ultra-talented teammates. “Carter and I used to drill every single day together. We’ve been rotating around the room and getting the other guys involved. It’s been amazing.
“Everybody is growing.”
Just a sophomore, Hay was one of the biggest surprises of the Norwalk district. He finished fourth after placing fourth at the Galion district a week earlier.
So in a room full of state qualifiers, who wins?
“It depends on the day,” Harding (34-2) said. “It depends on who is having a good day, but it’s always a battle.
“We try crazy things and push each other because that’s the only way to get better.”
Stampede
Clear Fork will send a program-record five wrestlers to this week’s state meet led by projected state medalists Caleb Snyder (113), Anthony Oscar (144), and Lakoda Leedy (175).
Colton Wenger (120) and Luke Lee (157) also will be in action this weekend.
“The previous record was four,” Clear Fork coach Nick Allerding said. “I’m just super proud of our guys.”
Warrior Spirit
Ontario will send three wrestlers to the state tournament, led by three-time state medalist Aiden Ohl.
The Ohio University-bound Ohl placed fifth at state at 106 as a freshman, was runner-up at 106 as a sophomore and finished third at 113 last year.
Ohl moved up to 120 pounds this year. He will look to become Ontario’s fifth state champ, joining father Monty and uncle Perry.
He already is Ontario’s career wins leader and takes a 35-4 record with him to Columbus. Four more victories would put him atop the podium in Columbus.
“All I have in my mind right now is four more,” Ohl said. “I’m on a mission.
Teammates Tyler Turnbaugh (132) and Gavin Miller (150) will join Ohl in Columbus. Turnbaugh was runner-up to Galion’s Harding at last week’s district meet, while Miller was third at 150.
Ram Pride
Madison will send three wrestlers to the state tournament.
Aiden Proctor bounced back from a fourth-place finish at the Galion sectional to win a Norwalk district title at 157 pounds. The junior is 43-6.
Senior Jaxson Stancombe was the runner-up at 285 at Norwalk. He is 39-4.
Senior Estella Koppert-Smith placed third at 130 pounds at the Findlay district. The senior and two-time state qualifier is 49-8.
Dynamic Duo
A pair of Shelby wrestlers will be in action at the state meet.
Freshman Sebastian Cain was a district runner-up at 106 pounds. He is 36-5 this season.
Junior Hope Timko placed fourth at the Findlay district at 115 pounds. She is 18-2 on the year.