Mat Warrior

One thing that Celina wrestling coach James Miracle has been striving for since he took over as coach in 2013 is to get the Bulldogs back to the success they had in the 2000s when they won shares of two Western Buckeye League titles and had several wrestlers earn All-Ohio honors at the state tournament.

The last time Celina had any wrestlers compete at state was in 2010, when Alex Dues finished sixth at 152 pounds and Codey Welker was eighth at 285 pounds.

This season, the Bulldogs will be represented again at the Division II state tournament as Landon Engle competes starting Saturday at Marengo Highland High School. Engle will wrestle in the opening flight (106 to 152 pound weight classes) starting at 10 a.m.

Engle is one of three area wrestlers competing at state. St. Marys' Tyler Hisey, who qualified for state last season but did not compete as the state tournament was canceled due to the pandemic, will also wrestle at Highland. Coldwater's Caleb Stammen will compete in the Division III tournament being held at Marion Harding this weekend.

"Honestly, it's been a lifetime goal for me," said Engle as he prepared for his first match on Saturday. "It's really going to the big leagues. I've done wrestling since I was young. It feels good getting to state."

Engle had qualified for district last season, but was unable to compete for a chance to make it to the state tournament. Over the summer, Engle and cousins Zack and Jaden King put together an extensive workout program for the team to try and help get Celina a league team title.

"We always have a mission to get as much work in the offseason. We started a program called the Elite Dog Program," said Engle. "We got in almost every day of the summer working on technique. We had to get a certain amount of takedowns, standups and pinning combinations. We earned a prize at the end. In-season, we had to work hard, too. We were doing tons of extra work and staying after practice."

In addition to the physical work put in to get better, Engle credited his growth to improving his mentality on the mats.

"The mental game has really helped," said Engle. "Just getting my head into the game. (Facing someone) ranked above me makes me think (that) I have to work harder and outsmart them."

The hard work paid off for Engle, who defended his WBL 126-pound title at the league tournament and finished second at both sectional and district to reach state.

"It was really exciting," Engle said. "First day I won two matches and upset the No. 5 guy in the state (Te'Andre Allen of Orange, who was 21-0 when he faced Engle) 2-1. I knew the next day I had to have my A-game and a smart plan to go against Bryce Skinner (from Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in the championship semifinal), I knew I had to beat them no matter what it took. When I won (4-3), it was a real moment for me and felt so great that I was going to state."

Engle (43-5) faces Licking Valley's Alijah Stevens (41-2) in the opening round. Stevens qualified for state last season at 126 pounds before the tournament was canceled.

Expectations, much like for every match this season, are high.

"Right now (predictions) have me coming out fifth place, but all year we've been shooting for top three or four in tournaments," Engle said. "So far, I met that goal, going second or third in every tournament. I hope I can push through these matches and get top four at least."
Offseason work helped Stammen

Last season Caleb Stammen went 1-2 in the district tournament at 182 pounds to end his sophomore season with a 25-15 record.

That motivation helped him put in the work to make it to state as a junior.

"I'm excited for it. It's been a big goal for a long time," said Stammen. "I'm happy that this year there's a chance for everyone (that qualified) to go to state after last year was canceled. I'm hoping for a good weekend."

During the off-season, Stammen focused working to get takedowns, something he admits he had struggled with in the past.

"It's always been a weak point through middle school and early high school," said Stammen. "I focused on that quite a bit this year and it's helped me out a lot."

The hard work paid off as Stammen finished as the runner-up in the 195-pound weight division at the Lima Central Catholic sectional before ensuring a spot at state with a third-place finish last weekend at Troy's Hobart Arena.

Stammen credits head coach Aaron Alig and assistant coach (and former head coach) Rob Schmidt - both former state qualifiers for the Cavaliers - for helping his performance.

"I give them so much credit for getting me where I am at," said Alig. "Without them, there's no way I'd be able to compete at state. I owe everything to them."

Stammen (42-4) opens the tournament against Max Hoffman of Delta (41-6). Stammen will wrestle in the second flight (152 though 285 pounds) that begins Saturday at 4:30 p.m.

"I know I have a pretty tough match in the first round," said Stammen. "But I have to take it one match at a time, hopefully pick up a few wins and get on the podium."

Stammen's teammate Nick Kline finished fifth at district and is an alternate should any of the top four finishers from the district's 126-pound division be unable to compete.
Hisey finally getting his chance

Last year, Tyler Hisey was preparing to go to Columbus for state with his twin brother Trevor after both qualified as sophomores, only to have fate intervene with the cancelation just two days before the tournament.

Undeterred, Tyler Hisey worked hard in his junior season, repeating as WBL champion at 113 pounds and helping St. Marys win a second straight outright league championship with an undefeated 9-0 dual match record and winning the league tournament. Hisey then slimmed down to the 106-pound division for the postseason and finished second at the Norwalk Division II district to earn a second straight trip to state at Highland High School.

Hisey (41-2) will be on the mats first at Highland on Saturday when he faces off against St. Clairsville's Gannon Kazmirski (33-8) at 10 a.m. in the opening round. The smallest weight division is among the youngest, with just two seniors in the 16-wrestler bracket.

Unlike last season, Tyler will compete alone this season. Trevor Hisey, who qualified at 113 pounds last season, finished fifth at 113 pounds this year at Norwalk and is an alternate. Stashu Patterson, who placed fifth at 182 pounds, is also an alternate.