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Division I

For the second consecutive year Division I competition will proceed at a level somewhat less than normal.  As was also true last year there are some weight classes that can only be labeled as weak and others that lack significant depth.  This is not to say that there are not at least a half-dozen superstars within these ranks.  One impediment to writing this report is the distribution of Northwest District wrestlers.  They will be allocated, in essentially a random manner, to the Mentor and Darby Districts.  I will for convenience sake discuss their chances at whichever of those districts I deem weakest knowing full well that it is not an accurate representation of what will actually happen.

103 #

Projected Champion:  LANCE PALMER (St. Edward)                

Top Contenders

The 103-pound class vacillates between years with many returning qualifiers and place winners and those where there is almost a 100% turnover of participants.  We are in the latter situation in 2003.  Only two state qualifiers return at this weight class and I suspect from their pattern of participation that both are battling the scale demons.  What we do have are several excellent freshmen and some 103’s who were on the periphery of state qualification last year.

My choice is the exceptional freshman Lance Palmer.  A two-time junior high state champion he has wrestled an absolutely brutal schedule with outstanding success.   He has won at the Beast of the East and Medina while finishing 2^nd at the Ironman to out-of-state Blasco (who he defeated the next week).   He has not had even one nail-biter with an Ohio foe and continues the trend of a great St. Ed’s 103-pounder every two or three years (Lang, Lenhard, Moos, Kulczycki etc).

The Medina District is very solid.  The explosive Hunt is now at Collinwood and he is the only returning state placer (6^th).  He is a huge 103 and his athleticism and experience make him exceptionally dangerous.  He does not wrestle the type of schedule that many others here do, but he dominated at Rogers in an early tournament.  Last year he beat both Brown and Bugara at the district level, but that will be a tough task to replicate.  Bugara lost his go-to-state bout to Hunt, 2-1, last year, but he should easily qualify this year.  He won at Edison and his only in-state loss was a one point upset defeat to Hartley.  The fourth spot is wide-open with Shaft a slight favorite.  Also look for Lerer, Tilocco, and Ertter to push for that qualifying ticket.

There is also real power at Perry.  Solon is blessed with two excellent 103’s - - state qualifier Brown and Floyd.  Brown won at the Powerade and was 2^nd at the Midwest classic and 3^rd at Solon.  Floyd was 3^rd at the Midwest Classic (they both lost one point matches to the very tough Prater from Georgia McEachern) and 1^st at the tough WRC.  Right with them is the excellent freshman Hartley who was a state junior high champ last year.  I think the plan was to have district qualifier Wiley drop back to 103#, but I’m not sure he can dislodge Hartley from the varsity team.  Hartley was 3^rd at the Ironman and Medina and gave Palmer his toughest bout at the latter tourney.  In fact, three of his losses are to Palmer.  Weinman and Solon champ Johnson are my next two choices with district qualifiers Chizmar, Wade, and Gasser backing them up.

I’m not seeing much at Darby.  I think Belcher might be the best of this group with Tiffin champ Kohler and Earley right behind him.  Adams (Upper Arlington) and Jordan have also made my lists with Perrysburg champ, Holliday.  Rodriguez and, Madison and Gorman champ, Burdine are also in the mix.  This would seem to be a wide-open competition with those having the “hot-hand” qualifying.  I think this group, however, will struggle at the state level.

It’s a tightly packed field at Wilmington with the potential for some very close finishes.  The junior Clausing won 31 bouts last year and this year won at Fairfield and was 2^nd at the GMVWA.  His only downside was a 4^th at North Canton.  Tebbe won at Xenia and he should be a factor here.  Northmont has, like Solon and Perry, two state caliber possibilities at this weight class.  The senior Spirk was 3^rd at GMVWA and has past district experience.  Wolf, only a freshman, is the brother of state placer David, and has excellent skills.  He was 2^nd at Xenia and won at St. Xavier.  The SWOCA champ Smith fits in here somewhere, but watch out for Riestenberg.  Only 10-19 last year he was 4^th at the SWOCA and then pinned Smith in the dual meet.  He seems to be showing rapid improvement.  Other possibilities in this tightly packed competition are Love and Beavercreek champ, Price(Xenia Beavercreek).

