Costa confident he can continue Granville’s OHSAA wrestling success

On Mar 8, 2023

GRANVILLE — It was an emotional conversation between Granville junior wrestler Peyton Costa and assistant coach Christian Price when the decision was made to have Costa forfeit the Licking County League 113-pound championship match.

That day last month was about this weekend. The healing Costa now is making his return to the Division II state tournament, hoping to stand on the podium like his mentor Price.

“It’s the bigger picture of things,” Costa said. “Sometimes at meets, I am not feeling my greatest or kind of sore, beat up, injured a little bit. He told me you don’t have to feel your best to wrestle your best. He just really helped with the mental side of things and being able to stick it out and get it done.”

Costa returns to Ohio State a year stronger, older and wiser after going 0-2 at 106 in his first trip a year ago.

Granville junior Peyton Costa drills with assistant coach Christian Price in the practice room Tuesday. Costa is a Division II state qualifier at 113 pounds and begins competition Friday at Ohio State.

Dain Steffeny was Granville’s first placer in 2014, and it was Price the next year. The Blue Aces have turned it into a decade of success, putting a wrestler on the podium in seven of the last eight tournaments, including Douglas Terry’s two runner-up finishes in 2019 and ‘21, and Costa has the opportunity to be next.

“It’s very exciting. That’s been my goal all offseason because last year I was disappointed with my results at state,” Costa said. “I have been working through some stuff this year to make sure I get it done this time.”

Coach Kyle Bergeron added, “We have a streak of going to the state tournament every year. It’s been a regular thing. We go there, and we have placers. We expect the same thing from Costa.”

Costa took a familiar path to his second state tournament. After losing in the district semifinals, he again had to win his do-or-die consolation semifinal match, where earned a 2-0 victory against Springfield Shawnee’s Brandon Day to qualify before dropping a one-point match to place fourth.

It will be a difficult opening match Friday for Costa against West Holmes’ Mason Taylor, the reigning runner-up. but do not be deceived. Granville has wrestled the best schedule it ever has, including at prestigious tournaments in Brecksville and Alliance and in duals against perennial powers Olentangy Liberty and St. Paris Graham.

“The biggest thing about Costa is his confidence,” Bergeron said. “That might be his biggest strength. He believes he can take anyone. Some people get nervous and scared and timid before matches, and he’s the absolute opposite. He loves to go to war. … He is planning on going out there and getting hardware.”

Costa still could have company in the state tournament. Sophomore Andy Sanchez (126), senior Keegan Finley (150) and junior Ian Rutherford (Hwt.) all are alternates after each placing fifth last week.