Davis pins his path to state
Lead Summary
By
Stephen Forsha-sforsha@gmail.com
Known around McClain wrestling circles as "The Russian Bear," McClain senior Brandon Davis wrestled and pinned a path all season long, reaching the final destination point of the 76th Annual Division II State Wrestling Championships.
Davis gained his nickname from head coach Shane Paul, as Davis reached the state tournament with a second-place finish at the Division II Goshen Districts, a first-place finish at the Washington C.H. Division II Sectionals and a first-place spot in the South Central Ohio League championships, all at 220 pounds.
Ask Davis, though, and the quiet-mannered wrestler you see take care of business on the mat is just as mild-mannered away from the mat, talking about team first and just being proud of being a part of the rebuilding process of the McClain wrestling program.
[[In-content Ad]]"Brandon has had a great year and put in a lot of work in," Paul said. "Some guys have aspirations of being at the state tournament, but they aren't willing to put in the work it takes to get there, and Brandon is one of those guys who got what he deserved because he's put the work in.
"This is a non-forgiving sport. If you miss practice or don't give everything you have … you get what you deserve. This is one of those situations where he got what he deserved, and he deserved to be at the state tournament."
Davis began his wrestling career in the seventh grade, and though he didn't wrestle his freshman year, he has since returned to the mat his final three years of high school, totaling 104 wins in those three years, including a record of 44-3 overall this season.
Paul said Davis is not just looking to get his hand raised, but to win by pin, as that's the ultimate in team scoring.
"He started his high school career as a sophomore when I got here, and he was pretty raw," Paul said. "He wrestled up a weight class at heavyweight for the team. That's what Brandon's all about … he wants to do what is best for the team.
"In so doing what's best for the team, he did well for himself as well. His technique has come on strong, his work ethic, his conditioning … he's put it all together. He's figured out how to wrestle, and I'm real proud of him. He goes out there to pin his opponent, not to just win, which not many wrestlers want to do that."
In his initial beginnings, he had to wrestle a grappler who eventually became a state qualifier at 215 pounds, as Caleb Cooper helped mold him into the wrestler he is today. Remember, Davis began his wrestling career as a heavyweight his sophomore year, even though then he still only weighed in the 215 range.
"I started in the seventh grade, wrestling with 'Chop' (Caleb Cooper), and he worked me over pretty well," Davis said. "I began this sport and stuck with it because I love it. It is a great sport, and I love the competition."
Davis went 3-1 in his four matches at districts and 3-0 at both the sectional and SCOL championship tournament, making him 9-1 in his last 10 matches. Davis spoke about his postseason and what he thought as he realized he was headed to state. One year ago, Davis was fourth in the sectionals and didn't place at districts, as he compiled 30-plus wins his junior year.
Overall in his three-year career, Davis has 104 wins in three years, as Coach Paul said Davis isn't finished yet.
"It was a good feeling, knowing my hard work finally paid off," Davis said. "It was awesome, going through some of the tournament and pinning my opponents. The competition was tough, especially the kid from Graham.
"I've had a great season, but it came with hard work … three-hour practices from 6-9."
The work for this season begins in the weight room, as Davis said he starts with strength and cardio. He also spoke about what a match is like for him.
"We do an hour of lifting and an hour of cardio," Davis said. "We also do some learning, but there is a lot of competing in practice.
"Before a match, I just feel like my opponent is a high school wrestler like me. They can lose or they can win ... it comes down to who wants it more."
Paul told a story of just how much the program means to Davis.
"He'll put in his three hours of practice, then he'll either go home and come back or sometimes just stay here and spend another 90 minutes with the youth program. Brandon is dedicated to this program going upward."
Coaching has been a big part of Davis' improvement on the mat, and Davis, who describes himself as a dominant top wrestler, will be the first to tell you how much his head coach has helped improve his career the past three seasons.
"Coach taught me that technique," Davis said. "It's impressive to know what he knows about the sport. He says to go out there like a pit bull, and if the officials tell me to calm down, just calm down a little bit. He's taught me to be more aggressive as a wrestler and to compete at my highest level."
