3-time state champ D'Emilio to wrestle at Ohio State
5/15/2018
Genoa wrestler Dylan D'Emilio scores a takedown on Jacob Edwards of Troy Christian during their Division III 132-pound final at the state meet in March. D'Emilio won his third straight state title.
THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON
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Three-time state wrestling champion Dylan D’Emilio of Genoa recently committed to Ohio State University to continue his career on the mats after his senior season in 2018-19.
The Comets’ junior standout made his decision after his most recent visit to campus for his regular weekly practice at the Buckeyes’ wrestling facility Thursday.
“It was tough,” D’Emilio said of his college choice. “I had it narrowed down to five schools, and last Thursday I had a really good conversation with the Ohio State coaches.
“Ohio State has kind of been kind of a dream school of mine since I was little. I really liked the culture at Ohio State. It’s a family there, and I think that’s important and special.”
D’Emilio will enter his final high school season with a 156-3 career record, with 103 pins. He was 51-1 as a freshman in 2015-16, 53-2 as a sophomore, and a perfect 52-0 this past season, when Genoa won titles in the team dual state tournament and the individual state tournament.
“We are super excited for Dylan,” Genoa coach Bob Bergman said. “It is neat to see all of his hard work and sacrifices paying off. Ohio State is lucky to get such a high character leader on and off the mat, and in the classroom.”
D’Emilio said his final five list that offered him scholarships included Michigan, Minnesota, Iowa, and Cornell.
“The other schools were also great, and that’s what made it tough,” D’Emilio said. “There were a lot of good things about each one. With Ohio State being so close to home, my family will be able to come watch me without too long of a drive. Ohio State has been one of the top two wrestling programs in the nation, consistently, and the culture there is special.”
D’Emilio, 18, still can become the first wrestler from the immediate area to win four individual state titles.
Only 31 Ohio prep wrestlers have accomplished that feat, including five from the northwest quadrant of the state — Jared Opfer of Sandusky St. Mary (1996-99), and four from Monroeville, including Logan Stieber (2007-10) and Chris Phillips, Hunter Stieber, and Cam Tessari (all 2008-11).
“That’s definitely been a goal of mine for a long time,” D’Emilio said. “I’ve grown up watching the Ohio high school state tournament, and I’ve seen the Stieber brothers, Tessari, and Phillips, and the Jordan brothers [from St. Paris Graham] and Nate Tomasello [Cuyahoga Falls CVCA] all reach the goal of winning four state titles. I’ve always wanted that too. It’s definitely on my mind.”
D’Emilio has worked out with Logan Stieber, who was a four-time NCAA national champion at Ohio State..
Also a superb student with a grade-point average of just above 4.0, D’Emilio plans to major in psychology.
Contact Steve Junga at: sjunga@theblade.com, 419-724-6461, or on Twitter @JungaBlade.