Gazette MVP: Second state title puts Buckeye's Blake Bartos among all-time greats

Buckeye senior Blake Bartos had a storybook ending to his high school wrestling career, but the season was more like an epic odyssey.Bartos won the Division II 138-pound state title — his second crown — and became the Bucks' first four-time state placer.To get there, the three-time state finalist overcame abdominal issues that hampered him at the beginning of the season and a knee injury that nearly cost him the opportunity to chase that championship.Through it all, Bartos displayed resilience, as well as dominance when he was healthy enough to compete, making him the Gazette MVP."I was focused on coming back and making a run (at the state tournament)," Bartos said after hurting his knee. "Ending up on top was the picture-perfect moment. There's nothing better than it, and it really proved that my hard work paid off."Bartos battled through a torn LCL, PCL and hamstring in his left leg suffered at Alliance's Top Gun Tournament on Jan. 16 to defeat Copley's Desmond Childers by 8-0 major decision in the state final almost exactly two months later. The major decision was Bartos' second of the state tournament to go with two pins.After returning at the Kenston Sectional, Bartos won eight matches by pin, two by technical fall and two by major decision, all with his left leg fully wrapped.He was even more determined to win a state title after finishing second at 132 last season against fellow returning state champion Tate Hisey of St. Marys Memorial. That came after winning the 113 title as a sophomore."He was definitely on a mission this year to make sure he got that state title again this year," Buckeye coach Mike Tecco said. "This year he wasn't going to let anything take that away from him."For a moment, Bartos thought the one thing out of his control might take away the chance to win a second title. Once his doctor told him that he wouldn't need surgery, the door was open to returning to the mat.He used his determination to make sure he was as ready as possible to achieve his goals."It's pretty scary when a little injury happens like that," Bartos said. "It can throw off a little bit and change your mindset. I just needed to stay tough. When I heard the doctors say that I had a chance to come back, it gave me faith. I hit (physical therapy) really hard to work towards my goal."Bartos was fueled by the love of wrestling, calling it the greatest sport there is. In reality, Bartos couldn't imagine not competing if there was a chance he could give it a go. The knee injury wasn't the only health battle, revealing that he dealt with an ulcer early in the season after he came back to win the Medina Invitational Tournament on Dec. 30. He also won the J.C. Gorman Invitational, Kenston Sectional and Kenston District."Wrestling has taught me everything that I know today," he said. "Everything from work ethic and being disciplined to worrying about others and yourself. It has taught me so much about life, and I'm so grateful."That was infectious for Buckeye, which saw four qualify for the state in Bartos, fellow senior Logan Letner, junior Brody Zoul and Collin Bartos, the younger brother of the Gazette MVP who placed sixth."When he comes in the room and gets ready, it's hard to not look up to him if you're someone on his team," Tecco said. "He's been there. He's done that. The kids look up to him, and our practice goes how Blake goes. Blake doesn't take a day off, and he doesn't let his team take a day off."While ailments couldn't keep Bartos from winning the state championship, they did deny him the chance to rewrite the top of Buckeye's record book. Bartos finished near the top in nearly every statistical category, but that doesn't deny the impact he has had on the program."I think the argument is 100% made that he is probably the best wrestler that has ever put on a Buckeye singlet," Teeco said. "He would have set every record except (career) takedowns. Four-time state placer, three-time state finalist. Not off the career stats only but the way he presented himself on the mat and in the practice room. We're going to miss him next year, that's for sure, but he's going to be fun to watch in college."College will come at Wyoming, where Bartos will be reunited with former Buckeye teammate Eddie Neitenbach, who just became Medina County's third NCAA D-I All-American.That's a feat that Bartos is determined to conquer next."I'm leaving for Laramie in June," Bartos said. "I really can't wait. I'm so excited. It's the same goals. I'm working toward an NCAA title now and being an NCAA All-American. I'm going to work very hard to complete them."With his high school career in the rearview mirror and his collegiate career on the horizon, Bartos hopes he's remembered as someone that truly enjoyed going through the work to become better with his teammates and going to tournaments before they remember the dominant wrestler who always came to compete.Most of all, he wants to be remembered as a Buck."I'm a Buck, I've always been a Buck and I wouldn't change it for the world," Bartos said. "I'm so grateful for the coaches that have helped me and would do anything for me and my friends and teammates that would put anything down to help me. It's the greatest support system there is."Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.