112 #

Projected Champion:  DAVE FEDERICO (Willoughby South)

Top Contenders

Last year Iovine wrestled with great courage and skill to win the state title at 103#.  It was a triumph of technique and temperament over almost overwhelming power.  His 12-10 overtime win provided the Central District with its first title at the introductory weight since 1973 - - extra credit for knowing Edwards of Westland as the champ over Branham of Franklin Hts.  Unfortunately, the match-up that should have occurred collapsed because of unusual circumstance.

On the surface there would appear to be three principal contenders.  Naturally state champion Iovine is in the mix as is 3^rd place finisher Federico whose only loss the last two season was in the state semi-finals.  Certainly, a huge factor will be state Division II runner-up Ryan Smith whose school changed classification.  As I write this Smith and Iovine have lost once and Federico, of course, not at all.  Smith has not wrestled either of the other two while Federico beat Iovine 15-1 last year - - in a bout that would be contested differently today.  Iovine’s only loss this year was at the Midwest Classic to Division III state runner-up Opfer who Federico beat 10-1 the next round.  The upset-maker is the powerful and exuberant Mitcheff.  He has the ability to beat anyone here - - overlook him at your own peril. 

The Mentor District is strong.  Federico has rebounded from his 3^rd place finish last year to win at the Midwest Classic and Brecksville.  He will again be the favorite this year, but needs to do a better job of expanding an early takedown into larger leads.  He has been 4^th and 3^rd the last two years and he should improve on that this year.  The sophomore Mitcheff is a dynamite competitor.  He missed state placement last year by one win after taking a junior high state title the year before.  He is undefeated this year and he’ll challenge anyone in this field.  After a 20-16 season Catalona shocked almost everyone by winning his sectional and cruising into the district semi-finals before losing twice - - the last by a single point.  He missed the early part of the year and then was disqualified at Brecksville and missed the WRC.  He will not be an unknown factor this time around.  The surprise here may be Stark.  He was 4^th at Medina including a win over state runner-up Horne at 125#.   Should be able to perform well at 112# he might be a real factor.  State qualifier Rabung and the excellent freshman Peskar are other possibilities, but, perhaps, another Catalona-- like surprise will emerge to grab a qualifying ticket.  A big question mark will be whether Metcalfe winds up here or at Darby - - he’ll take one qualifying spot at either location.

Let’s look at Darby, state champion Iovine returns up one weight, but still very successful.  He was the champ at Medina winning his last two bouts in trademark style - - by one point each.  He is so good in close bouts winning both his state semi-final and final in overtime.  He was 3^rd at the Midwest Classic losing to Division III pick Opfer in a tourney won by Federico.  State qualifiers Mossor and Wanner are also here and the former, in particular, has been very good.  He’s won at Madison and Tiffin in impressive fashion.  District qualifiers Lepley (Davidson), Hauff and Blackburn (Grove City) may well battle for the last spot, but again, we may find Metcalfe or Schuller here.  Metcalfe was 5^th last year losing only to Iovine, Mathis, and Federico in the tourney process.  This year he has been just short of sensational winning at Perrysburg, for example, with a fall in the finals.  State qualifier Schuller should also play a role somewhere after winning big at Sylvania Southview and finishing 3^rd (to Mossor) at Tiffin.  He lost his two state bouts last year by a total of three points.  Also exiting Toledo are state alternate Metting, Abair and Goldecker (Toledo St. Johns).  Metting was 4^th at Perrysburg while Abair was second at Sylvania Southview.

The movement of Olmsted Falls to Division I really augments this weight class, as state runner-up Ryan Smith will join the field at Perry.  The first ever Junior High state champion he was also 3^rd as a freshman and brings a wealth of experience to the mat.  He is more aggressive this year with seven of his eight bouts ending in less than regulation time at Medina.  The exception was an early round loss to Reader of Michigan. State qualifier Wiley has taken over the 112# slot at Massillon Perry, and he could be a big plus in the state championship quest.  Also back is state qualifier Manoogian who lost in the first round, 3-2, to eventual state runner-up Josh Horne.  This year Manoogian won at the Wayne Invitational and was 5^th at Wadsworth losing to Metcalfe.  After this trio comes a bunch of question marks.  The sophomore Clark has been good while Mitchell has had some huge wins and was 2^nd at Riverside and 6^th at Brecksville.  Also in the hunt are Garisek, Rosa (Boardman) and, particularly, Borchert (Cloverleaf).