One of Davis' top moments of the season was winning the SCOL championship at 220 pounds. In the SCOL tournament, Davis won his first match by pin fall over Hunter Coil, followed by a semifinal win by another pin fall over Devin Bainter of Miami Trace. In the finals, Davis pinned Washington's Tyler Riley (the No. 2 seed) with a pin at 2:15. Davis was a runner-up last season.
"It was a great honor winning the league because the SCOL is very competitive in wrestling," Davis said. "It's great, being a captain and gaining 44 wins this year … it's been a great year."
Since Davis' sophomore season, not only has he progressed and improved as a wrestler individually, but the entire program has improved, becoming a winning program this season and hosting multiple home matches for the first time in a decade or longer.
"It's been great seeing myself and the program improve," Davis said. "When I wrestled heavyweight level win 20-plus matches, then winning 30-plus matches and this year winning over 40 matches .. it just keeps improving.
"Wrestling at heavyweight when I weighed 215 was tough, but it helped make me a better wrestler. I learned if you keep the opponent down on the mat, you can win … if not, you will lose."
Coach Paul spoke more about Davis and what he means to the program.
"This year he's meant a lot with his leadership," Paul said. "He's not real vocal, but he leads by example. In three years, he's been a big part of the program. There have been situations, last year for example, we bumped him up to heavyweight, and not only did we need a win, but a pin … and Brandon won the match with a pin.
"He's a good student and an all-around good kid. He is a big part of this program because he does the right things."
As a team player and captain, when asked what making the state tournament meant to him, Davis spoke about the entire program.
"Making state is a turnaround for the Tiger wrestling program," Davis said. "I want to place at state, but this is a turnaround for the program.
"This year, getting to wrestle at home, in front of our home crowd, it was amazing to see how many people came. It felt great because before it was only about basketball, but now wrestling is being included, too."
Once the tournament arrives, Davis wants to be in "the zone."
"The only thing that matters to me before the match is the match," Davis said. "I take it match by match. Matches are intense. It is just six minutes of brute strength, you and your opponent going at it until there is a winner."
Davis gained his nickname from head coach Shane Paul, as Davis reached the state tournament with a second-place finish at the Division II Goshen Districts, a first-place finish at the Washington C.H. Division II Sectionals and a first-place spot in the South Central Ohio League championships, all at 220 pounds.
Ask Davis, though, and the quiet-mannered wrestler you see take care of business on the mat is just as mild-mannered away from the mat, talking about team first and just being proud of being a part of the rebuilding process of the McClain wrestling program.
[[In-content Ad]]"Brandon has had a great year and put in a lot of work in," Paul said. "Some guys have aspirations of being at the state tournament, but they aren't willing to put in the work it takes to get there, and Brandon is one of those guys who got what he deserved because he's put the work in.
"This is a non-forgiving sport. If you miss practice or don't give everything you have … you get what you deserve. This is one of those situations where he got what he deserved, and he deserved to be at the state tournament."
Davis began his wrestling career in the seventh grade, and though he didn't wrestle his freshman year, he has since returned to the mat his final three years of high school, totaling 104 wins in those three years, including a record of 44-3 overall this season.
Paul said Davis is not just looking to get his hand raised, but to win by pin, as that's the ultimate in team scoring.
"He started his high school career as a sophomore when I got here, and he was pretty raw," Paul said. "He wrestled up a weight class at heavyweight for the team. That's what Brandon's all about … he wants to do what is best for the team.
"In so doing what's best for the team, he did well for himself as well. His technique has come on strong, his work ethic, his conditioning … he's put it all together. He's figured out how to wrestle, and I'm real proud of him. He goes out there to pin his opponent, not to just win, which not many wrestlers want to do that."
In his initial beginnings, he had to wrestle a grappler who eventually became a state qualifier at 215 pounds, as Caleb Cooper helped mold him into the wrestler he is today. Remember, Davis began his wrestling career as a heavyweight his sophomore year, even though then he still only weighed in the 215 range.
