State title helps Bees’ wrestler stay true to his career goal

by Sheldon Ocker

Victor Voinovich has it all mapped out. Win a couple of state wrestling titles for Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School, continue to refine his sport at Oklahoma State University, qualify for the U.S. Olympic team and eventually forge a career as a college wrestling coach.

The odds of winning a spot on the Olympic team might be longer than the chances of winning a million dollars in the lottery. But Voinovich has already delivered on the first two steps of his journey.

As a high school freshman, he won a state championship at 145 pounds but fell to third as a sophomore. Then came 2020, when Voinovich was among thousands of disappointed high school athletes who were forced to forgo sports because of COVID-19.

Voinovich was back at it this year, and in mid-March he defeated Lakewood St. Edward’s Evan Bennett 3-0 at 152 pounds to win his second state title.

“When you win a state title in Ohio, especially as a freshman, you’re going to be on everybody’s radar,’’ said Todd Haverdill, the Bees’ head wrestling coach.

Voinovich became a target of some of the most prestigious collegiate wrestling programs in the country, including Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, Iowa State and, of course, Oklahoma State. That’s the equivalent of a football player being recruited by Alabama, Georgia, Clemson, Ohio State and Notre Dame.

Choosing Oklahoma State wasn’t necessarily a no-brainer, but when the coach of a legacy program like the Cowboys comes knocking, you’re not likely to slam the door on his foot.

Why Oklahoma State over Penn State and Cornell, his final three choices?

“Eventually I want to end up wrestling in the Olympics, so a lot of it [choosing a college] was a wrestling decision,” Voinovich said. “And when I’m done wrestling, I want to be a coach. Oklahoma State is known for producing the most college coaches in the NCAA.’’

Voinovich’s father won a state championship at Lake Catholic High and attended Edinboro University and Mt. Union, but injuries forced him to cut his college wrestling career short.

“It came down to feeling the most at home, and I think the coaches can really help me achieve my goals,’’ Voinovich said of choosing Oklahoma State.

Added Haverdill, “We talked about it. I think Oklahoma State was a really good family atmosphere for him. Victor had some previous relationships with people out there, and some of the people [recruits] coming in.

“He wanted to wrestle in a big-time atmosphere, and Oklahoma State has more national team titles than any school.’’

The immediate plan was for Voinovich was to join Team USA against a team of Pennsylvania high school wrestlers in Pittsburgh.

Voinovich was recruited by the Serbian National Team by virtue of his ethnicity. As a probable member of that team, he expects to compete in this summer’s Junior World Championships in Russia and the Junior European Championships in Germany.

Not long after Voinovich graduates from high school, he will head for Stillwater, Okla., to enroll for the summer session at Oklahoma State to jump-start his preparation for the wrestling season.

“The plan is for me to be wrestling for them next season,’’ he said, as opposed to sitting on the bench and waiting a year. ∞