Second-year head coach Justin Edgell and his coaching staff didn't know what kind of expectations they should have for this year’s Gibsonburg wrestling team.

“We have a solid senior class,” Edgell said this week. “This is my sixth year with these seniors. I was the middle school coach, and when they moved up to high school, I moved up with them. We had a few kids not come out who we expected to come out this year. Our freshmen and sophomores have stepped up, and our seniors and juniors have done exactly what we thought they were going to do.”

Gibsonburg's five seniors - Jacob Kissell at 132 pounds, Ryan Widmer (138), Damon Escobedo (152), Dee Ernsberger (160) and Jared Columber (285) – had the Bears at 11-5 in dual meets, including 6-1 in the Ohio Wrestling League, heading into Friday's meet at Delta.

Gibsonburg wrestlers climb a hill during pre-season Marine like conditioning at White Star Park. (Photo courtesy of Gibsonburg wrestling Faebook page)

Gibsonburg is in its first year in the OWL after many years in the now-defunct Suburban Lakes League. The Bears were the preseason choice to finish second behind Arcadia at the Feb. 11 OWL Tournament at McComb High School.

Arcadia handed the Bears their lone OWL dual loss this season and finished ahead of Gibsonburg at the 23-team Van Buren Invitational and at the Golden Bear Invitational.

“We have some ground to make up,” Edgell said, adding that the Bears “have put together some of the best practices we've ever had the last few weeks, to get ready for the end of the season.”

Widmer, who is 34-2, has won three tournaments this season – the Golden Bear, St. John's Jesuit, and the Woodmore 'A' Classic. He has 145 career victories and 89 career pins.

Escobedo (33-2) has won every tournament the Bears have competed in the season. He was the MVP at the 'A' Classic and has set career school records for wins (160) and pins (103). Escobedo was a state qualifier as a sophomore and a state alternate last year.

Kissel (26-10) was a district qualifier last year and is 10 wins shy of 100 for his career.

“Kissell had had a solid season,” Edgell said. “We are expecting some big things from him.”

Ernsberger is rounding into form after missing the first half of the season. A district qualifier as a junior, he is 5-2 this season. Columber (19-3) did not wrestle as a freshman, sophomore or junior and missed the last few weeks due to injury.

“He is now back with the team,” Edgell said, “and he's had a very good season so far.”

Another wrestler who is turning in an impressive season is freshman Dan Henline at 170 pounds. Henline has a 23-8 record, with all 23 wins coming by pin, and he took second place at the Golden Bear Invite and 'A' Classic.

“He's put together a solid season for us,” Edgell said. “He stepped in and has done a great job. He's got one of the best headlocks I've ever seen. We're continuously working to get him to set it up as opposed to forcing it. We've had him teach the team what he's doing.”

Junior 195-pounder Nick Metcalf, who had to sit out last season after transferring from Maumee, has a 27-8 record.

“He practiced with us every single day and it's paid off for him this year,” said Edgell, who said he is also pleased with the performance of sophomore Jacob Auld at 220 pounds.

“He had a pretty rough year as a freshman,” the coach said, “but he's turned it around. He has 20 victories this year and took third at St. John's and third at the Golden Bear. He's a weight room guy. He's bulked up and improved his flexibility.”

The rest of the Bears' lineup includes junior Gage Collins (106), a two-time district qualifier who has more than 20 victories this season, sophomore Mena Mendoza (126), a first-year wrestler, and freshmen Troy Ickes (120), A.J. Blausey (145) and Tyler Hovis (182).

“Mena is very stubborn and hard-nosed,” Edgell said. “She has a concussion right now and it's killing her, because she wants to be back on the mat.”

Gibsonburg, a Division III program, will compete at the Elmwood sectional, with the top four placers advancing to the district tournament at Owens Community College.

“Our sectional has improved,” Edgell said. “The Owens district is by far the toughest D-III district in the state of Ohio. I think the team is peaking at the right time. Our goal all season has been to be league champs. We have a hill to climb with Arcadia, and we still feel we can do it.”

Edgell credited assistant coaches Dennis Druso and Steve Liechty and volunteer coaches Jerry Widmer and Richard Escobedo, both Gibsonburg graduates, for the team's success this season.

“I think we've all done a great job this year with this team,” Edgell said.

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