Creek’s Corba leads area charge into state wrestling finals

Nick Corba of Beavercreek celebrates a win over Richard Richardson at 170 lbs. during the semi-final round of the Ohio high school wrestling championships at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Friday, March 1, 2013. Barbara J. Perenic/Staff

Credit: Barbara Perenic

Credit: Barbara Perenic

Nick Corba of Beavercreek celebrates a win over Richard Richardson at 170 lbs. during the semi-final round of the Ohio high school wrestling championships at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus on Friday, March 1, 2013. Barbara J. Perenic/Staff

Beavercreek senior 170-pounder Nick Corba couldn’t hide the smile.

Corba’s takedown midway through the sudden-victory overtime period Friday gave him a 7-5 win over Maple Heights’ Richard Robertson and a spot in the Division I state championships tonight at the Schottenstein Center.

“There is nothing as exciting as winning the semis in overtime,” Corba said after becoming the first Beaver to wrestle for a state title since David Clemens in 2005. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, I’m a state finalist.’ I have been training for this my whole life.”

Corba led 5-4 heading into the third period before letting Robertson up to tie the match 5-5 and set up overtime.

“We were both gassed, but I knew at the end I wanted it more than he did,” Corba said. “I was going to take my time and get (to the finals).”

Troy Christian and Dayton Christian combined to advance five to the finals, as eight local wrestlers will take their shot at a state title tonight.

Troy Christian moved defending state champ BJ Toal (182), Jarred Ganger (113) and Garrett Hancock (120) to the finals in taking a 13-point lead into the final day with 76.5 points. Dayton Christian will have Christian Clary (113) and Jacob Danishek (145) going for a title as they sit in third with 63 points.

Danishek, the two-time champ, ran up eight takedowns in claiming a 23-8 technical fall in the semis.

“About halfway through the season I changed my mindset that I wanted to dominate every match,” said Danishek, who will face Dixie’s Matt Buxton in the finals. “I want to wrestle like they don’t deserve to be on the same mat.”

Bellbrook’s Cameron Kelly has battled through a torn MCL in his right knee to move into his second consecutive title match. The defending state champ moved into the D-II 113 finals with a 7-2 win in the semis.

“I have had a lot of friends who get hurt and throw in the towel and I told myself back then that I would man up and wrestle,” Kelly said. “I have tried not to think about (the knee); all I am focused on is the ultimate goal of winning a second state title.”

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