The weak link here is at Wilmington, but there may be surprise wins out of this district at Columbus.  Kostoff is the only returning state qualifier, but my guess is that Kist and DePoy may have overtaken him.  Kist won decisively at the SWOCA and looks to be the top 112# in this area.  DePoy upset state placer Penny while finishing a strong 2^nd.  Kostoff was 7^th at that same tourney.  Other possible qualifiers could be Willcocks, 4^th at Kenston and 2^nd at the SWOCA, Lambert, Brewer and Stoyanoff.  The undefeated Kaake (LaSalle) wrestles a schedule that is invisible to me.  I don’t know where he fits in - - if at all.

The pairings here could be lop-sided.  If the districts proceed as forecasted Smith and Federico would be on the opposite of the bracket from Iovine - - with the possibility that Metcalfe could well be there, too.  A Smith versus Federico semi-final would bring together two masters of the top position, and I’m guessing a low-scoring one-move bout.

119 #

Projected Champion:  BRANDON LUCE (Sidney)

Top Contenders

By the end of the regular season last year I was convinced that I had selected wrongly at 112# in my annual report.  It seemed to me that Albert Madsen was wrestling so well that he would sweep through the relatively weak 112# class.  That view prevailed until the state semi-final when Brandon Luce disabused me of that notion by beating Madsen easier than the 6-4 score would suggest.  I hadn’t realized how tough he was, and I knew as they raised his hand that he would win the state title the next evening.  Now he’s back at 119# (I think) and working his way toward an undefeated regular season.  At the GMVWA competing at 125# he had a brief first round scare when he went to his back, but he quickly righted the ship and cruised to the title - - beating the excellent freshman Kyle in the finals.  He also won the Beavercreek at that weight class, but I don’t see him moving to 125# and facing Johnstone.

The Wilmington District is not especially strong after Luce.  State placer Goode was 6^th two years ago, but has not done as well since.  Last year, at 103#, he won only one state bout.  This year he won the SWOCA and could be in medal contention once again.  After this duo there is something of a drop-off.  Pierson was 5^th at Medina, but neither Cook nor Flake placed at Brecksville.  The canny Ashbrook was 2^nd at GMVWA but got teched by Browning in the finals.  State qualifier Thompson might be a factor, but they’ll be some surprises here.

There are lots of good contenders at Perry.  Anthony was 4^th last year and continues to improve in his junior year.  He was 3^rd at Brecksville after losing to Perez.  Two-time qualifier Riggs remains a puzzle.  Just as I’m about to write him off he pulls off a big win and I start to wonder again.  He failed to place at either the Ironman or Beast of the East (no great shame in that), and was 2^nd at Medina to Reichman.  At the state duals he beat Wornoff 6-3, but lost, up a weight to Stark. State qualifiers Miller and Rogers are also here, but qualification for them is certainly not a surety.  I really like Kleinman and I think he’ll be in Columbus.  Turner and the young Bodnar are also possibilities.  A “sleeper” candidate is Trotter who was a district semi-finalist last year.  He wrestles a weak schedule but has solid skills.

The trio of Perez, Wornoff, and Pedro is very strong at Mentor with McDiarmid looking to make it a quartet.  Perez was 3^rd two years ago in Division II, but failed to place at the brutal 119# weight class last year.  Now competing at Elyria with four-time champ Erik Burnett as his coach and with Felton as a workout partner he has shown great improvement.  He dominated at Avon Lake and defeated a good field at Brecksville with notable wins over Anthony and LaFollette.  Wornoff was 3^rd at 112# last year - - losing in the first round and then winning five straight bouts including victories over Riggs and Hucle.  This year he won at Edison, but lost to Riggs at the State Duals.  Pedro was a state quarter-finalist last year and has good placement chances this year.  He won this year at Southview and Perrysburg.  McDiarmid continues to improve and has nearly reached the level of the top threesome.  He won three bouts at the Ironman and was 3^rd at Medina - - losing only to Riggs.  He could qualify depending, at least in part, on the whims of the pairings oracle.  The powerful Armstrong (Collinwood), Brown, and Thomas (Mayfield) could also get into the state bracket sheet.  Lee just down from 125# has a tough choice to make, both 119# and 125# are strong but the former is far deeper.  I’m thinking he’ll stay at 125#.

