African American State Champions in Ohio

C

chidy

Well-known member
In Honor of Black History Month I decided to bump this thread from 2 years ago. If anyone can fill in anymore blanks that would be appreciated.


Here's a great Facebook post about who's believed to be Ohio's 1st African American State Champion. His name was Ludie Graddy from John Adams High School in Cleveland.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2157583641146690&id=100006852254902

Many believed the 1st African American State Champ was Bobby Douglas from Bridgeport Ohio who won state titles in 1959 & 61. But according the link above he looks to be the 2nd.

The 3rd and 4th are believed to be David Range Jr in 1963 at 103lbs (Garfield Hts.) and Walter Keith in the same year for Elyria at 155lbs.

For the historians out there are there any other early names to add to the list?

Out of of Elyria's 22 State Champions 5 of them were African American and 7/22 are minorities.

As far as Elyria's State Runnerups there are 14 total with 4/14 being African American and 9/14 being minorities (1 was a repeat 2nd in Andrew Perez '03 & '04. So technically it's only 8 Individuals)
 
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UPDATED 3/15/21

4x State Champions (2)
Harry Lester (CVCA) 98, 99, 00, 01
David Carr (Dayton Christian & Massillon Perry) 15, 16, 17, 18

3x State Champions (4)
Joe Heskett (Walsh Jesuit) 95, 96, 97
Kevon Freeman (Mentor Lake Catholic) 16, 17, 18
Jacob Decatur (CVCA) 17, 18, 19
Jordan Decatur (CVCA) 17, 18, 19

2x State Champions (22- Close to complete)
Bobby Douglas (Bridgeport) 59, 61
Joe Green (Toledo Scott) 65, 66
Shawn Garel (Cleveland Shaw) 72, 73
Lee Kemp (Chardon) 73, 74
Reggie Johnson (Ashland Crestview) 76, 77
Dunyasha Yetts (Steubenville) 88, 89
Jermaine Daniels (Huber Heights) 90, 91
Markus Mollica (Walsh Jesuit) 90, 91
Roderick Franklin (Lorain Southview) 92, 93
Anthony Gary (Akron Springfield) 93, 94
Tommy Tye (Cin. Country Day & St. Bernard Elmwood) 94, 95
Tomazz Wilson (Toledo Woodward) 94, 95
Demar Pentorn (Sandusky Perkins) 99, 00
Jason Barnett (Col. St. Francis DeSales) 00, 01
John Weakley (CVCA) 06, 07
Orlando Scales (Cin. Elder) 08, 09
Josh Demas (Westerville North) 09, 10
Kory Mines (Maple Hts.) 09, 10
Jerome Robinson (St. Ignatius) 09, 10
Chaz Gresham (Goshen) 11, 12
Mark Martin (St. Edward) 11, 12
Dom Demas (Dublin Coffman) 15, 17

