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Mat Cats Finish 6th at Districts; Send 4 Wrestlers to Columbus

By Joe Ginley, 03/06/17, 1:30PM EST

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Thirteen Wildcats entered one of the hardest District Tournament brackets in the state this weekend. 

An impressive our Saint Ignatius wrestlers emerged with hard-earned berths to Columbus – three as state qualifiers and one as an alternate. 

Kaden Russell (182), Michael Drobnick (195), and Aidan Gill (220) punched tickets to the OHSAA Division I Individual Wrestling State Tournament as state qualifiers, while Cal Miller (170) carved out a spot as an alternate.

As a team, the Mat Cats finished 6th out of 39 teams with 90.5 points, an impressive feat considering the competition, which featured strong teams such as Wadsworth and Massillon Perry. 

Russell notched a 2nd place finish at Districts, recording two decisions and a tech fall en route to the title bout, where he fell to Victor Marcelli of Massillon Jackson in an 8-2 decision. 

Drobnick took fourth at 195, claiming two victories, a pin and decision, before falling to the eventual second place finisher, Aaron Naples of Brunswick. Drobnick then tabbed a pin to secure his place in the third place match, where he dropped a close 3-1 decision. 

Gill similarly claimed fourth at 220, winning two matches, losing one, winning his next, and falling in the 3rd place match. Gill, also a standout on the football field and rugby pitch, showed determination  in his state qualifying win. The junior won in the ultimate tie breaking round, 3-2. 

Freshman phenom Najee Lockett also ended his season well. Lockett made it to the consolation semi-finals (just one match away from the state tournament) before suffered an injury and was forced to accept a medical default to 6th place. Lockett has the wrestling coaching staff, and many Wildcats' fans, excited about the future. 

The Mat Cats received strong performances from Johnny Novak (106), Quade Rasmussen (145), and Logan Toth (160). These three Mat Cats battled deep into the tournament and won multiple matches. 

As for next weekend, the state tournament is set to begin on Thursday. To win the state championship, a wrestler must win five matches.

Russell will begin his run to the title versus Mark Kimbrell (40-8) of Kettering Alter. Drobnick will start off the tournament against a very tough opponent, Max Wright of Delaware Hayes. Wright has a 29-1 mark on the year. Gill also faces a very difficult foe, Jared Campbell of St. Edward. Campbell enters the weekend with a near-flawless 38-1 record.

For the full tournament schedule, click here. For all of the tournament information, click here.  

Congratulations to the Mat Cats on a strong showing at Districts. Good luck this weekend, men!