State qualifiers Hucle and McKinney along with rapidly improving Davis should be three of the qualifiers out of the Darby District.  Hucle upset Riggs at the district level last year and then won two state bouts before losing to Wornoff.  This year he was 4^th at Wadsworth, but he is a very tough competitor.  McKinney, a qualifier at 125# last year, seems better suited at this class.  He had only two bouts at 125# at Medina, but was 2^nd, to Pedro, at 119# at Perrysburg.  Davis won at the Gorman (among others) and could place.  I’m not sure what to do about a mediocre Northwest District.  Zyduck, Dreschel, and McCulloch (Anthony Wayne) are probably the best of this group with Abitua (Start), Kemp (Mansfield Madison), and McCarthy (Toledo St. John) possibilities.  Some of these folks will be at Mentor, but that will be no treat.  Don’t forget about Brown who could squeeze out the entire Toledo contingent.

125 #

Projected Champion:  JASON JOHNSTONE (Massillon Perry)

Top Contenders

While there is some power at the top, this is not a very deep weight class.  At every district I was scrambling to find the half-dozen or so names I usually rank from each one.  However, there was no hesitation when it came to selecting the eventual champ.  The junior Jason Johnstone (guys with identical initials are always tough) had the most talked about win of the year, but it was no fluke.  Many people, including me, thought Dustin Schlatter had a chance of becoming the first Ohio wrestler to go undefeated over a four-year career.  Johnstone in the semi-finals at the Ironman squashed that dream with a 3-2 decision that included another Johnstone takedown that was taken away for no apparent reason at the end of the second period. Johnstone finished 2^nd to Preston at the Ironman and 3^rd (over Preston) at the Beast.  He was dominating at Medina winning five bouts – two by fall and three by major decisions.  If Luce jumps to this weight class he’s making a mistake.

Johnstone should have little trouble at Perry.  State placer Roberts is probably next best.  He undoubtedly set some kind of record by never winning a single bout in the championship round of either the district or state tournament - - but he won seven times in the consolation rounds.  He followed much the same pattern at Brecksville as this #2 seed lost in the second round and then won six consolation bouts to finish 4^th.  After this duo the state race is wide open.  The best hopes ride with Wise, Barette, and maybe, Hartman.  Someone to watch is Nicholson who failed to place at Solon or the Midwest Classic, but then was 5^th at the Powerade and 3^rd at the WRC.  Despite his close proximity this is someone super-scout Dennis Wahl totally missed.

Madsen has not yet wrestled this year as he has struggled with back issues.  Should he return shortly he still has time to work himself into top condition.  Heck, it’s a long season and Madsen will certainly be fresher than many who traveled widely in that December time frame.  Make no mistake, Madsen has excellent talent and could be a finalist at this class.  Mentor is probably the deepest district.  State qualifiers Bugara, Felton and Spencer (Division III) are all here and each has solid placement potential.  Bugara, a state quarter-finalist, missed placement by two points last year.  This year he won at Edison, but lost to Johnstone and Horne at the Ohio Duals - - no great disgrace.  Felton lost two one-point decisions at States, but has bounced back this year.  He crushed Lee at Avon Lake and was 7^th at Brecksville losing 10-9 to Turchetta and then succumbing to Roberts in the (where else?) consolations.  Spencer was a District champ for Newbury last year, but he and his twin brother have moved to Mayfield.  He failed to place at the Beast, but was runner up to the excellent Grogg at Brecksville and to Turchetta at the WRC.  State alternate Ward will look to pull an upset here while Smylie (Willoughby South) is also one to consider.

There is some good strength at Darby.  Early in the year I had Davis ranked above Horne, but I believe that the latter will be on top by tourney time.  Two years ago Horne was a junior high state runner-up to Schlatter, and last year he matched that effort with a second place finish to Luce at 112#.  Horne was 3^rd at both the Midwest classic and Medina splitting two bouts with the excellent St. Ed’s back-up Clayton Stark.  He was undefeated at the Ohio Duals with a big win over Bugara.  Davis was 2^nd to Johnstone at Medina and wrestled very well.  A state quarter-finalist last year he failed to place after losing to Johnstone and Roberts.  You can note Johnstone's improvement by observing his 2-1 victory over Davis last year compared to a 17-5 triumph at Medina this year.  Rieman was 5^th at 125# after winning the district title.  Rieman was an uncharacteristic 4^th at Wadsworth, and will need to pick it up by tourney time.  After that trio I’m not seeing a lot, Waters, Herzfeld, and Davis (Fremont Ross) come to mind, but there’ll be some surprises here.

