By: Carrie Kimmel
The air was electric in The Schottenstein Center arena as the top wrestlers from across the state converged for a weekend of intense competition. The annual state wrestling tournament showcased the grit, skill, and determination of athletes who had battled their way through rigorous qualifiers to earn a shot at glory. For many, it was the culmination of years of dedication on the mat – a chance to etch their names into the history books.
Among the standouts were three local wrestlers, whose performances captured the hearts of the crowd. With nail-biting matches, stunning comebacks, and displays of pure tenacity, these wrestlers proved they were a force to be reckoned with. Each grapple and pin brought them one step closer to the ultimate prize. These local wrestlers included Paulding sophomore Thor (Stroker) Etter and freshman Civil Pumphrey as well as Wayne Trace senior Corbin Kimmel.
In a tournament brimming with talent, Stroker Etter stunned the crowd by going above and beyond expectations to secure a podium finish. In the 144-pound weight class, the sophomore dominated in a first round win against Jack McDevitt of Jackson-Milton with a score of 9-2 advancing him to day two of the competition. In a hard fought second round battle, Etter was edged out by Gunnar Gossett of Union Local with a score of 14-11. After an early setback, Etter battled through the grueling consolation bracket with a tech fall win over Charlie Puklavec of Independence with a score of 16-0. Etter then pinned opponent Peyton Schafer of Elmwood in 2 minutes and 28 seconds. In the final match of the weekend, Etter demonstrated grit and mental toughness to defeat Christophe Marshall of Centerburg in a sudden victory overtime win with a score of 8-7. With an exceptional display of talent, Stroker Etter finished the tournament in 3rd place on the podium.
A true force on the mat, Corbin Kimmel demonstrated his standout abilities, placing among the top competitors at state. With a tireless work ethic and remarkable determination, Kimmel returned to the state tournament for his third appearance and second placement. In the 120-pound weight class, the senior overpowered Collin Eckman of Clearview with a 28 second pin advancing him to day two of the competition. Despite a valiant effort in the second round, Kimmel fell short to Tyler Barnes of Delta with a final score of 6-4. Kimmel rebounded from the loss impressively to secure a place on the podium by pinning Xander Gfell-King of Milan Edison in just two minutes and 20 seconds. In the following round, Kimmel was ultimately defeated by Isaak Skelly of Waynedale with a final score of 4-0. In Corbin’s last high school competition and final match at the state tournament, Kimmel pined Ethan Cantrell of West Union in 3 minutes and 24 seconds to finish the tournament in 7th place on the podium. Kimmel brough an end to an outstanding high school wrestling career.
Breaking barriers, Civil Pumphrey made history as the first girl in the county to qualify for the state wrestling tournament. In the groundbreaking moment, Pumphrey pinned her first opponent, Aliyah Frederick of Julienne in five minutes and 16 seconds. This significant win qualified Pumphrey to advance to the second day of competition. On day two, Pumphrey was defeated by Mackenzie Carder of Olentangy Orange with a final score of 16-0. After the tough loss, Civil was pinned by Arden Heckman of Wester North in 47 seconds. By competing at the highest level, Civil made Paulding County proud with her outstanding effort and sportsmanship.
Congratulations to Stroker Etter, Corbin Kimmel, and Civil Pumphrey for their incredible achievements and their dedication to representing their schools and Paulding County with honor!
