WRESTLING NOTES: Port Clinton's Stork speaks out for girls in wrestling

Port Clinton senior Michaela Stork isn't afraid to wrestle — or speak her mind. Stork became the first PC wrestler to win a state championship when she recorded a first-round pin Sunday night in the 190-pound girls final at the Schottenstein Center. Afterward, for the second straight day, she celebrated a win and talked about the challenges of being female in a male-dominated sport. "So many people have put me down," Stork said. "On school posts, on my own personal posts, always people voicing their opinions that I shouldn't be here. I think I just proved that I should be here and that I put in the work and do what it takes." Stork, who was a discus champion at last year's state track meet, was competing in her second state wrestling meet. She started in the sport just last year. She won a 5-1 decision in her first match last Friday, then won 5-2 in the quarterfinals. Stork was just warming up. She pinned her opponent in 1:36 in the semifinals Saturday night and used her platform to advocate for women's sports. "I've dealt with so much being a woman in athletics," she said. "Everyone can say it's all equal — girls are finally able to get their own thing — but it's so hard. Even this season I've dealt with so many parents, coaches, other girls. I don't look like a ballerina, I look like I wrestle. "A lot of people have called me a lot of bad names, a lot of slurs. Ever since I've been like seven, I've had to deal with awful people. I'm so glad that I'm able to be here and show all these people I am a girl and I can do all the same things. I can beat some butt and then I can also spin through the circle like a little girl at track." Stork had streaks of pink, red and purple in her hair. "I can be pink and I can do my hair in pigtails, I can wear makeups and bows and little skirts and I can come here and kick some butt," she said. "I just like showing people what I've been able to do. It feels good." About 24 hours later, Stork pinned Carollton's Riley Alborn in 1:54 in the championship match. Alborn pinned Stork in the first period in the quarterfinals last year. At first, Stork looked like she didn't believe what had happened. After the official raised her arm, she jumped into the arms of coach Kevin Scarpino. "I'm so shocked and so happy," Stork said. "Placing was incredible. I took it and ran with it. I don't go halfway." James' future Luke James — who won state titles for Edison in 2024 and 2025 — is a freshman at California Baptist University. James was one of the athletes affected when CBU announced earlier this year that it is discontinuing its wrestling program. James was at the Schottenstein Center, snapping photos and helping coach up younger brother Ben, a St. Mary Central Catholic junior who won a state title at 150 pounds in Division III. "I'm not too sure what I'm gonna do yet," Luke said. "I'm in the portal right now trying to figure out where I'm gonna go, see what's the best option for me. "I wanna wrestle if I can, but there's a possibility I'll stay and keep my scholarship and finish school. My major — construction management — is super hard to find. There are options to weigh. Do I want to be happy doing my job for the next 30 years or be happy for the next five years wrestling and doing a job I don't really want to do for the rest of my life?" James said competing at the NCAA Division I level was an eye-opening experience. "I got to get on the mat a little bit. I had fun learning from those college coaches," he said. "It's a different grind in Division I. I was getting my butt beat every day in the room. I gave up one takedown all senior season (at Edison) and then I gave up probably 10 in the room every day." Whatever James decides to do, coaching might be in his future. "I love it. It's so much fun," he said. "I'm more excited for (Ben) than I was for myself. It's definitely making me figure out that I want to coach some sort of program someday. It's definitely a passion of mine." Ballinger's move Perkins junior Boden Ballinger was one of 14 area All-Ohio wrestlers at the state meet. Ballinger finished eighth at 190 pounds in Division II. The standout football player moved from Wadsworth into the Perkins district in late December. He lives with his dad. "It's great. I love the atmosphere and I love making new friends," Ballinger said. "They all support me and believe in God and I really appreciate them. I feel loved and supported and that's all I want. "My dad lives in Perkins and I had a talk with him. I trusted him so we made the move and it's been a great experience." Ballinger made his first trip to the state wrestling championships. He said he was sick during last year's district meet and didn't advance. He fought strep throat last week and lost his first match. Two pins in the consolation round ensured that he'd finish on the podium. "I've been really sick and wasn't able to practice at all," Ballinger said. "I can't breathe like I want to, but you have to get past that and fight with heart." Patchen healthy Monroeville's Owen Patchen, the state runner-up at 132 pounds in Division III, finished the season with a 21-3 record. The junior, who already has two podium finishes to his credit, missed much of the season after an early-season concussion. "I didn't do the right stuff to come back," he said. "I wasn't honest with my coaches about when I wasn't feeling good and when I was. I tried to come back too early. My coaches told me to rest. I came back and I feel the best I've felt all year. "My coaches pushed me hard (when he returned to practice in February). I came back from my concussion and ran every sprint and worked hard in conditioning." Patchen will try to become a four-time All-Ohio performer next year. He finished fourth last year at 120 and placed seventh as a freshman at 106. Numbers game Ben James' state title was the 30th in SMCC history and the first since 2007. He defeated a defending state champion, Delphos St. John's Edward Kessen, 1-0 in the finals... SMCC has had 116 state placers... Edison's Cohen Reer won the 106-pound title in Division III. It was the 16th title in Edison program history... Other area schools with 10 or more state champs: Monroeville (17), Clyde (14) and Perkins (10)... A total of 443 schools had wrestlers compete in the state championships.