1x State Champions (68- In Process of Adding Names)
Ludie Grady (Cle. John Adams) 58
David Range Jr. (Garfield Hts.) 63
Walter Keith (Elyria) 63
Cecil Sallee (Cle. John Marshall) 64
Ralph Cox (Col. East) 67
Wilbur Lewis (Elyira) 67
Orlando Bush (Elyria) 67
Larry Crowell (Toledo Scott) 67
Charles Gayles (Cin. Princeton) 69
Mike Daniels (Cin. Hughes) 71
Norman Hatchet (Cin. Withrow) 72
Ricky Lewis (Elyria) 73
Shelton Lee (Akron Garfield) 73
Daryl Lash (Akron Garfield) 73
Harold Smith (Canton McKinley) 74
Eric Cunningham (Akron South) 74
Ken Miller (Sandusky) 75
Robert Jones (Painsville Harvey) 75
Andy Jackson (Painsville Harvey) 76
Kelvin Irby (Sandusky) 77
Lee McDonald (Sandusky Perkins) 80
Vaughn Broadnax (Xenia) 80
Darrell Render (Warrensville Hts.) 81
David Singletery (Lorain Southview) 83
Darren Cannon (Elyria) 83
Jeff Long (Chagrin Falls Kenston) 83
Carlas Martin (Grafton Midview) 85
David Range III (Cleveland Hts.) 86
Laurence Dudgeon (Xenia) 86
Robert Taylor (Lorain Southview) 87
Gerald Taylor (Lorain Southview) 87
Dontae Smith (Akron Kenmore) 88
Kevin Randleman (Sandusky) 89
LeConte Merrell (Mansfield St. Peter) 92
Shantell Sanders (Cin. Academy of Physical Education-CAPE) 92
Airron Richardson (Toledo Start) 93
Bandele Adeniyi-Bada (Mogadore Field) 94
Chinedu Achebe (Steubenville Cen. Cath.) 95
Delbert Cowsette (Cle. Cent. Cath.) 95
Robert Sessley (Col. Beechcroft) 96
Kore Sharpley (Shaker Hts.) 96
Roger Merrell (Mansfield) 97
Bo James (Akron Springfield) 97
Omar Scruggs (Cin. Sycamore) 99
Troy Bowers (Westerville South) 99
Jermain Thompson (Akron Kenmore) 02
Hassan Adebesin (Shaker Hts.) 02
Tony Johnson (Lakota East) 04
Enrique Robertson (Maple Hts.) 06
Cordell Longstreath (Graham) 07
Jermane Lindsey (Cin. Arch. Moeller) 07
Josh Jackson (Claymont) 09
Waquiem Comar (Twinsburg) 10
Michael Baker (Twinsburg) 11
Sam Wheeler (Copley) 11
Ivan McClay (Massillon Washington) 13
Casey Sparkman (Massillon Perry) 14
Kyle Conel (Ashtabula Lakeside) 14
Taleb Rahmani (Marysville) 15
Ana Abdujelil (Whitehall Yearling) 16
Kaden Russell (St. Ignatius) 16
Kameron Teacher (Central Crossing) 16
Antonio McCloud (Cin. Elder) 18
Deandre Nassar (Bluffton) 19
Kyren Butler (Copley) 21
Dierre Clayton (St. Vincent St. Mary) 21
Ty Wilson (Dublin Scioto) 21
Marlon Yarbrough (Copley) 21

Siblings Who Were State Champions
Wilbur & Ricky Lewis (Elyria)
Gerald & Robert Taylor (Lorain Southview)
Jacob & Jordan Decatur (CVCA)
Josh (Westerville North) & Dom Demas (Dublin Coffman)

Father/Son Who Were State Champions
David Range Jr. (Garfield Hts.) & David Range III (Cleveland Hts.)

School with Most State Champions (Total Individuals)
Elyria (5)
Lorain Southview & CVCA (4)
Copley & Sandusky (3)
Several Others (2)

School with Most State Champions (Total Titles)
CVCA (12)
Elyria, Lorain, Walsh Jesuit (5)
Massillon Perry (4)

City with Most State Champions (Total Individuals)
Cincinnati (9)
Akron (8)
Cleveland (6)
Cuyahoga Falls, Elyria, Sandusky (5)
Lorain, Toledo (4)
Columbus & Massillon (3)

City with Most State Champions (Total Titles)
Cuyahoga Falls (17)
Cincinnati (10)
Akron (9)
Cleveland (8)
Toledo (6)
Elyria, Lorain, Massillon, Sandusky (5)
Columbus (4)
 
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Jordan Decatur would be trying to win his 4th State title this year if someone didn't disqualify him because of a weigh in violation at sectionals his freshman year.
 
gogreenmen said:
Jordan Decatur would be trying to win his 4th State title this year if someone didn't disqualify him because of a weigh in violation at sectionals his freshman year.
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Well both he and his brother Jacob have a chance to join the ranks of 3xers. Obviously Jordan with the better chance based on this season's results.
 
probaly elyria with 5

they had a coach that was an ex-maple wrestler. coached alot of the african americans at elyria....and they now have burnett as a kid went to milkovichs camps quite a bit.....but i can see for miles...i would say maple may pass elyria here..unless jaimie retires..although they do have agreat youth coach richie roberson..will bring maple greatness...has some great youth wrestlers 6th grade and under....maybe (just speculation) maple next head wrestling coach..shaw high out of cleveland had some outstanding wrestlers also....I WOULD THINK ELYRIA WITH 5....
 
