Wrestling: A rich OH Rocket tradition

Sports Writer

On Friday February 12th and Saturday February 13th this year Oak Harbor Rocket Senior wrestlers will have an opportunity that has never happened to any class before on the wrestling mats.

They have a chance to win a 4th consecutive SBC Wrestling Tournament Championship at Sandusky Perkins High School.

Seniors Drew Stone, Mike Mallernee, Zack Sandwisch, Zach Bergman, and Dillion Stiger will embrace that opportunity. Many great wrestlers and teams have adorned the red and green cygnets, but never 4 in a row.

Including the last three the Rockets have captured 7 SBC tournament championships, 11 SLL championships when they were members of that conference in the 1970s and 1980s.

Eight sectional team championships, the last in 2007 the first in 1979. Seven District or Regional championships, and 12 times finishing in the top ten at the State of Ohio Championships in Columbus. Of those top ten finishes were in the runner-up spot in 1981 and 2008.

If not for super power St Paris Graham the Rockets very well could have a state championship banner hanging in the Rocket gymnasium.

Wrestling is a unique blend of individual and team. Nineteen Rocket wrestlers have stood at the top of the podium as state champions.

Jeff Winke started the parade of champions in 1974 as the littlest of all at 98lbs. The very next year Mark Mayer would follow as the 155lb state champion. Then the Rockets would start a trend of dual winners first with Carlos Mincheff, current OH Booster president winning in 1980 & 1981 at 145lbs.

Rob Huston matched that with 98lb championships, winning in 1981 & 1982. Greg Goad dominated the 145lb and 155lb weight classes in 1984 & 1985 as a state champion. Then came the Miller family with Ferd at 185lbs winning state in 1986 & 1987, Chad the 1989 152lb state champion and Tait grabbing the state championship at 135lbs in 1995.

Probably the most decorated and well-known state champion for OH was JD Bergman winning state in 2002 & 2003 at the 189lb weight class. JD would continue to be in the collegiate wrestling spotlight starring as an Ohio State Buckeye placing in the NCAAs several years.

Cody Magrum then placed himself in the Rocket record books as the first three time state champion winning the 171lb weight class in 2006 & 2007 and moving up a notch in the weights to win the 189lb class in 2008.

Two other state championships occurred in 2008 with Kirk Tank at 152lbs and Keith Witt at 171lbs.

All said and done 57 Rocket wrestlers have placed in the top eight spots at State in the last 37 years.

This years seniors are only beginning writing their names in the Rocket wrestling history books as their travels the next three weeks will take them from the wrestling mats at Sandusky Perkins to Shelby to Marion Harding and finally to the big stage at Columbus.