When Liberty wrestling found itself down 35-33 with one bout left in Wednesday night’s dual against Century, head coach Joe Zaccagnini wasn’t worried.
The fourth-year coach’s confidence came in large part from knowing who would be going to the mat in the dual-deciding 150-pound match: Dylan Ohler.
Ohler did what was expected and got the job done for the Lions, defeating Century’s Cameron Wagner, 5-0, to clinch the dual, 36-35, for the Lions.
“When you have somebody like Dylan Ohler, you’re extremely confident.” Zaccagnini said. “He’s going to do what he needed to do.”
Ohler had someone extra special cheering him on from the bench as he won the dual for his team, his younger sister Aubrey. The freshman wasn’t just there to cheer as she was coming off an impressive win of her own, defeating South Carroll’s Kayden Williams, 5-2, highlighted by a thunderous takedown earlier in the night’s tri-meet.
“It’s fun watching her beat up on the boys,” Dylan said. “It’s exciting watching her compete. I think all the boys would say the same.”
Headlining a strong group of wrestlers for the Lions this year, the Ohlers have been leading the way in the locker room, by first leaning on each other.
“They two of my hardest workers,” Zaccagnini said. “It’s been great seeing them have great success so far this season.”
This year has been a reversal of roles for Dylan. When the junior was first coming up through the Liberty program, he was able to learn from his older brother, Ryan, who won over 100 matches and a state championship during his time at Liberty. Now it’s Dylan’s turn to take the lead for his younger sister.
“When [Ryan] was a senior, he let me find my own way but was always giving me tips and letting me cool off after losses,” Dylan said. “It was great just having him around to watch film and just see up close how to be a good wrestler.”
For Aubrey, there may not be a better person to learn from.
Dylan’s coming off a sophomore season in which he went 36-7, winning an individual county championship and securing top-five finishes in the district and state tournaments. Now a junior, he is expected to take the next steps and cement himself among the county and state’s elite.
“I just want to get in the room everyday and work hard,” he said. “The environment is so much better this year.”
While there are many newcomers in Liberty’s wrestling room this season, Aubrey has been among the most successful. She’s undefeated in all of her girls matches so far, and Wednesday’s victory during the dual with South Carroll was one of just three Lions victories against the reigning county champions.
“She’s awesome, even if she may not 100% believe it right now” Zaccagnini said. “She’s the only girl we have on the team but she’s tough, she’s gritty and I love watching her win.”
With the pair standing out in the Lions program this year, they’ll always have each other as the Ohler family standard of excellence now has one more person to help carry it on for years to come.
“It’s great having him in the room and it just helps a little extra,” Aubrey said. “It’s more than a teammate, it’s a sibling thing.”