Fastest pins
The fastest pins, officially verified, according the Ohio High School Athletic Association:
3 seconds: Zane Nelson, Apple Creek Waynedale (2011); Burt Kennedy, Pomeroy Meigs (1991)
4 seconds: Peter Ryan, Boardman (2012); Jake Hogan, Shelby (2010); Logan Michel, Sarahsville Shenandoah (2008-2009); Marcus Moser, Defiance Tinora (2008-2009); Spencer Hershey, Northwestern (2005); Ben Llanas, Pemberville Eastwood (2004); Andy Lahmers, Gnadenhutten Indian Valley (2003); Mitch Aring, Pemberville Eastwood (2000); Anthony Reed, Gibsonburg (1988); Larry Smith, Batavia (1987); Roger Jackson, Warsaw River View; Antonio Jeremiah, Hilliard Darby.
5 seconds: Dalton Ishmael, North Baltimore (2012); Max Brooke, Canfield South Range (2012); Dixon Johnson, Shelby (2012); Zane Nelson, Apple Creek Waynedale (2011); Tyler Heminger, Glaion Northmor (2010-2011); Paul Gryniuk, Washington Court House Washington (2010-2011); Corby Running, Clinton-Massie (2009); Cory Clolinger, Batavia Amelia (2008); Eric Wright, Tri-County North (2003-2004); Casey Rinehart, Sarahsville Shenandoah (2002-2003); Rick Pusateri, Sandusky Perkins (2002); Cole Carpenter, Benjamin Logan (2001-2002); Ryan Wulber, Versailles (1995); Jake Davlin, Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic (1993-1994); Scott Parsons, Vincent Warren (1989-1990); Tony Iddings, Covington (1987-1988); Tony Walker, Wellsville (1982); Kevin Dick, Montpelier (1970-1971)
Wrestler Devin Nye needed only five seconds to overwhelm an opponent at the Napoleon Gold Duals on Jan. 17-18. The Springfield High School senior took the match official by surprise, too.
Nye’s five-second pin matched the third-fastest time in state history, according to the Ohio High School Athletic Association’s record book. His five-second pin tied him with 18 wrestlers dating back to 1970.
And it could have been quicker.
“I kind of pushed his head down, then I got my arm under his arm and kind of threw him onto his back,” Nye said of the pin that came against a West Carrollton wrestler. “He was actually down in four but the ref didn’t get down (to the mat) in time.”
According to the OHSAA’s list, 12 wrestlers have recorded pins four seconds. Two wrestlers have recorded pins in three seconds.
Nye’s response to the blink-and-you-missed-it takedown?
“He said next match he’s going to try and get a faster pin,” Springfield coach Virgil Goodwine said of Nye, whose previous best was a seven-second pin last season. “I wasn’t surprised. We told him to make sure all his matches end real quick. Devin is an amazing young man. He just went after him. It was over pretty quick.”
Nye enters this weekend’s Greater Western Ohio Conference championship meet looking to reclaim his title in the 220-pound weight class. He won the title as a sophomore in 2012 by pinning Butler’s then-junior Nathan Martin. He lost it to Martin in 2013 in a tough 1-0 decision.
That loss, or any defeat for that matter, didn’t sit well with Nye.
“Before (junior high) it was something I did, then I lost a couple times in middle school and really didn’t like that. I didn’t want to lose again so I kept doing it. Now I love it,” he said.
“I don’t like to lose and I’m not going to accept losing. I don’t like getting scored on. I don’t like people showing dominance over me.”
That hasn’t happened often. Nye is Springfield’s all-time leader in wins with a record of 156-17. His 129 career pins is also a record.
Nye is also a two-time state qualifier. He finished fifth in the 220 class in 2013. A state championship is the goal this year.
After this season he’ll continue wrestling at Kent State University. He took a visit in December, was offered a scholarship the first of the year and recently accepted. Nye plans to redshirt his freshman season.
After that, watch out or you might miss something.
“He’s a fierce competitor. He’s a warrior,” Goodwine said. “He trains hard, he executes moves real well. I think he was born to wrestle.”
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