"I started in the seventh grade, wrestling with 'Chop' (Caleb Cooper), and he worked me over pretty well," Davis said. "I began this sport and stuck with it because I love it. It is a great sport, and I love the competition."
Davis went 3-1 in his four matches at districts and 3-0 at both the sectional and SCOL championship tournament, making him 9-1 in his last 10 matches. Davis spoke about his postseason and what he thought as he realized he was headed to state. One year ago, Davis was fourth in the sectionals and didn't place at districts, as he compiled 30-plus wins his junior year.
Overall in his three-year career, Davis has 104 wins in three years, as Coach Paul said Davis isn't finished yet.
"It was a good feeling, knowing my hard work finally paid off," Davis said. "It was awesome, going through some of the tournament and pinning my opponents. The competition was tough, especially the kid from Graham.
"I've had a great season, but it came with hard work … three-hour practices from 6-9."
The work for this season begins in the weight room, as Davis said he starts with strength and cardio. He also spoke about what a match is like for him.
"We do an hour of lifting and an hour of cardio," Davis said. "We also do some learning, but there is a lot of competing in practice.
"Before a match, I just feel like my opponent is a high school wrestler like me. They can lose or they can win ... it comes down to who wants it more."
Paul told a story of just how much the program means to Davis.
"He'll put in his three hours of practice, then he'll either go home and come back or sometimes just stay here and spend another 90 minutes with the youth program. Brandon is dedicated to this program going upward."
Coaching has been a big part of Davis' improvement on the mat, and Davis, who describes himself as a dominant top wrestler, will be the first to tell you how much his head coach has helped improve his career the past three seasons.
"Coach taught me that technique," Davis said. "It's impressive to know what he knows about the sport. He says to go out there like a pit bull, and if the officials tell me to calm down, just calm down a little bit. He's taught me to be more aggressive as a wrestler and to compete at my highest level."
One of Davis' top moments of the season was winning the SCOL championship at 220 pounds. In the SCOL tournament, Davis won his first match by pin fall over Hunter Coil, followed by a semifinal win by another pin fall over Devin Bainter of Miami Trace. In the finals, Davis pinned Washington's Tyler Riley (the No. 2 seed) with a pin at 2:15. Davis was a runner-up last season.
"It was a great honor winning the league because the SCOL is very competitive in wrestling," Davis said. "It's great, being a captain and gaining 44 wins this year … it's been a great year."
Since Davis' sophomore season, not only has he progressed and improved as a wrestler individually, but the entire program has improved, becoming a winning program this season and hosting multiple home matches for the first time in a decade or longer.
"It's been great seeing myself and the program improve," Davis said. "When I wrestled heavyweight level win 20-plus matches, then winning 30-plus matches and this year winning over 40 matches .. it just keeps improving.
"Wrestling at heavyweight when I weighed 215 was tough, but it helped make me a better wrestler. I learned if you keep the opponent down on the mat, you can win … if not, you will lose."
Coach Paul spoke more about Davis and what he means to the program.
"This year he's meant a lot with his leadership," Paul said. "He's not real vocal, but he leads by example. In three years, he's been a big part of the program. There have been situations, last year for example, we bumped him up to heavyweight, and not only did we need a win, but a pin … and Brandon won the match with a pin.
"He's a good student and an all-around good kid. He is a big part of this program because he does the right things."
As a team player and captain, when asked what making the state tournament meant to him, Davis spoke about the entire program.
"Making state is a turnaround for the Tiger wrestling program," Davis said. "I want to place at state, but this is a turnaround for the program.
"This year, getting to wrestle at home, in front of our home crowd, it was amazing to see how many people came. It felt great because before it was only about basketball, but now wrestling is being included, too."
Once the tournament arrives, Davis wants to be in "the zone."
"The only thing that matters to me before the match is the match," Davis said. "I take it match by match. Matches are intense. It is just six minutes of brute strength, you and your opponent going at it until there is a winner."