14-0 Golden Bears seek fourth straight SBC title

Gibsonburg wrestling’s return of 10 lettermen, led by junior Connor Smith and senior Dominick Whetsel, is paying dividends.

The Golden Bears are undefeated, 14-0, in three dual tournaments. Including invitationals, the Golden Bears are 97-31 entering the new year.

At the Gibsonburg Duals in early December, the Bears defeated Paulding, 72-12, Elmwood, 44-37, Fostoria, 63-12, Perkins, 54-24 and Norwalk, 50-30.

One week later at the Hopewell-Loudon Duals, the Bears downed Fremont Ross, 36-34, H-L, 64-12, Margaretta, 60-18, and Port Clinton, 67-6.

One week after that, Gibsonburg defeated Woodward, 78-0, Margaretta, 64-12, Northwestern, 50-30, Northwood, 78-0, and Mohawk 50-24. 

See a trend? Gibsonburg is defeating everyone so far in dual meets, including larger schools from the Three Rivers Athletic Conference and Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division.

Not too much of a surprise. The Bears were 14-6 in dual meets last year, SBC River Division champions, and placed sixth at the sectional meet, 19th at districts and 38th at the state tournament.

“I believe our strengths are leadership and dedication from our seniors and juniors,” Gibsonburg coach Greg Spoores said. “These young men are always putting in the work whether it is during practice or in the weight room before school and after practice. They have contagious positive attitudes and the other kids rally around them.

“If I had to pick a weakness it would be the one open spot in the lineup we have and some of the young wrestlers we have in the lineup still learning the sport while trying to help the team any way they can,” Spoores continued.

“With the dedication, determination, and discipline it takes to be successful in the sport of wrestling these young men show us time and time again they are willing to do what is takes to be successful and as coaches that is what we love to see.”

In seven years at Gibsonburg, Spoores has amassed nine state qualifiers and four state placers. He has a 97-31 dual meet record. 

Gibsonburg will be looking for their fourth straight River Division championship this year. 

“With the returning wrestlers we have and some younger kids looking to contribute as well, we fully expect to compete for the top spot in the SBC River Division again this year and bring home our fourth straight SBC league championship,” Spoores said. 

“With all three divisions completing in our league tournament once again this season I believe it is arguably the toughest tournament in Northwest Ohio.”

Under Spoores’ tutelage, they also won three Toledo City League championships (2015-17). Since 2015, Gibsonburg failed to win a league championship just once, in 2018, when the team had no league to participate in.

Smith returns after winning a league and sectional title, was district runner-up and fourth at the state meet at 152 pounds. Whetsel is a returning two-time district qualifier looking to join Smith in Columbus in March.

“These wrestlers should lead the team not only by example in the (wrestling) room but in competition as well. We expect big things from these young men,” Spoores said. “Smith and Whetsel are very dedicated athletes and natural leaders in and out of the wrestling room.”

One point ultimately proved to be the difference last year for Smith during the Division III state wrestling meet.

For Smith, 42-3, it was a 3-2 loss to Garfield freshman Keegan Sell (31-4) in the quarterfinals that set the table. Still, Smith placed two spots higher than Sell, who ended up in sixth. But Smith would have liked to have that match back, says Spoores.

“He was definitely a little disappointed. He had one match that he didn’t wrestle his best, and we talked about it afterwards,” Spoores said. “He lost in the last seconds of the match, and it was a little heartbreaking for him. He got a takedown right at the buzzer that would have won it for him, but it was just not in time. He just didn’t wrestle like himself. It is not that he wasn’t aggressive, it was just not like he usually is.”

To get to the quarterfinal, Smith won by default over Greenon senior Evan Davis (30-9). After the loss to Sell, Smith went on a tear. 

“He absolutely picked it up,” Spoores said. “We talked about it after the match, and he refocused, and he wrestled like a kid on a mission that was going to settle for nothing less. I just kept telling him, ‘You know, live the moment one moment at a time. You cannot worry about the next match. Take care of this one. You came here with a goal, so let’s make sure we get there.’”

Other returning seniors include Cole Pietrowski, Antonio Villarreal, Nick Hiser, D.J. Ornlef and Bryson Leavitt.

“They have stepped up as leaders in the weight room in the off season and have also drawn in more wrestlers to follow their lead,” Spoores said. “The seniors should be ready to step up and shine after solid junior seasons.  

“Juniors Alex Porteous and Kollin Bruns as well as sophomore Adan Miller are also looking to impact the varsity lineup in a positive fashion. Possibly one of the biggest sleepers could be freshman Antonio Salazar who is off to an impressive start to his first varsity season at 14-0,” Spoores continued.