COLUMBUS – It was already special when 10 of the area’s 14 state qualifiers found their way onto podiums during Friday’s competition, but having four battling for state championships in tonight’s finals is a strong statement.

Coming away with semifinal victories were Keystone sophomore Brian Spangler, Elyria senior Kodie Egnor, University School senior Brad Wukie and St. Edward senior Anthony Salupo. Wukie is an Elyria resident and Salupo lives in Westlake.

It took Spangler just over a minute to pin Chanel’s Aaron Assad and become the Wildcats’ first-ever state finalist.

The celebration didn’t last long, however, as his twin brother, William, lost 5-4 in his semifinal.

“I should be happy right now, but I’m not because I was really hoping we’d both be in the finals,” Brian said. “I’m still pretty excited about wrestling in the state final, and being the first state finalist from Keystone is pretty cool, too.

I was already the first freshman to place (last year) for the school.”

Earning a trip to the championship match – where he will face CVCA freshman Nathan Tomasello – must have been a relief for Spangler, almost as much as the fact he doesn’t have to cut down for his 103-pound weight class anymore.

“It’s been hard making the cut all year,” he said. “But I knew it’d be worth it once I got down here. I think Thursday was the last time I was ever going to see 104 pounds.”

Egnor’s appearance in the final might be the most surprising of the four wrestlers. He came into the Division I tournament as a No. 3 seed, beat two returning state placers and avenged his lone district loss against Medina’s Matt Hammer to earn his spot.

“It’s a real confidence booster,” Egnor said. “It was a close match, too. If you win the close ones, it’s even more exciting.”

Egnor will face two-time state champion Jamie Clark from St. Edward. The pair met at the Southview sectional tournament as freshmen – Clark came away with a 19-4 technical fall – and have been training partners in the past.

“I’ll just have to try and outwrestle him,” Egnor said. “I really wanted to make it to the finals. You come out and there’s flames and it’s all dark in the arena … that pushed me.”

Salupo defeated Sandusky’s Jerrel Valliant 5-2 and will face nemesis Brad Squire of Wadsworth in tonight’s final, while Wukie earned an 8-5 decision over Franklin’s Eric Hildenbrand and will face St. Paris Graham’s Kyle Ryan in the Division II 160-pound final.

“I just want to end my career on top,” said Wukie, who attended St. Mary’s in downtown Elyria until the eighth grade. “I’ve got about 20 to 30 people here from Elyria, including family and some of my friends from grade school, to support me. I hope to come through for them.”

Wukie reached the state final as a freshman only to lose a one-point decision in overtime. He suffered tournament-ending injuries to his elbows and knee the last two years.

“I got my one injury this year during the (Walsh Jesuit) Ironman,” said Wukie, who didn’t return to the lineup until the Premier Athletic Conference tournament. “So I’m hoping I’m all good in that regard.”

Contact Shaun Bennett at 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com.

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