State junior high champ Kyle has stepped into a varsity slot (he had been expected to share it) and been exceptional.  At the Ironman he upset state champ Zupancic and then lost two one-point decisions.  He was runner up at the GMVWA losing only to state champion Luce and was undefeated at the Ohio Duals.  I like him a lot.  After him there does not seem to be a lot of placement talent.    State qualifier Center, rated #1 in Cincinnati, was 2^nd at both Xenia and the SWOCA while people like Schultz, Pierson, Foust and McAfee are at about the same level.  The last boy in only his fourth year of wrestling has already won four tournaments.  He may still be on the steep part of the learning curve.  However, a real showstopper might be the recently added Crenshaw to this weight class.  On good days he might be placement material.  The one candidate for a possible breakout year is the junior Matt Neal.  He was 5^th at Brecksville losing 13-11 to Spencer in the quarterfinals.   Keep an eye on him.  Also in the background are Keefer (Springfield South) and Aber who had solid districts last year.  Both will peak at tournament time.

130 #

Projected Champion:  T. J. ENRIGHT (Westland)

Top Contenders

T.J. Enright has had a marvelous high school career that requires only a state title to be complete.  His results bear an uncanny resemblance to those of NCAA All-American Jake Percival - - both were 3^rd as freshman and 2^nd the next two years.  My anticipation is that that parallel will continue as Enright (like Percival) will win that coveted state title.  Last year he won his third district title over Meissner, but then lost to him the next week in the state finals. He is undefeated and won handily at Medina.  While there are a number of good wrestlers at this class Enright will be a strong favorite again this year.

There will be three other state qualifiers at 130# at Darby.  Dutton, at 119# last year, was 5^th at the Midwest Classic and a strong 3^rd at Medina losing only to Enright - -by a horrific score.  At the Ohio Duals he won twice, but lost to Mathews by six.  Two-time qualifier Brown has always done well within his district, but struggled on a broader stage.  He is 0-4 at the state level.  This year he was 2^nd at Kenston (to Chris Hurley) and is undefeated in duals.  Stolz won two state bouts last year, but lost to Rieman in his placement bout.  All three of these candidates though, are at risk with Mankin dropping to 130#.  Stevenson (Reynoldsburg) and McCreary (McCreary) are other possibilities. 

The Mentor District will be strong.  Two years ago Paglia was a huge favorite at 103#., but got caught in the semi-finals and quickly pinned.  Last year at 125# he was injured and did not compete in the tournament process.  This year he is still battling injuries, but has begun to fit in at 130#.  He was 3^rd at Medina losing only to state champion Shearer and could be a real factor at this weight class. Nathan Spencer was the Division III state runner-up last year at Newbury losing only to Jaggers.  He was 1^st at Brecksville with wins over Shearer and Frank Brown, but lost to Gioiella at the WRC.  Oberdove and Mathews are both excellent, but must repel the challenges of Anderson and state qualifier Cook (should he be here) to get to Columbus.  Oberdove, only a sophomore won at Perrysburg and was second at Southview while Mathews won at Edison.  At the state duals Mathews won all three bouts including victories over Dutton and Herzfeld.  Anderson won up two weight classes at Solon but didn’t place at 135# at Brecksville.  Mathews defeated him with an escape in the 30-second overtime in their dual.

State placer Gioiella heads a very solid field at Perry.  He was 6^th last year at this weight class.  This year he won at Solon, placed at the Powerade, and beat Spencer to win the WRC.  State qualifier Butler is one of the linchpins of a very strong Uniontown Lake squad.  He has been at 135# all year finishing 2^nd to the excellent Mundrick at Wadsworth and winning convincingly at Riverside.  He took Cunningham into overtime last year at districts but got off to a bad start at Columbus and could not recover.  Williams was a district runner-up at this weight class in Division II and just failed to place.  He was an impressive runner-up at Medina - - losing by five to Enright.  State qualifier Jonhenry is up three weight classes and that's a lot of new tonnage.  It will be a struggle to qualify once more with Suchomski, Spellacy, and Dickey looking to take his place nonetheless his athleticism should carry the day.