Just goes to show that if your the top dog you have a target on your back both on and off the mat. But nobody likes a tattler.
 
southeastside said:
they had a coach that was an ex-maple wrestler. coached alot of the african americans at elyria....and they now have burnett as a kid went to milkovichs camps quite a bit.....but i can see for miles...i would say maple may pass elyria here..unless jaimie retires..although they do have agreat youth coach richie roberson..will bring maple greatness...has some great youth wrestlers 6th grade and under....maybe (just speculation) maple next head wrestling coach..shaw high out of cleveland had some outstanding wrestlers also....I WOULD THINK ELYRIA WITH 5....
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The first coach at Elyria was Frank Fiore who was a 2x Champ for Garfield Hts. He started the 1st wrestling program in Lorain County in 1959 at Elyria.

Another historic coach at Elyria was Bill Pierson who coached the 1973 State Championship team

Frank Jayne coaches Elyria from 1980-1990 before going to St. Eds where he still coaches.

And last but not least Coach Burnett who's been there since 1997.

Even Frank Romano coached at Elyria for a short time before coaching at Kent State and then Notre Dame
 
Troy Bowers

Troy Bowers from Westerville South wrestling (March 4-6, 1999) - A broken hand sidelined him for a month of the regular season, but Bowers went on to pin three of his four opponents at state and win the Division I title at heavyweight. In the final, Bowers pinned future NFL player Alex Stepanovich of Berea in 1:03.
 
chidy said:
The first coach at Elyria was Frank Fiore who was a 2x Champ for Garfield Hts. He started the 1st wrestling program in Lorain County in 1959 at Elyria.

Another historic coach at Elyria was Bill Pierson who coached the 1973 State Championship team

Frank Jayne coaches Elyria from 1980-1990 before going to St. Eds where he still coaches.

And last but not least Coach Burnett who's been there since 1997.

Even Frank Romano coached at Elyria for a short time before coaching at Kent State and then Notre Dame
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...romano was from maple...and the 3 milkovichs were state champs in the 1940S AT GARFIELD PAUL /BIG MIKE/JOHN..who was garfields coach....same area garfield/maple ya no what i mean.....how about that tune YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN..I BELIEVE THE MILKOVICHS probaly had a lot to do with fioras knowledge of wrestling THINK ABOUT IT......head games ....CHIDLY WIDLY....
 
Robert Sessley

Beechcroft High School-1996 DII State Champ- 112 Pounds. He beat Brian Legarth from Fairview Park 6-5 in the Championship.

Robert went on the become an all american at Ohio State. Great wrestler, great person and great story for Beechcroft and the entire City League!
 
southeastside said:
...romano was from maple...and the 3 milkovichs were state champs in the 1940S AT GARFIELD PAUL /BIG MIKE/JOHN..who was garfields coach....same area garfield/maple ya no what i mean.....how about that tune YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN..I BELIEVE THE MILKOVICHS probaly had a lot to do with fioras knowledge of wrestling THINK ABOUT IT......head games ....CHIDLY WIDLY....
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WELLL(magic carpet ride) WHOS HAD THE MOST...ELYRIA RIGHT..im sure thell have the record for along time...unless maple gets rolling.....
 
Lorain Southview’s program was started in 1969 by Dan & Tom Ternes who were coached by Fiore at Elyria.

