Kordell Ford to wrestle in Division II State Finals
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
COLUMBUS — It may be a year in the making, but Hillsboro senior Kordell Ford is headed to the Division II State Wrestling Championship Finals on Saturday Night.
After realizing time had expired, Ford clapped his hands and let out a yell of pure emotion, as he became the second wrestler in Hillsboro wrestling history to reach the state finals.
Following having his arm raised in victory, Ford raced over to head coach Nathan Horne and assistant coach Greg Rhoads, where he received congratulations from both coaches.
Last season, Ford had a medical default and was unable to wrestle in the state championships, but this year, he's more than made up for it, as he's undefeated at 160 pounds so far in the tournament.
To reach the state finals, Ford defeated Bellbrook junior Benjamin Schram by a 3-2 decision in the championship semifinals.
"It's been a battle with us and Schram for two years. We beat him twice last year, and he's beat us twice this year," Hillsboro head coach Nathan Horne said. "Always one-point matches, always close. He got us in overtime early in the year, and he took us down in the last 10 seconds at sectionals.
"We knew it was going to be a battle, and that's what it was. They both wrestled hard, and Kordell came out on top. It was a great match."
In the sectional tournament in Washington C.H. this postseason, Ford lost to Schram by a 5-3 decision … not this time around.
In his semifinal match, Ford and Schram went face-to-face with each other to a 0-0 score after the first 2:00 period. The first period saw lots of maneuvering and grappling from both wrestlers.
However, in the second period, Ford had a quick attack, fending off Schram and escaping a hold for the first points of the match around the 1:41 mark. With the clock reading 55 seconds, Ford lifted Schram and put his opponent on the ground for a takedown, for two points and a 3-0 advantage.
Schram continued to give Ford a quality match, scoring his first point with an escape with 46 seconds left in the second period, but Ford ended the second with a 3-1 advantage.
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In the third and final 2:00 period, Ford began the match on top, but Schram was able to escape to score his second point with 1:47 left in the match.
Ford, being the aggressor in the match, continued to pressure his opponent. During a timeout for blood with Ford being less than a minute from earning a spot to the state finals, Coach Horne yelled to his senior wrestler, "Wrestle to win!" That's what Ford did, as he kept Schram from scoring any more points, and fighting his way out of a final effort by Schram to earn a spot in the finals.
"It's great," Horne said of Ford making the finals. "He made it as a sophomore and placed, and had a great tournament.
"We were super excited about him coming (last year), and that (medical default) was a big disappointment.
"He had a medical default right there before the state tournament, so you know, I'm extremely happy for him. I'm happy for his success. He's worked hard, and he deserves it."
Ford won twice on Friday, earlier defeating senior Alonzo Turner of Painesville Harvey by a 7-3 decision in the quarterfinals.
On Thursday, Ford defeated Aldin Leaker, a senior from Eaton, by a 12-4 decision.
"Kordell has had a great tournament," Horne said. "He's gone about his business, match by match, and he's in the finals. He's the second wrestler ever in the history of our school (to make the finals).
"We lost to Marinelli last year, barely, and we lost to him this year. We were down by a point in the third period, so it was close again.
"We got a shot, and that's all you can ask for. We've got a shot in the finals, and we're going to go after him. I'm excited about it."
The state championship finals will begin at 5:45 p.m.
After realizing time had expired, Ford clapped his hands and let out a yell of pure emotion, as he became the second wrestler in Hillsboro wrestling history to reach the state finals.
Following having his arm raised in victory, Ford raced over to head coach Nathan Horne and assistant coach Greg Rhoads, where he received congratulations from both coaches.
Last season, Ford had a medical default and was unable to wrestle in the state championships, but this year, he's more than made up for it, as he's undefeated at 160 pounds so far in the tournament.
To reach the state finals, Ford defeated Bellbrook junior Benjamin Schram by a 3-2 decision in the championship semifinals.
"It's been a battle with us and Schram for two years. We beat him twice last year, and he's beat us twice this year," Hillsboro head coach Nathan Horne said. "Always one-point matches, always close. He got us in overtime early in the year, and he took us down in the last 10 seconds at sectionals.
"We knew it was going to be a battle, and that's what it was. They both wrestled hard, and Kordell came out on top. It was a great match."
In the sectional tournament in Washington C.H. this postseason, Ford lost to Schram by a 5-3 decision … not this time around.
In his semifinal match, Ford and Schram went face-to-face with each other to a 0-0 score after the first 2:00 period. The first period saw lots of maneuvering and grappling from both wrestlers.
However, in the second period, Ford had a quick attack, fending off Schram and escaping a hold for the first points of the match around the 1:41 mark. With the clock reading 55 seconds, Ford lifted Schram and put his opponent on the ground for a takedown, for two points and a 3-0 advantage.
Schram continued to give Ford a quality match, scoring his first point with an escape with 46 seconds left in the second period, but Ford ended the second with a 3-1 advantage.
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In the third and final 2:00 period, Ford began the match on top, but Schram was able to escape to score his second point with 1:47 left in the match.
Ford, being the aggressor in the match, continued to pressure his opponent. During a timeout for blood with Ford being less than a minute from earning a spot to the state finals, Coach Horne yelled to his senior wrestler, "Wrestle to win!" That's what Ford did, as he kept Schram from scoring any more points, and fighting his way out of a final effort by Schram to earn a spot in the finals.
"It's great," Horne said of Ford making the finals. "He made it as a sophomore and placed, and had a great tournament.
"We were super excited about him coming (last year), and that (medical default) was a big disappointment.
"He had a medical default right there before the state tournament, so you know, I'm extremely happy for him. I'm happy for his success. He's worked hard, and he deserves it."
Ford won twice on Friday, earlier defeating senior Alonzo Turner of Painesville Harvey by a 7-3 decision in the quarterfinals.
On Thursday, Ford defeated Aldin Leaker, a senior from Eaton, by a 12-4 decision.
"Kordell has had a great tournament," Horne said. "He's gone about his business, match by match, and he's in the finals. He's the second wrestler ever in the history of our school (to make the finals).
"We lost to Marinelli last year, barely, and we lost to him this year. We were down by a point in the third period, so it was close again.
"We got a shot, and that's all you can ask for. We've got a shot in the finals, and we're going to go after him. I'm excited about it."
The state championship finals will begin at 5:45 p.m.