Things are very quiet in the Southwest, but there are two potential placers at Wilmington.  Dahling was the state alternate at 140# and has now moved down two weight classes.  Its obviously worked as he was 1^st at St. Xavier and 2^nd at Xenia and the GMVWA - - both times losing in the finals to out of state foes.  State placer Wilson started the year with some big dual meet wins and then was 4^th at the GMVWA at 135#.  He was 4^th last year at Columbus winning two by fall and two in overtime.  One of his losses was to Gioiella.  Cook is a solid third choice here and he was 2^nd at the SWOCA to an out-of-state champion and 3^rd at the GMVWA - - again losing to an out-of-stater.  Schmittauer might have the inside track for the fourth spot, but Rutledge and Cummings are good back-up choices. 

135 #

Projected Champion:  RYAN LANG (St. Edward)

Top Contenders

There are two principal themes intertwined within this weight class.  First, of course, is Ryan Lang’s attempt to become Ohio’s eleventh four-time champ - - and only the second in Division I competition.  St. Edward High School has won 66 state titles in the last 25 years but no one - - not Alan Fried or Jim Heffernan or Greg Elinsky or the Jayne brothers - - have been four-time champs.  It’s an extraordinary time when someone can set a new standard at St. Edward especially one of such significance.  Much has been made of Lang’s losses - - he is the only wrestler to have the most losses of all 42 state champs in two consecutive years - - but, maybe, we ought to concentrate on his many wins.  During the last 11 or so months he has been awesome.  His closest bout in last year’s tourney process was 12-5 with Flake in the finals, and then he went out and won the Junior Nationals.  This year no more early season defeats.  He just pulverized the opposition at the Ironman and the Beast, and has been untouchable.  He has transformed himself from a scrambler into a hammer, and it’s the opposition that has paid the price for that transaction. 

The second theme is that we have the same cast of major characters from last year’s competition at 130#.  The top trio is back along with five others from that curiously underclassman dominated weight class (only three seniors made the 16 man field).  Once again Flake and Cunningham stand as Lang’s primary obstacles to yet another state title.  Many of my Columbus friends still voice opinions that had Cunningham not been upset in the quarter-finals Lang might not be in search of his fourth title this year.  They point out that in his other bouts Cunningham had a fall and four decisions by a combined 58-11 margin.  I think they are badly mistaken.  Nonetheless, the pairings should be good with both Cunningham and Flake away from Lang.  As Yogi says, “It’s déjà vu all over again”.

Lang will surely dominate at Mentor.  It will, in fact, surprise if any of the other three qualifiers place - - unless of course, a Mundrick or Ramirez migrate to Mentor from the Northwest sectionals.  The quartet of Skaggs, Bottomlee, Carl, and White all have substantive district experience with Bottomlee a state alternate last year.  This year Carl was 2^nd at Solon and 7^th at the Midwest Classic, while Bottomlee won at Avon Lake.  State qualifiers Mundrick and Ramirez would certainly toughen up the qualification process should they appear here.  Mundrick was a district champion last year who split his first two state bouts by scores of 12-9 and 15-12 before getting manhandled by Cunningham.  This year he won at both Wadsworth and Perrysburg against very tough fields.  Ramirez qualified as a sophomore and went 1-2.  A semi-finalist at Medina he ended up 5^th and was a disappointing 7^th at Perrysburg.  He needs to take it up a notch.

Cunningham should also have little trouble at Darby. He has been every bit as awesome as Lang, but against substantially weaker opposition.  Last year he was supposed to be Lange’s toughest opponent, but got tripped early by the excellent Lakia.  The rest of this district is very weak again without knowing the district destination for Mundrick and Ramirez.  Lutz, a Triad transfer, has been solid while Evans, Haynes (Westland), and the young Weisenstein are possibilities.  Nichols, just down to 135# might be second best to Cunningham here.  They mystery to this point has been state qualifier Uhas who has struggled to date.  Should he regain positive momentum he could be a placement factor.  Watch for the young Weisenstein who is building on positive momentum.

Unlike Lang and Cunningham, Flake will not necessarily have his own way at Goshen.  State qualifiers Clemens, Linz, and Sizemore are here, and while the last two aren’t major obstacles, the first named could be.  Flake crushed Linz 17-7 in the SWOCA finals and then defeated a representative field at Brecksville that included a 11-4 win over state 4^th Murray in the finals.  He’s ready but will he stay at 135#?   Clemens, just down from 140# was 6^th at the Ironman and 8^th at the Beast, but was only 4^th at the GMVWA.  Still, I just don’t see him beating Flake, but he might make it a low scoring bout.  Linz was 2^nd at the SWOCA and dropped to 6^th at Brecksville after being a semi-finalist.  Sizemore struggled at Medina after finishing 2^nd at 140# at the SWOCA.  The change in weight may have impacted his performance.  Wagner, Thomas, and Kramer may play roles here, but there are a host of other possibilities. 

