Lakota East senior shares state championship with future Ohio State teammate

“Your heart is inside of you,” he said as he tapped his chest to show how fast his heart was beating, “and you want to walk away with the trophy. It was very tough. My heart was torn in two when I was watching him come in.”

Reed made the putt, and the two future Buckeyes shared the state championship with final two-round totals of 143. Wilson shot 74 after an opening-round 69. Reed shot an even-par 71 Saturday and needed that final putt after bogeys on 16 and 17.

“It was a tough situation because you want him to win because he’s going to be a teammate and he’s been a friend of mine for years,” said Wilson, who committed to Ohio State in 2020. “I told the guys if he makes it hats off to him. I definitely was expecting him to make it.”

The two first-place medals will have to find a prominent place on the wall in Wilson and Reed’s dorm room.

“It’s pretty cool how God wrote it out, but I’m pretty sure that we’ll have a playoff,” Wilson said.

He thought a moment and remembered that he, Reed and Ashland’s Tyler Sabo, who tied for fourth, are taking their official OSU visits next Saturday and playing Scarlet.

“I think our official playoff will be here next Saturday,” Wilson said and smiled.

Wilson is a two-time all-state player, a two-time Southwest District player of the year and the first Lakota East state champion.

“He was like a 40-year-old as an eighth grader,” Lakota East coach Jeff Combs said. “He’s just such a hard worker, so disciplined, such a good motivational leader for the guys. Everything a coach would want in any sport for an athlete, he’s been that guy. It’s not just been about the good golf, I promise.”

Wilson and his teammates shot 307 Saturday to finish fifth with a two-day total of 618 in the program’s sixth straight trip to Columbus and seventh overall. Ty Sylla, a senior, also shot a 74 Saturday to finish with a 153 total, and Jake Curry, a senior, shot 75 for a 156. Sophomore Bobby Horseman finished with an 84 and senior Cameron Uhl an 85.

“I don’t take it for granted how hard it is to get here,” Combs said. “Even as good as the group is here, I always am a little bit concerned whether we can get back up to Columbus because it’s such an icing on the cake. It’s so tough to get out of district, and it’s such a special place to end your season.”

The Thunderhawks finished nine shots ahead of Greater Miami Conference rival Mason. The Comets defeated East by four shots in the GMC tournament, 15 shots at sectional and the teams tied for second at the district tournament.

“You always want them to end on a good note,” Combs said, “and they played well today, too.”