Gordon finishes wrestling career at state meet

Jayden Gordon won NBC and District titles on his way to qualifying for the state meet. / Pride of the Panthers

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

Jayden Gordon had already etched his name into Maumee wrestling history by winning Northern Buckeye Conference and Division II district titles at 175 pounds.

To Panthers coach Brian Buck, though, Gordon’s most meaningful accomplishment came when he qualified for last weekend’s state tournament in Columbus.

“We have boards in the (wrestling) room and it shows league individual champs, state qualifiers and placers. I have always told the kids that I would trade my league title for my name to be on the state board,” Buck said. “Sometimes you can become a league champ by winning two matches; to become a state qualifier, you have to grind out two tournaments to get there, and each one you have to be top four. So to make it is a big deal, there is no easy road.”

Gordon was one of the last 16 wrestlers in his weight class standing in the entire state. As the fourth seed from his district, he faced the northeast district’s individual champ, Christopher Maloney of Cleveland Benedictine. Maloney earned the win with a pin in the first period; Maloney went on to finish fifth.

In Gordon’s first match in the consolation bracket, he faced Eli Wright of Westfall. Gordon’s time in the state meet came to an end with a second-period pin to Wright.

“I know Jayden was really disappointed, and that it's going to take some time to get over the losses,” Buck said. “I do know that he is a competitor and that he wants to continue wrestling in college and things like this will just make you more motivated and continue to chase after your dreams.”

Gordon was the first state qualifier for the Panther since Tommy Gast in 2023. Buck said it’s always nice to get a state qualifier from the program.

“We had many emails and texts congratulating us for getting a qualifier from former alums, fans and coaches,” Buck said. “We all understand how hard it is, and it’s something to celebrate.”

He also said future Maumee wrestlers can look at the work and dedication Gordon put in and know what it takes to reach the pinnacle of high school wrestling in Ohio.

“They should also understand that they need to make sure they put in time in the offseason, as much as possible,” Buck said. “I told our kids, I highly encourage you to get involved in a spring sport and a fall sport, but if you’re not doing those then you're on the wrestling deck getting better.

“We had a great group of seniors who won 100 matches as juniors and this year won 202. We have a young team next year and those guys are going to have to step up and work hard like these seniors did the past four years.”

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

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