Bucks Power to Medina Invitational Team Title Behind Wilhelm, Bartos Championships

Buckeye made a powerful statement on Tuesday at the Medina Invitational Tournament, capturing the team championship with 141.5 points and reclaiming the top spot in one of Ohio’s premier holiday events. The Bucks held off a strong challenge from Clarkston (Mich.), which finished second with 133.5 points, to secure their third M.I.T. title in four years and reinforce their status as a regional wrestling force.

Senior 190-pounder Ryan Wilhelm delivered one of the tournament’s most inspiring performances, winning his first high school tournament title in dramatic fashion. Battling through multiple blood stoppages for nose and wrist injuries, Wilhelm edged Toledo Whitmer’s Brock DuVall 3-2 in the final, using a gritty ride-out period and a late escape with seven seconds remaining in overtime to clinch the championship. The victory capped a long journey through injuries and setbacks and marked a breakthrough moment for the veteran Buckeye wrestler.

Wilhelm’s path to the top of the podium was paved with high drama well before the finals. In the semifinals, he needed a last-second takedown to slip past Oregon Clay’s Carter Whaley 5-4, showcasing the poise and attack mindset that defined his day. After hoisting his first tournament bracket, the senior reflected on the magnitude of the moment, noting how much it meant to capture his first high school tournament victory as a senior and to do it on the big stage at the M.I.T. He also echoed the team’s mindset, pointing out that Buckeye proved it can “hang with” and beat bigger, highly regarded programs in any tournament environment.

Joining Wilhelm at the top of the podium was standout 138-pounder Blake Bartos, whose title run provided another critical boost to the Bucks’ team score. Bartos, a 2024 state champion, two-time state finalist and three-time state placer, jumped out to a commanding 7-0 first-period lead in the finals and went on to defeat Louisville’s Kaiden Barker 10-8. Wrestling through abdominal issues that have limited him early this season—including what was later diagnosed as a mini ulcer—Bartos described this as effectively his first full competition of the year, making the championship all the more meaningful. The M.I.T. crown marked his first title at this storied tournament.

The combination of Wilhelm and Bartos claiming individual championships proved to be the difference in a deep and balanced team race, providing the Bucks with anchor points at critical weight classes. Their titles not only powered Buckeye past Clarkston but also helped the team separate from a crowded field that included third-place New Lexington (124.5), fourth-place Austintown Fitch (122.5) and fifth-place Toledo Whitmer (114.5). With more than 40 teams in the field, Buckeye’s ability to stack championship-caliber performances at key weights underscored the depth and resilience of the program.

Beyond the champions, Buckeye’s depth was on full display with a series of strong placements that kept the Bucks climbing the leaderboard throughout the day. Brenden McKee earned fifth at 126 pounds, while Collin Bartos (120), Logan Letner (144) and Justin Augustine (215) each battled to sixth-place finishes. At 165, Brody Zoul added a seventh-place showing to round out a solid list of medalists. Those contributions, combined with the two titles, gave Buckeye a steady stream of points in nearly every round and highlighted the full lineup’s impact on the final standings.

By the end of the tournament, the scoreboard told the story of a program that continues to rise to big moments: Buckeye at 141.5 points, ahead of Clarkston (133.5) and a long list of respected programs stretching down to 48th-place Holy Name. With a third M.I.T. crown in four years now secured, the Bucks leave Medina High School with momentum, confidence and a clear message to future opponents. Led by battle-tested upperclassmen and supported by a tough, placing lineup, Buckeye has once again shown it can step onto a major stage, embrace the challenge and come away on top.

Full team standings: 1. Buckeye 141.5, 2. Clarkston (Mich.) 133.5, 3. New Lexington 124.5, 4. Austintown Fitch 122.5, 5. Toledo Whitmer 114.5, 6. Avon Lake 108.5, 7. Medina 106, 8. Mayfield 103.5, 9. Louisville 102.5, 10. Genoa 98, 10. Sandusky Perkins 98, 12. Columbia 90, 13. Wauseon 89.5, 14. Hilliard Darby 85, 15. Upper Arlington 81, 16. Brunswick 80.5, 17. Casstown Miami East 80, 18. Uniontown Lake 78, 19. Aurora 74.5, 20. North Canton Hoover 74, 21. Liberty Center 73, 22. South Range, 23. Mentor 68.5, 24. Oregon Clay 67, 25. Elyria Catholic 66.5, 26. Newark Licking Valley 64, 27. Padua Franciscan 57, 28. Avon 55, 29. Beavercreek 54, 30. Pickerington North 52, 31. Copley 41.5, 32. Berea-Midpark 41, 33. Clearview 37.5, 33. Lewis Center Olentangy 37.5, 33. Norwalk Catholic 37.5, 36. St. Mary Central Catholic 35.5, 37. Olmsted Falls 33, 37. Firelands 33, 39. Olentangy Orange 32.5, 39. Granville 32.5, 41. Midview 25, 42. Springfield 24, 43. Tallmadge 23.5, 44. Green 20, 45. Cloverleaf 17, 46. Hughes 16.5, 47. Oak Harbor 14, 48. Holy Name 3.