COLUMBUS — High school coaches routinely talk about overcoming adversity. But overcoming the loss of a parent is something most teenagers fortunately never face.
Bucyrus wrestler Grant Dowell did, however, losing his mother in a car accident two years ago while the family lived in Springfield. He moved back to Bucyrus, where he had lived up until the third grade.
Through it all, the 138-pounder quietly emerged as a top performer, school record holder and state meet qualifier.
“I’ve just been trying to push through it and do the best I can,” said Dowell, whose fifth-place finish in districts last year didn’t qualify him for the state meet.
This past weekend Dowell lost his opening match 23-8 to a top-ranked opponent.
He returned later Friday at the Jerome Schottenstein Center on the Ohio State University campus and won a consolation match 8-2 to advance to Saturday’s lower bracket round.
“I’m excited he came back and won. I do believe he lost to the best kid out here (Brayden Brown of Legacy Christian) in the first round,” Redmen head coach Shane Kokensparger said.
“But mentally, Grant knows what he needs to do. We prepared the past four hours on what we were going to do and how aggressive he needed to be to win. He wrestled flawlessly other than giving up a silly takedown.
“Right now, if you win by one or you win by 10, a win is a win, and we move on. Once Grant rolled him through for 5 (points) I had no doubt we were going to be here tomorrow (Saturday).”
But Skyler King of Barnesville (49-6) ended Dowell’s dream season with a pin in 2:12.
Dowell said getting to the state tournament was a goal he set last year.
“First match I knew was going to be hard and it didn’t go as I wanted. Second match I knew I could win it. He was aggressive but I knew he was going to get tired, and I felt like I was ahead of him the whole time,” he said.
Dowell wasn’t bothered by the first-time experience at this size meet, with larger crowds (13,560 on Friday) and more attention.
“The way I view it is I’ve just got to focus on the one match, and not worry about the next guy. You gotta beat one guy to get to the next guy,” he said.
Picking up the pieces, Dowell returned to Bucyrus to live with his brother after the tragic accident.
“It’s an honor for myself and my teammates. I told my brother I want to make it to state. He said, ‘All right, then work your best and do it. Work hard and try to get it.’ That’s what I’ve done.”
Dowell completes a remarkable season at 51-7. He led the Redmen in several categories, including takedowns and pins with 39.
“I don’t think I get too caught up in it. I’m just going as far as I can, just getting ready for my next match,” he said on Friday.
He lost twice as many matches as he won during his two years at Springfield and didn’t get out of the sectionals for the Redmen last season, competing in one of the toughest weight classes in the state with Ashland Crestview’s Hayden Kuhn and Alec Homan.
This season he competed well against Monroeville’s projected state champion Ashton Homan before getting pinned with 20 seconds left in the sectional championship.
“It’s one of those heart-wrenching stories that nobody should ever have to go through. But he’s here and we’re glad to have him,” said coach Shane Kokensparger.
“He’s put in a lot of work and it’s benefitting him. We make sure he’s eating right. He’ll text me every night. ‘Can I eat this? Can I have that?'”
Dowell said changing his mental approach, as well as his nutrition, has aided his mat work.
“I wanted to be better, and I wanted to get to state,” he said. “It’s really just doing what I’ve got to do and not giving up points … working on what I know I’m good at. I just go out and wrestle everybody the same way.”
Kokensparger said Dowell has had good battles with several of the top wrestlers in the region, with Oak Harbor’s Owen Miller among them. He lost to Miller 3-0.
Dowell followed last year’s 215-pounder, Bryant Pfeifer, as a state qualifier.
“He set his sights on breaking Bryant’s records and he’s done that to many of them,” Kokensparger said.
“Grant has broken the school record for wins. He’s worked really hard. Andy Case has been his drill partner all year, and he’s just been super focused on getting here. We’re very proud of Grant.”