Mozden ends 40-year state title drought for Alliance
COLUMBUS — Aidan Mozden’s senior year sounds like something out of the movies.
After a serious knee injury in football season, he thought he would not wrestle his senior year. He only got cleared to compete at the start of February.
Now, he can claim to be Alliance’s third state champion and first since Keith Cameron in 1984.
Mozden secured his Hollywood ending by scoring a pin in the Division II 285-pound state final Sunday.
“It’s been a long year for me,” Mozden said. “I just knew I had to put in a lot of work. I’ll remember this for the rest of my life.”
Mozden was joined by four state champions from Buckeye, which led the Bucks to their first Division II state runner-up trophy since 1992. Buckeye finished with 125 points, as St. Paris Graham won its 22nd consecutive state championship with 135.5.
The Bucks got state titles from Blake Bartos (113), Colyn Limbert (120), Kaden King (157) and Eddie Neitenbach (190).
Woodridge’s Steven Duffy also wrestled in the 175-pound final, but was pinned by defending state champion Gunner Cramblett of Graham.
Aidan Mozden’s fairy tale ending ends 40-year state wrestling title drought for Alliance
Mozden’s championship victory allowed him to avenge his only loss this season, a 3-2 decision to Hawken’s Will Greenberg in the Kenston district final.
“I wasn’t expecting to dominate,” Mozden said. “I just needed to go out and not be so defensive and stay offensive. I watched him wrestle his semifinal match. I saw that, the more offense there is, the less likely he will be to go on offense.”
Attacking from the start, Mozden scored a takedown in the first period and rode Greenberg out. He then got a reversal, two takedowns and two-point nearfall in the second to take a 8-3 lead.
“I knew he was going to try [to throw me] once he charged me to start the third,” Mozden said. “I just had to let him do that and work my offense off of him.”
Mozden countered Greenberg’s throw attempt perfectly, planting the larger foe on his back and getting the pin in 5:08.
Mozden shared a hug with his family after the win, including one with sister Abigail Mozden, who placed third earlier Sunday.
Mozden’s elation was matched by Duffy’s disappointment.
Duffy tried to go right at Cramblett, but was hit with a takedown about 30 seconds in. Cramblett then hit a tilt on Duffy and scored the pin in 55 seconds.
“He’s an outstanding wrestler,” Duffy said. “I wanted to come out and kind of give it everything I had. I know I gave everything I have. I came out offensive, but he’s just fantastic. I tip my hat to him.”
Canton South’s Dom Prosperi, Louisville’s Kolten Barker place third at OHSAA state wrestling
Earlier Sunday, two local grapplers closed their seasons with third-place finishes.
Canton South’s Dom Prosperi became the Wildcats’ highest placer in a decade. He defeated Graham’s Jake
Landis to place third at 106 pounds.
“It was crazy for sure,” Prosperi said. “The week before, I dinged up both of my thumbs, but I just taped them up and went. I feel like I could have done a few things better, but overall I did well.”
The sophomore said his goal is to win Canton South’s first state title.
Meanwhile, Louisville’s Kolten Barker was third at 126 pounds, despite being able to use only one hand.
“Two weeks ago, I broke my hand in practice,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t think I was going to wrestle.”
Barker beat Graham’s Blaine Demarco for the second time in tournament to take third, pulling out a 3-2 win.
“It’s a little bittersweet,” Barker said. “It’s the last time I’ll wrestle in this arena, but I love it.”
St. Vincent-St. Mary had a bit of a rough placement round, but the Irish finished with four state placers in Christian Osborne (120 pounds, sixth place), Taggart Wade (138, seventh), Rylan Hurley (157, sixth) and Andy Vanscoy (215, sixth).
Other Division II Greater Akron/Canton placers included Marlington’s Aiden Bean (113, fourth), Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy’s Dylan Hart (132, sixth), Alliance’s Jackson Eddy (190, sixth), Streetsboro’s Anthony Sindelar (120, seventh) and Minerva’s Hunter Dietrich (175, seventh).