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For Matt Webster, the question has never been about whether he was strong enough to get to the state wrestling tournament.
But, the Jefferson senior has learned that getting that ticket to Columbus takes more than just being the strongest guy on the mat.
Webster will enter the Division II district tournament Friday night as a top seed in the 215-pound bracket at Kenston High School.
Coming off a sectional championship last weekend at Akron Saint Vincent Saint Mary, Webster enters the second to last weekend of the postseason with a record of 40-7.
He won the two tournaments this season, the Ashtabula County Tournament and the Saint Clairsville Whiteside Invitational.
Webster took third at the highly-competitive Top Gun in Alliance and second at the Chagrin Valley Conference tournament, losing on a late reversal to Madison’s Chase White, who was a state placer a year ago.
This will be Webster’s third trip to districts, and he hopes that being a little more prudent on the mat will be the difference between going to Columbus instead of going home.
“Last year, I lost in the blood round,” he said. “I got a boot in and he rolled me to my back. It was against a kid that I won a major decision against earlier in the year.”
Experiences like that one, though, are what makes Webster believe he can go a bit further this time.
“I actually wrestled heavyweight this year,” he said. “That helped me wrestle more basic, I didn’t want to risk anything. I learned to wrestle smarter.”
Falcons coach Cody Lewis said there was serious consideration to keep Webster at 285 all season.
He split a pair of matches with Conneaut’s potential state qualifier Ben Griswold, and Steubenville’s Beau Hudson, who wrestled in Columbus in 2025.
“We thought about ‘should we make him a quick fast heavyweight?’” Lewis said. “But, the way his style is, I think he’s better suited for 215.”
Webster had the strength though to tangle with competitors as much as 70 pounds heavier.
“I was never on the mat with anyone I wasn’t stronger than,” he said.
Lewis has known that for awhile now.
“I’ve been coaching him since he was in sixth grade and he’s always been extremely strong.” the coach said. “He’s just a freakish athlete.”
The strength has always been there, now it’s putting all of his experience together this weekend.
“He was in the perfect position last year,” Lewis said. “He made a mistake, a wrestling mistake and it cost him. He defensive-pinned himself in the go-to state match.
“That’s one of the things we’ve been focussed on, ‘hey we’re big and strong, but lets’ make sure we’re still making good wrestling decisions.’”
Webster will open the tournament against Warren Howland senior Owen Drehar, who has a record of 27-12 and took fourth at the West Branch sectional tournament.
If he takes care of business in the first round, he’ll face the winner of Cleveland Villa-Angela St. Joseph sophomore Jordaine Taylor and Northwest senior Jaxon Sillman.
If Webster gets to the semifinals, he’ll likely face West Branch senior Gavin Hang, who is 43-1 on the season and was ranked third in the state, according to Borofan.net.
“His draw is pretty much set up where if he can do what he needs to do, he has a pretty good shot to qualify,” Lewis said. “I’m not going to guarantee anything, there’s a lot of good wrestlers in our district. But, I like our path and I like how he’s wrestling right now. He’s as big and strong as any 215 you’re going to find.”
“I’d love to do it,” said of getting to Columbus. “The last two years I’ve felt like I had a pretty good shot, this year I need to do it.”
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But, the Jefferson senior has learned that getting that ticket to Columbus takes more than just being the strongest guy on the mat.
Webster will enter the Division II district tournament Friday night as a top seed in the 215-pound bracket at Kenston High School.
Coming off a sectional championship last weekend at Akron Saint Vincent Saint Mary, Webster enters the second to last weekend of the postseason with a record of 40-7.
He won the two tournaments this season, the Ashtabula County Tournament and the Saint Clairsville Whiteside Invitational.
Webster took third at the highly-competitive Top Gun in Alliance and second at the Chagrin Valley Conference tournament, losing on a late reversal to Madison’s Chase White, who was a state placer a year ago.
This will be Webster’s third trip to districts, and he hopes that being a little more prudent on the mat will be the difference between going to Columbus instead of going home.
“Last year, I lost in the blood round,” he said. “I got a boot in and he rolled me to my back. It was against a kid that I won a major decision against earlier in the year.”
Experiences like that one, though, are what makes Webster believe he can go a bit further this time.
“I actually wrestled heavyweight this year,” he said. “That helped me wrestle more basic, I didn’t want to risk anything. I learned to wrestle smarter.”
Falcons coach Cody Lewis said there was serious consideration to keep Webster at 285 all season.
He split a pair of matches with Conneaut’s potential state qualifier Ben Griswold, and Steubenville’s Beau Hudson, who wrestled in Columbus in 2025.
“We thought about ‘should we make him a quick fast heavyweight?’” Lewis said. “But, the way his style is, I think he’s better suited for 215.”
Webster had the strength though to tangle with competitors as much as 70 pounds heavier.
“I was never on the mat with anyone I wasn’t stronger than,” he said.
Lewis has known that for awhile now.
“I’ve been coaching him since he was in sixth grade and he’s always been extremely strong.” the coach said. “He’s just a freakish athlete.”
The strength has always been there, now it’s putting all of his experience together this weekend.
“He was in the perfect position last year,” Lewis said. “He made a mistake, a wrestling mistake and it cost him. He defensive-pinned himself in the go-to state match.
“That’s one of the things we’ve been focussed on, ‘hey we’re big and strong, but lets’ make sure we’re still making good wrestling decisions.’”
Webster will open the tournament against Warren Howland senior Owen Drehar, who has a record of 27-12 and took fourth at the West Branch sectional tournament.
If he takes care of business in the first round, he’ll face the winner of Cleveland Villa-Angela St. Joseph sophomore Jordaine Taylor and Northwest senior Jaxon Sillman.
If Webster gets to the semifinals, he’ll likely face West Branch senior Gavin Hang, who is 43-1 on the season and was ranked third in the state, according to Borofan.net.
“His draw is pretty much set up where if he can do what he needs to do, he has a pretty good shot to qualify,” Lewis said. “I’m not going to guarantee anything, there’s a lot of good wrestlers in our district. But, I like our path and I like how he’s wrestling right now. He’s as big and strong as any 215 you’re going to find.”
“I’d love to do it,” said of getting to Columbus. “The last two years I’ve felt like I had a pretty good shot, this year I need to do it.”
Continue reading...
