State powerhouse Perrysburg wrestling program hones craft at elite national tournaments

The Perrysburg wrestling program has become an Ohio powerhouse through constant improvement and year-round dedication.

The Yellow Jackets have finished second in the team standings at the Division I state tournament for three straight years.

This summer, Perrysburg's top wrestlers continue to build on the momentum with impressive showings at elite, national tournaments.

Rising senior Marcus Blaze, juniors Ayden Dodd and Alex Denkins, and sophomore Grey Burnett represented Team Ohio at an all-star tournament in Tulsa last month. The foursome combined to go 28-0 at the Junior National Duals to lead Team Ohio to a second-place finish.

Perrysburg coach Scott Burnett said those national accomplishments come directly from a commitment from his wrestlers to be the best.

“We are constantly working,” Burnett said. “Perrysburg wrestling just works really hard. I believe we've really earned everything that we've accomplished. Being the captain of the ship, I'm always preaching 'It's not enough. It's not enough. We need more. We need more.'”

Blaze, who has already established himself as one of the top wrestlers to ever come out of northwest Ohio, will be an alternate for Team USA at the Summer Olympics. The three-time state champion also has qualified to compete at a world tournament in Spain this fall.

In April, Blaze placed third at 57 kilograms in the 2024 Olympic trials to earn a spot as an alternate on the U.S. National Freestyle Team.

“I was so proud of how he competed at the Olympic Trials,” Burnett said. “I think he can beat anyone on any given day no matter who they are, how old they, are, or where they are from.

“He is constantly evolving. He is always improving. He is so special. But he is a savant with wrestling. Whatever he does in life, he will be a leader and will shoot for the stars. He makes me better and he makes our program better.”

Next up for the younger Yellow Jackets wrestlers is the prestigious Fargo U.S. Marine Corps 16U & Junior Nationals this week in North Dakota.

Grey Burnett, the coach's son, will wrestle at 113 pounds in the junior division.

“It's the offseason but we are still working to make world teams and do well at Fargo and the other national tournaments,” Grey said. “The summer is a nice break, but you can improve a lot. It's a great opportunity to get better and closer as a team. With all the success Marcus and his brother Joey [three-time state champ who is now a sophomore at Purdue], they've done a great job putting us on the map. Every day we're in the room and we are scraping. Even during the summer, we're together.”

The quartet of Blaze, Burnett, Dodd, and Denkins each went 7-0 at the Junior National Dual Meet Championships, one of USA Wrestling’s most prestigious competitions. They not only represented Perrysburg but the state of Ohio in the dual meet tournament. Team Ohio finished second to Team Wisconsin.

“That is amazing what they were able to do,” coach Burnett said.

Burnett, who helped coach the team with several other Ohio high school coaches, said the former rivals on the mats quickly became close teammates.

“It's super cool working alongside wrestlers and coaches that you're battling against during the high school season,” he said. “During the winter, we're going to be looking to gain the biggest advantage. But from a technical aspect and culturally, you're working with the toughest, most high-powered teams. You can let your guard down and work together collectively for a bigger cause.”

Grey Burnett said it was a great opportunity to hone his skills against other elite grapplers.

“It was a blast,” he said. “During the season we are battling against each other. But then in the summer, we compete as a team together on Team Ohio. And iron sharpens iron. We formed a really strong group. When we all got along all of our guys were super tough. [The Perrysburg wrestlers] all went undefeated, which was cool and special. We all got even closer. The competition is the highest you can get with the top guys from every state.”

Another advantage the Perrysburg wrestlers gain in the off-season tournaments is improving their craft by competing in freestyle wrestling. Folkstyle wrestling is used during the high school and college seasons in the United States,

Essentially, folkstyle wrestling requires the top wrestler to hold the bottom wrestler in a danger position for two to five seconds to secure points — known as a near fall. Freestyle requires the top wrestler to expose their opponent's back for just a split second to score points.

“Freestyle and folkstyle go really well together, even though they're different styles,” coach Burnett said. “Freestyle is the upper body style, it's all about back exposure. If you're going to shoot offensively in freestyle, you're going to take more of a risk. You have to finish your takedown. It forces you to learn to be more efficient.”

Grey Burnett pointed out that the rest of the world competes in freestyle, including in the Olympics.

“They really complement each other. Other wrestlers in other countries have done it their whole lives,” he said. “So I really like freestyle.”

Burnett, who won a national title at Fargo last season, will look to defend his title this week where Perrysburg will be well represented. Dodd (113) and Denkins (120) will be joined by senior Cole Evans (144), and junior Shane Saito (157) along with incoming freshmen Chase Davis (113) and Urijah Lopez (120).

The U.S. Marine Corps 16U & Junior Nationals wrestling meet is an elite freestyle wrestling tournament at the FargoDome. Wrestlers must place in the top six of a state or regional qualifier to earn a spot in the national tournament.

“I want to go down there and win and get that stop sign [trophy] again,” Grey said. “Going down with seven guys from Perrysburg, we can all do a lot of damage with multiple champs and All-Americans. I want to have some fun with our guys. I only have two or three more years with these guys. I want to cherish the moments, go out, and have some fun.”

Scott Burnett said collectively it's the most experienced and talented group he has sent to Fargo.

“I'm so excited for them. These guys can all make a run at winning and becoming All-Americans,” he said. “They put in a good summer of training. They are relaxed but focused. They are in weight classes where they can be competitive. We're doing all the little stuff right.”

Blaze, meanwhile, will not attend the Fargo tournament and instead is focusing on the U20 World Team Trials. He will be a part of the U.S. national team for a tournament in Spain this fall.

“Marcus Blaze has done amazing things in folkstyle in high school. But his work in the offseason with freestyle took him to another level,” Burnett said. “That made him a national champ and then a world champion.”

Blaze qualified for the Trials by winning a world championship last August. Wrestling for Team USA at the U-17 World Championships in Istanbul, Turkey, Blaze won the 55 kg title. He will attempt to be just the 34th wrestler to become a four-time Ohio high school state champion as a senior this season.

And the pipeline in Perrysburg continues to flow. Incoming eighth grader Carter Smith became a national champion at the 14U freestyle championships last month.

“I'm really blessed to have so much good help at the biddy level with motivation coaches who are giving back,” Burnett said. “They are all buying into our visions.”

Perrysburg has finished runner-up to Lakewood St. Edward, Ohio's most successful program with 37 state team championships.

“I think it's just beginning for Perrysburg wrestling,” Grey Burnett said. “I won't say it's a dynasty like St. Eds. They've dominated for 50 years. But we are building something really special.”