COLUMBUS — Perrysburg phenom Marcus Blaze cemented his legacy as arguably the greatest wrestler in Ohio high school history with his fourth consecutive state title on Sunday.
The senior also captured the 200th win in a historic career in which he only lost twice, winning the 150-pound weight class.
“It's a subjective topic,” Blaze said when asked if he was the greatest Ohio wrestler. “It's like when you talk about LeBron James and Michael Jordan. One person says Jordan, and one says LeBron. So it's just all for debate. You can throw me in there if you want. I don't really know. I think I just showed people how to show gratitude and be focused. I just showed how to be grateful for every opportunity you get.”
The senior sensation bowed before an applauding crowd of more than 12,000 at Ohio State University's Schottenstein Center after his 17-2 technical fall over Bradley Eaton of Lakewood St. Edward.
“That felt good, just knowing that there's a lot of people who follow what I do and they support me. It's pretty cool,” Blaze said. “That was a moment of honor for me. It's super cool.”
Even more remarkably, Blaze wrestled up two weight classes to help Perrysburg post the greatest season in program history. The Yellow Jackets had three state champions among 10 place winners. They finished third as a team, posting the most points (180.5) at the state meet in program history.
Senior Cole Evans won his third consecutive state championship, and sophomore Grey Burnett captured his second in a row. The Yellow Jackets had finished second as a team the past two years and had a program record 12 state qualifiers.
“To be transparent, I thought I was going to almost be kind of bratty if we didn't get a trophy,” Perrysburg coach Scott Burnett said. “But I'm so proud, to be honest. I'm really content. I'm grateful for the opportunity to coach these guys.”
St. John's Jesuit senior Caleb Bowman went 4-1 at the tournament and placed third at 285. Bowman (34-6) pinned Luke Cox of Lancaster at 4:03 in the consolation finals at heavyweight.
Perrysburg finished third behind Lakewood St. Edward (meet record 258 points), which won its 10th straight title, and Massillon Perry (198).
Blaze became just the 34th four-time champ and is the most successful wrestler northwest Ohio has ever produced. Genoa's Dylan D'Emilio is the only other Toledo-area wrestler to win four state titles.
“He's the GOAT,” Burnett said. “With who he has beaten and his approach and how he handles his business, he's one of the best. He jumped up to 150 for our team. You're talking about a guy going for a fourth state championship, trying to make history, and he was willing to put it all on the line for our team and our community.”
Blaze won his first state title as a freshman at 113 pounds and then at 120 as a sophomore. Last season, he went 50-1 and won the state championship at 132 pounds.
“It takes a lot, but if you're committed to a sport and you love something this much, then it's not too hard,” Blaze said. “It's a small portion of my life. I spend a lot of time with my family and friends. You have a lot of time to do everything else. But it's a commitment.”
Grey Burnett (42-2) squared off against Massillon Perry's Liston Seibert (32-4), who had placed at state last year. Burnett scored four points in the third period to beat Seibert 5-1 at 120.
“I'm grateful I get to wrestle these guys,” Grey Burnett said. “Seibert and I are two of the best in the country. It's a lot of fun competing with these guys on this stage with all these people. It's really once in a lifetime. I like to think I'm the best guy in the country. I'm just trying to prove that every week.”
The match was scoreless after the first period before Burnett took the lead in the second with an escape. He then expanded that 1-0 lead into a 5-0 cushion by turning Seibert to his back, earning four points. After a late escape by Seibert, Burnett won 5-1 and celebrated with his dad and coach in the Perrysburg corner.
“I ended up switching sides because I feel confident on both sides of the body. I wanted to get more takedowns,” Grey Burnett said. “My whole goal was trying to get bonus points at state. I'm proud of myself. I've really evolved on top this year. I've been trying to turn the elite guys rather than just holding them down. Getting points on top is really a weapon.”
Burnett credited his dad and Blaze for sharpening his skills.
“I think [Blaze] is the GOAT, especially for Ohio, but I think in all of high school wrestling,” he said. “I've learned everything from him, especially this year, with diet and workouts and mindset and recovery. I was struggling and I wasn't wrestling very well. He kind of took me under his wing and showed me a good path. I think I'm building on it.”
Scott Burnett lifted his son high in the air after the win.
“There's those days where my dad and I butt heads,” Grey Burnett said. “But then there's moments like this. I'm glad I got that guy in my corner. I wouldn't want anyone else. He's the man.”
Grey's uncle, Erik Burnett, won four state titles at Oberlin High School, and Scott won three while at Elyria Catholic.
“It's always been the goal since I was little. So, two down and two to go for me,” Grey Burnett said.
Scott Burnett's nephew, Nick, also won a state title.
“I'm proud of it,” Scott said. “Our dad [Ron] passed away eight years ago. We miss him every day. But it all started with him.”
At 157, Evans posted a 9-1 major decision over Jared Goldberg of St. Edwards. Evans also won a title last year and in 2022 as a freshman.
“It's everything I worked for,” Evans said. “It's great to be on top as a three-time state champion today. This program has really taught me a lot, just how to be tough. I wrestle with Marcus every day. So I'm able to finish takedowns on anybody. I love just being in this environment. There's people who love you, people who hate you, everybody's all here watching you wrestle.”
Perrysburg junior Alex Denkins also reached the finals at 126 but ran into two-time state champion Karson Brown (38-2) of Lakewood St. Edward. Denkins lost 16-1 to Brown, who won his third straight title.
The Yellow Jackets had six other place winners. Freshman Urijah Lopez (132) and senior Kaden Soto (144) both finished third.
Lopez decisioned Olentangy Liberty's Huggy Williams 5-4 in his third-place match. Lopez (37-8) went 5-1 in his first trip to Columbus.
Soto also posted a 5-1 record and finished the season at 33-9. Soto posted a 9-2 win over Ashland's Guardian Miller in the third-place match.
Junior Ayden Dodd (113) placed fourth. Dodd, who won a district championship, went 4-2 and finished the season 39-5.
Junior Brody Bauman (38-9 record at 138) placed fifth, while freshman Connor Bagdonas (31-9 at 106) and senior Josh Takats (38-6 at 190) both took seventh.
Clay senior Garrison Weisner (32-5) placed seventh at 126. Weisner, who had placed second at 120 last year, posted a 3-2 record.
His teammate, sophomore Gabe McNally, went 1-2 at 165 and finished with a 41-9 record. Clay junior Carter Whaley (32-16) won his first match and finished 1-2 at 190. Clay senior Joshua Medina (31-13) went 1-2 at 113.
Waite senior Phoenix Contos finished sixth at 132. Contos had finished second at 126 last season. Contos went 2-2 this time and finished with a 35-4 record.
St. John's junior Max Beck (23-11) went 1-2 at 132. Fremont Ross senior Bryce Estep (38-10) went 1-2 at 150.
Blaze, a Penn State commit, had competed all season at 138 pounds and was the lone undefeated wrestler in D-I. Competing against wrestlers 10-plus pounds heavier, Blaze went 11-0 this postseason with only one of those matches going the full six minutes.
“I've got the best support system in the entire country,” Blaze said. “I've got the best coaches in the country and teammates. They're all awesome. I love them. We're just a family together.”
After winning state last March, Blaze qualified for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials and placed third at the event in April at 57 kilograms.
“I'll continue to build off this,” he said.
First Published March 10, 2025, 1:48 a.m.
