Sectional wrestling
D-I: Saturday at Centerville.
D-II: Eaton, Tippecanoe; today and Saturday.
D-III: Lehman Catholic, Clinton-Massie; today and Saturday.
Note: Top 4 to district.
MIAMISBURG — Dayton Christian freshman 112-pounder Jacob Danishek dreams of what becoming the Crusaders’ first state wrestling champ would be like.
Tonight at Lehman Catholic High School, Danishek will take his first steps toward making that dream a reality at the Division III sectional tournament.
“I think about it every day,” said Danishek, the projected state champ in the Brakeman Report. “I close my eyes and I can imagine what the state finals would be like. To be Dayton Christian’s first state champ would be awesome.”
And the Brakeman prediction?
“It is just a prediction and it adds fuel to the fire,” Danishek said. “It doesn’t guarantee a state title. It puts a little bit of pressure on, but my goal is to be a state champ so it doesn’t really change anything. I have the same mind-set.”
The freshman’s climb to the top has not been easy. After getting into the sport nine years ago when a neighbor got him interested, Danishek has built a reputation. Last summer, he came within one match of placing at the Super 32 and lost two one-point decisions to current NCAA Division I wrestlers at the Disney Duals.
One of the main reasons for his ascent, Danishek said, is current high school coach and longtime wrestling mentor Ted Bray. They have been together seven years.
“He has fueled my desire and love for wrestling,” Danishek said. “He has done a great job of keeping me dialed into where to go to work out in the offseason; I owe a lot to him because he started it all for me.”
Danishek could be joined in the medal haul by longtime friend and workout partner and fellow freshman Christian Clary, who is ranked fifth at 103.
“He is one of the funkiest wrestlers I have ever seen,” Danishek said of Clary. “It is like wrestling a wet noodle, but he is good at what he does.
“When I get into scrambles in matches, I am prepared for it because I am used to getting into scrambles with him.”
The duo are as different as their styles. Danishek is more of a technician.
“He pushes me harder than most kids around here,” Clary said. “It would be cool (if we both placed). Hopefully, it would jump-start our program. It is not very strong yet, but it would give us some popularity.”
Clary celebrated a junior high state title last season only with a slight smile that lasted a second.
“This sport has taught me a lot about mental toughness,” he said. “It is all mental toughness. If I lose, I don’t think about it really.”
The Division II sectionals at Tipp City and Eaton and the Division III sectional at Lehman Catholic begin tonight.
The Division I sectionals at Centerville will be Saturday only. The top four in each weight class advance to the district tournament.
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