At the Ohio Division III wrestling competition, which is scheduled to get underway at 3 p.m. today at Schottenstein, Jeremy Border has some unfinished business to attend to on the mat.
A three-time state placer, the Caldwell senior wrestling standout, who's planning to compete at the college level after graduation, was fourth (103 pounds) as a frosh, seventh (112) as a sophomore and runner-up (125) last season.
Now, Border wants to be champion.
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Caldwell’s four-time state qualifier Jeremy Border goes for a pin during last season state wrestling meet in Columbus. The Redskin standout is a three-time placer at state.
"That's his goal," said second-year Caldwell head wrestling coach Tom Brown. "He wants to be at the top on the podium."
Border (47-2 this season and 158-12 career), who will be wrestling in the 132-pound weight class, is scheduled to face Elmore Woodmore senior and district fourth-placer Dexter Emch (36-7) in his opening bout. When the competition begins, Border will have plenty of company and support as four of his Redskin teammates will also be wrestling in the tournament.
"We think there's only one other team in Division III that has more wrestlers than us at state," Brown said. "And, to the best of our knowledge, we don't believe Caldwell's ever had five wrestlers at state before. I think four might have been the most.
"We're hoping to be in the mix for the team title. Our goal is to be in the top 10 - to be on the board as they say."
Also competing at state for Caldwell will be Zac Cline (138, 47-4), Jared Leasure (152, 21-8), Kale Rayner (160, 48-2), and Tim Schenkel (220, 37-7).
Cline, a No. 4 placer at district, will be pitted against district champion Zane Nelson (44-4) of Apple Creek Waynesdale in his opening bout.
Leasure, a No. 4 placer at district, is slated to face district champion Jordan Cowell (60-2) of Archbold.
Rayner, a district champion with state tournament experience, will be tangling with No. 4 district placer Jacob McAdams (34-9) of Jamestown Greenview. The Caldwell junior was 0-2 at the state meet in 2011.
"I like Kale's chances at state this year," Brown said.
Schenkel, a No. 4 placer at district, will be mixing it up with district champion Kennedy Smith (21-3) of Bedford St. Peter Chanel.
"Everybody's healthy at this time of the year, except for the normal bumps and bruises," Brown said. "It's been fun to see all the fan support that we've been receiving."
Caldwell will be heading Columbus-way in a 15-passenger van, and staying at the Red Roof Inn, Brown said.
Red? Makes sense since that's one of Caldwell's school colors.
Also competing on the mat at state today will be Monroe Central junior Zac Potts, a third-place finisher in the district tournament.