The Ternes brothers coached many great wrestlers including African American State Champions
GT Taylor
Robert Taylor
Roderick “Juggy” Franklin 2xer

There may have been a couple more African American State Champs for them. I know they had several other finalists such as
The Williams brothers
Jimmy James
Steve Ferguson
Mike Smith

Along with the great African American wrestlers they had they also had quite a few talented Puerto Rican wrestlers that placed very high. Might have been a few champs but I'm pretty sure there were at least some Runnerups

Unfortunately Southview closed it's doors several years back when Lorain consolidated their high schools into 1 now known as the Lorain Titans.
 
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chidy said:
Lorain Southview’s program was started in 1969 by Dan & Tom Ternes who were coached by Fiore at Elyria.

The Ternes brothers coached many great wrestlers including African American State Champions
GT Taylor
Robert Taylor
Roderick “Juggy” Franklin 2xer

There may have been a couple more African American State Chsmps for them. I know they had several other finalists such as
The Williams brothers
Jimmy James
Steve Ferguson
Mike Smith

Along with the great African American wrestlers they had they also had quite a few talented Puerto Rican wrestlers that places very high
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who were there runners-up...weknow elyrias....and who do you think was better elyria /or southveiw....i always thought southveiw but im old now!....im gonna go listen to some bob segar tunes...(beautiful loser)
 
chidy said:
Lorain Southview’s program was started in 1969 by Dan & Tom Ternes who were coached by Fiore at Elyria.

The Ternes brothers coached many great wrestlers including African American State Champions
GT Taylor
Robert Taylor
Roderick “Juggy” Franklin 2xer

There may have been a couple more African American State Champs for them. I know they had several other finalists such as
The Williams brothers
Jimmy James
Steve Ferguson
Mike Smith

Along with the great African American wrestlers they had they also had quite a few talented Puerto Rican wrestlers that placed very high
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i always like the one with the patch on his eyes..he looked like a tuff outlaw bandit from the old west...
 
southeastside said:
who were there runners-up...weknow elyrias....and who do you think was better elyria /or southveiw....i always thought southveiw but im old now!....im gonna go listen to some bob segar tunes...(beautiful loser)
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I listed some of the African American runnerups previously but I know one of the wrestlers of Hispanic decent off the top of my head was Rico Quimbaya who finished Runnerup I believe in 1993?

As far as who was better Elyria or Southview. Elyria has an overall body of work that is better bolstered recently by the success that Burnett has had over the past 20 years.

Southview was definitely better in the 90's with the pinnacle of their success coming when they finished as the Runnerup Team behind a great Walsh Jesuit team in 1993 only 14.5 points out of 1st.
 
cvca

how many does cvca have,,,,at least 3 with lester and decateurs....and who knows how many more with alan freid coaching youth program....
 
southeastside said:
i always like the one with the patch on his eyes..he looked like a tuff outlaw bandit from the old west...
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That was Tommy Ternes. I actually worked with him for several years at Sheffield Schools before he retired. Always treated me very well

He is one tough hombre! His grip is uncanny!
 
chidy said:
I listed some of the African American runnerups previously but I know one of the wrestlers of Hispanic decent off the top of my head was Rico Quimbaya who finished Runnerup I believe in 1993?

As far as who was better Elyria or Southview. Elyria has an overall body of work that is better bolstered recently by the success that Burnett has had over the past 20 years.

Southview was definitely better in the 90's with the pinnacle of their success coming when they finished as the Runnerup Team behind a great Walsh Jesuit team in 1993 only 14.5 points out of 1st.
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....im thinking that southveiw was just as good in the late 70s and all of the 80S as the 90S...takin it to the streets (doobie brothers) listen to the music
 
African American Brothers Who Were State Champs
Decaturs (CVCA)
Taylors (Lorain Southview)
Lewis's (Elyria)

Are the Dom & Josh Demas brothers?

Any other African American brothers that were State Champs?
 
