Gordon punches ticket for state wrestling tourney

Maumee's Jayden Gordon qualified for the Division II state wrestling tournament. / Pride of the Panthers

By JEREMY SCHNEIDER

IMA SPORTS

Last year, Jayden Gordon didn’t participate in the postseason, biding his time behind upperclassmen.

He made up for the wait this year.

Gordon finished fourth in the 175-pound weight class at Saturday’s Division II district tournament at Norwalk High School, clinching a spot in this weekend’s state tournament in Columbus.

He’s the first state qualifier for the Panther since Tommy Gast in 2023 and only the second since 2018.

Gordon easily won his first match at the district tournament, a 9-2 decision over Shelby’s Christian Santiz. He then won his second match over Zach Kreider of Lima Shawnee with a second-period pin.

Gordon’s first loss of the day came in the semifinals when he was pinned in the first period by Blake Schlosser of Clear Fork.

Gordon rallied in the consolation bracket, though, winning his first match with a 17-12 decision over Norwalk’s Kevin Howard before losing to Wauseon’s Kale Waxler in the third-place match.

Gordon will open the state tournament on Friday against Cleveland Benedictine’s Christopher Maloney, the district champion from northeast Ohio.

Maumee’s Kamari Braswell won his first match at the 215-pound weight class before losing his next two to bow out of the tournament.

At the 144-pound weight class, Zayvion Bradley won his first match before losing his second and going to the consolation bracket. He won his first match there before losing in his second.

Also competing for Maumee were Charlie Skeels (132 pounds), Landon Coy (138), Alex Dolder (150) and Bryson Bonds-Crawford (165).

Photo courtesy of Pride of the Panthers

Reach IMA at insidemaumeeathletics@gmail.com