HAZELWOOD: Norwalk seniors endured district emotions

The background images and sounds were telling. As Norwalk senior Nico Helton stood in a hallway at NHS detailing the four torn tendons in his left knee, two wrestlers from different schools shared pleasantries. "I'll see you in Columbus," one said in passing. Minutes earlier, NHS senior Aldynn Metzger also described in detail the pain level of wrestling through a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Just a few feet away from that conversation, as mats were being rolled back up, a family from Defiance celebrated with photos. Throughout that process, they made several "state-bound" comments with one of the participants after the Division II district tournament on March 7 in Norwalk. Every year, the 12 district tournaments across Ohio's three divisions offer great theater of triumph and heartbreak. It's the one weekend where the emotions swing like no other. If a wrestler doesn't get out of the sectional tournament, they know they were still a long way from state. This coming weekend, if a wrestler doesn't place, they still get the satisfaction of knowing they "made it" to the state's biggest stage. That creates a fine line of emotions every year at the district level. No one displayed that this past Saturday better than the four seniors who represented the Truckers for one final time in their home gymnasium. Gavin Lepley has fought off knee bursitis for a decent portion of the season. But fortunately, he said he was "good enough" going into the tournament schedule. Still, he had to win three straight matches on Saturday after taking a loss on Friday to claw his way to state. He did so by earning the fourth and final placement in the 165-pound weight class. But I found his interview with me afterward telling. Lepley spoke of the struggles to stay healthy and then, unprompted, brought up his injuries and heartbreak to his classmates. "I would trade my situation for them, any part of the day, no questions asked," Lepley said of Metzger, Helton, and Cooper Gee. Of the four, only Gee was considered to have a clean bill of health. At heavyweight (285 pounds), Gee was in the infamous "blood round" match against a Defiance opponent. The consolation semifinal round gets the moniker because of the often brutal, high-stakes nature of the match. The winner is going to state, and the loser is not. And Gee went through the gamut of emotions in the contest. The match was tied after three periods, forcing a tiebreak where two 30-second periods decide it. Gee trailed 3-1 after the first 30 seconds but got within 3-2 with under 15 seconds left. But his opponent held him off as time expired, one point shy of a state berth. What do you tell a kid coming off the mat who lost in that fashion? If you are head coach Erich Metzger, who has coached Gee for 12 years, you try to lighten the mood. "I knew he needed to hear something funny, because that's our relationship," Metzger said. "I told him to go for a split-cradle move in his last match. I don't care if you win or lose, but pick yourself up, go for the big move, and have fun with it." Meanwhile, Helton knew he was on borrowed time. In fact, doctors gave him a stark prognosis over the summer. "They said I probably wouldn't make it beyond a couple weeks into the football season," Helton said. Helton was never able to get past the health issues to have the senior year he dreamed of. For every kid who gets that experience, there are plenty who do not. Unfortunately, that's life, something Helton said he learned quite a bit about these past six months. Previous concussions along with both meniscuses, the posterior cruciate ligament, and the medial collateral ligament all being torn in his knee severely limited him this year. He played defense only in football and got through the winter with a 29-7 record entering the district. However, even that didn't come without a lot of work. Needing a win in the same consolation semifinal round on Feb. 28 at the sectional tournament in Galion, Helton's mobility was severely limited. Unable to fully stand, he was able to work himself into a position and actually pinned his opponent before forfeiting the third-place match to avoid further injury. With 10 being the highest scale, Helton described the pain level as an eight. "I kept fighting so I could qualify for districts and wrestle here one last time," he said. "I've had dreams since I was little, so I kept pushing. I've always felt like someone people looked at as someone to be, so I wanted to push and be a good example to everyone else." Helton admitted he knew he had a better shot at state last year. He lost by a major decision to the eventual district champion in his first match of the weekend but managed to win two times after that. He fell one win shy of the blood round with a 10-5 loss. When the tournament was over, another trip to the trainer's room awaited. It's a room he knows too well now. "I'm not happy with the outcome, but I'm glad I made it this far because of what was expected of me back in the summer," Helton said. "I think I made it because my dreams and expectations fueled my willingness to keep pushing. "I learned if I can get through all of this, I can get through anything now. That's good to know moving forward." Meanwhile, senior Aldynn Metzger tore the labrum in his left shoulder in mid-January at a weekend tournament in Alliance. Like Helton, he will need surgery sooner rather than later. Aldynn was also encouraged to consider shutting down the season early. His head coach, and father, left it up to him. "I just couldn't do it like that," he said. "I've been wrestling since I was five. I couldn't walk away from it. That meant going through the excruciating process of the joint shifting in and out of place. The distinct popping sensation also caused a pain tolerance of an 8 out of 10 for Aldynn. "Probably a dozen times this weekend," he said. "You do what you can." Despite the injury, Aldynn won his first two matches at 126 pounds. The 100-win wrestler is committed to continuing his career at NCAA Div. III Trine University in Indiana. But it wasn't to be. He lost a 13-5 major decision before being pinned in the blood round. He was convinced to injury default the fifth-place match and did so. "Those kids had no business even being here," Erich Metzger said of Aldynn and Nico. "By all accounts, the expectation for Nico's senior year of athletics being over was early September. But he was here, competing for a spot to go to state. It shows how tough of a kid he is and what his potential is. "Aldynn was upset about today, but he knew the shoulder likely wouldn't hold out, and he couldn't lift his arm up in that last match," he added. "He was in one of the toughest districts in Ohio competing for a chance to go to state with one arm. It doesn't get much better than that." In the end, Aldynn said he knew little was expected of him at the district, but to come that close hurts even more. But in his 12 years of competing, he's heard more than once that after wrestling, everything in life is a bit easier. "People always preach that wrestling is close to real life, and I felt that this weekend," Aldynn said. "I'm going to have to work so much harder to wrestle in college. It hurts, but I'm just grateful for my coaches and friends and the sport of wrestling." Coach Metzger had the four seniors in one shape or form since they were in kindergarten. Trying to separate the dad side from being a coach is never easy, and the elder Metzger looked visibly worn when we spoke. "It was an emotional day as you realize you got to watch these four grow up and succeed," Erich said. "I've had conversations with them, and my message is clear. As important as today is, in life, it's just a fraction of what it's going to be." Anyone who has been a parent of a senior in high school knows that phrase all too well. It goes fast. Life will look very different after high school and figuring out what is next in their formative adult years. "Things will change because of school or their careers, or figuring out things like getting married, buying a home, or parenthood," Erich said. "I told them to enjoy the ride. Figure out who you want to be and what and where your purpose is. "Those four, I have no doubts, will contribute to society positively, and I'm proud to be a tiny part of that in whatever way." Neither Helton nor Metzger certainly had to talk to me. I wouldn't have been turned off if they hadn't. They probably weren't expecting to be asked to talk about the pain of missing out on their dreams of state. But they were the perfect illustration of the highs and lows of the tournament. Lepley recalled wanting to sit out some matches and rest up this season. In the moment, he was excited about having a break from making weight or putting pressure on his knee. "But then you watch everyone compete, and you want to be out there, especially now that it's coming to an end," Lepley said. "It hits a little harder today." I was struck by Lepley's demeanor after stepping off the podium with his district medal. Through his own injury struggles, he was going to state. And yet … "It's a crazy feeling, but I'm also kind of sad," Lepley said. "There have been a lot of tears today with not only myself, but also with Nico, Coop, and Aldynn, who I've been with my entire life. "I know we've all worked really hard. But it's great because I know they are still in my corner, and my coaches are super supportive. So I'm sad but happy."