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I remember one outstanding wrestler from the 90's that would put on a show in the finals

Tomazz Wilson 2xer (94, 95) from Toledo Woodward
 
chidy said:
African American Brothers Who Were State Champs
Decaturs (CVCA)
Taylors (Lorain Southview)
Lewis's (Elyria)

Are the Dom & Josh Demas brothers?

Any other African American brothers that were State Champs?
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the brunetts from oberlin i think ,,,i always read the papers about them...
 
Before 1990 I don't want to assume I know that they are African American but the list of 2xers can be found here
https://ohsaa.org/Portals/0/Sports/Wrestling/Multiple-Times-State-Champs.pdf

Some of the 2x Champs names I'm familiar with
Josh Demas
Dom Demas
Mark Martin
Jerome Robinson
Kory Mines
Orlando Scales
Anthony Gary

John Weakley (CVCA)- This would bring my count to 4 for CVCA (Weakley, Jacob & Jordan Decatur, & Lester). Is there any other 1 time champs from CVCA that are African American? I believe CVCA has the total title record. With 10 titles between these 4 wrestlers. Awesome!
 
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southeastside said:
....im thinking that southveiw was just as good in the late 70s and all of the 80S as the 90S...takin it to the streets (doobie brothers) listen to the music
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I don't have Southview's info in front of me. The Lorain County Coaches Association has an account of all the county's State Champs and Placers so I'd have to reference that for source material.

In the 70's Elyria had 3 state champs & 8 other placers and in the 80's they had 4 champs & 7 other placers.

Team Wise
70's
Elyria were State Champs in 1973 and came in 11th in 1978
80's
Top 10 Three times
 
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i think shaw had state champs ...there names begun with the letter G... GRANT BROTHERS OR GATREL BROTHERS...did you ever hear about them...in the 70S....dazed and confused...ZEPPLEN SEEN EM IN WARRNSVILLE WITH MY OLDER SISTER WHEN IWAS 8 YEARS OLD....
 
southeastside said:
i think shaw had state champs ...there names begun with the letter G... GRANT BROTHERS OR GATREL BROTHERS...did you ever hear about them...in the 70S....dazed and confused...ZEPPLEN SEEN EM IN WARRNSVILLE WITH MY OLDER SISTER WHEN IWAS 8 YEARS OLD....
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in 1969.......the year of the cat.....I MEAN A WILDCAT.....LIKE HENDRIX SINGS.........SHAWN GATREL WAS NCAA CHAMP AS FRESHMAN AT OKLAHOMA ST...THEN GAVE UP WRESTLING....
 
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chidy said:
Before 1990 I don't want to assume I know that they are African American but the list of 2xers can be found here
https://ohsaa.org/Portals/0/Sports/Wrestling/Multiple-Times-State-Champs.pdf

Some of the 2x Champs names I'm familiar with
Josh Demas
Dom Demas
Mark Martin
Jerome Robinson
Kory Mines
Orlando Scales
Anthony Gary

John Weakley (CVCA)- This would bring my count to 4 for CVCA (Weakley, Jacob & Jordan Decatur, & Lester). Is there any other 1 time champs from CVCA that are African American? I believe CVCA has the total title record. With 10 titles between these 4 wrestlers. Awesome!
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Weakley was a 2 time champ.
 
the123kidz said:
Weakley was a 2 time champ.
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Yes. You are correct and that’s why he’s listed under 2xers

And contributes to the 10 CVCA has with those 4 guys
Lester 4
Decatur Brothers 4 (Have a Chance to add 2 more this year)
Weakley 2
 
chidy said:
Yes. You are correct and that’s why he’s listed under 2xers

And contributes to the 10 CVCA has with those 4 guys
Lester 4
Decatur Brothers 4 (Have a Chance to add 2 more this year)
Weakley 2
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........so thats 4 state champions....elyria still leading with 5.....do i make sense here...i never could see eye to eye with elyria folks about wrestling. HAVE YOU EVER SEEN THE RAIN ....
 
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