Bexley’s Clark wants special finish at state

Eliot Clark is one of only two area wrestlers — Daniel Segura of Dublin Scioto being the other — who enters state tournament competition Thursday with an unbeaten record. Just the sound of it, 43-0, is daunting.

But the introspective Bexley 182-pounder isn’t one to worry himself sick with expectations. This weekend will mark the senior’s final time on the mat and he simply wants to savor the moment.

“My mindset going into the season was that I wanted to win a district championship and get back to state and, hopefully, get on the podium,” Clark said. “As far as being undefeated and being a state champion, I’m not obsessed by it.

“I consider this a craft I’ve worked on since seventh grade. I’m most fascinated by growth and improvement. The most important thing to me is simply that I do better than last year. Of course, if I go out and lose my first match it will suck because I’m not used to losing. I’m going in with the attitude that this is my last shot. Let’s achieve something special.”

Clark is projected to place third in his Division II weight class by borofanohio.net, which tracks the sport statewide.

In 2017, Clark took fifth place at districts (the top four advance to state), but one day before the state meet learned that he would replace fourth-place finisher Billy Cooper of Jackson, who withdrew because of an injury.

Clark lost his two matches by scores of 8-4 and 9-5 to finish his season 37-7.

“It was kind of a surreal experience,” Clark said. “The first thing I did when I stepped on the mat was look up in the stands at all the guys who came to watch me. It was an awesome feeling. Deep down, I think the feeling was that getting to the state was so far beyond my reach, it was sort of overwhelming. I didn’t wrestle badly, but just being in it against two really good guys was good enough for me.”

Conceding that Clark was just happy to make the state as a junior, Bexley coach Chris Bragg said he recognized a hungrier, leaner wrestler this fall. A two-week camp at Edinboro University in Pennsylvania proved invaluable.

“Going into the season, I think I knew Eliot would qualify to state, but I don’t think I knew he would go undefeated,” Bragg said. “About halfway through the season, after he had won some big tournaments and beat state qualifier after state qualifier, I knew he was one of the better guys in the state. He’s worked his butt off to be a dominant wrestler. He also has a keen mat sense.”

The first state qualifier at Bexley since 112-pounder Jake Weisman placed eighth in 2007, Clark is vying to become only its second state champion. Bernie Miller won the 175-pound title in 1985.

Although he is a solid technician without a glaring weakness, Clark considers himself a thinking man’s wrestler.

“When I’m passionate about something, it’s always a mind game with me,” he said. “I’m always more proud that I outsmarted guy than simply overpowering him. I’ve always thought of wrestling as an art form. I think I have a lot of intuition. Last year, I was just a solid kid. I think I’ve developed the mentality of a champion.” sblackledge@ dispatch.com @BlackiePreps