The deepest and most competitive district will be at Perry.  There are six wrestlers who are easily good enough to compete at the state level, but, of course, only four can qualify.  Topping my list is state placer Murray and Missouri state qualifier Wright.  Murray, only a junior, looked very good at Brecksville until Flake chewed him up in the finals.  He should place again this year, but next year will be his year.  Wright won at North Canton while Whittaker has consistently placed.  They, along with Prvonozac, have the best shot at the last three spots.  Compton and Mierau are also solid while Berger (Glen Oak) is an up-and-comer. 

140 #

Projected Champion:  CHARLIE AGOZZINO (St. Edward)

Top Contenders

In past years I have written this report out of sequence and then compiled it at the very end.  I did not do this in 2003.  About January 10^th I started on Division II beginning at 103# and worked sequentially through 275#, and then went to Division I and Division III, and did the same thing – with one exception.  I skipped this weight class hoping that one issue could be settled so as to make the most informed decision.  No such luck so here’s the problem.

It seems to me there could be two high probability choices at 140#, with other candidates having far smaller chances of winning the state title.  One is the 2-time state placer Charlie Agozzino.  He has been 3^rd the last two years at 119# and 125#, but has moved up three weight classes this year with exceptional success.  He won the Ironman and the Beast – pinning in both the semi-final and finals at the latter.  His only loss this year was a 3-1 overtime decision to Kevin Pietropinto at the Big Eight. 

The other possibility is last year’s 3^rd place finisher at 135#, Daniel Mason-Straus.  He won his first 40 bouts last year until losing in the semifinals to Chris Vondruska, who slowed down the tempo, made it a one-move match, and capitalized on impatience.  How many times did we see Vondruska do that?  Nevertheless, it was clear that Mason-Straus was a superior athlete with immense upside potential.  My mental note was that nobody would touch this kid with one more year of experience.  Well, that hasn’t happen.  Mason-Straus still is not wrestling although he has certified at 140#.  His physical tools are immense, and combined with his wrestling skill makes him an extremely attractive college recruit, everything else being in order.

It seems to me you have to go with Agozzino.  He is going to show up and perform, and he may well handle Mason-Straus no matter what the circumstances.  His victories at two of the toughest high school tournaments in the United States demonstrate fully well his tremendous ability. 

Agozzino exits a power-packed district, and it may be further augmented if a couple of the excellent 140’s from the Toledo area end up here.  State qualifier Pietropinto lost to Mason-Straus, 6-0, in the first round at Columbus last year and ended up with one state victory.  This year he was 5^th at the Beast and won at both Brecksville and the Big Eight, defeating Agozzino 3-1 in overtime.  State qualifier Lakia pulled a major upset last year at Columbus defeating Tommy Cunningham and ended up 5^th.  This year he won at Eastlake North and Riverside defeating in the latter, Tortorici, and has won several dual meet tourneys.  Effner has been inconsistent, but he is a real talent.  He was 1^st at Edison and the Dies, and nearly beat Walters at the Ohio Duals.  Anderson won the title at Southview and was 3^rd at Toledo Waite.  The intriguing entrant is Tortorici.  Only a freshman, he is the only three-time junior high state champion in history.  He has chosen a very difficult district with which to begin his high school career.

Mason-Straus, should he appear, will dominate at Wilmington, but there are some other good wrestlers there.  Brulport finished 6^th at 125# last year, making it to the semifinals before Enright defeated him.  He’s up three weight classes and it’s been a bit of an adjustment, finish 7^th, for example, at the GMVWA.  State qualifier Spence is up two weight classes, but with more success – at least so far.  He won the SWOCA over Sizemore after winning one state bout last year.  With Clemens moving to 135# - if he stays there – increased opportunities now exist for folks like Manning, Tennant, Brewer, and Butman.  Manning, just down from 145#, was a district semifinalist last year, while Brewer beat Clemens for 3^rd at the GMVWA.  I was also impressed with Butman where he won seven times while finishing 5^th, losing only to Turchetta and Davis and beating Nasteff and Gliatta.  I think Brulport may struggle to return to Columbus. 

It’s a crowded, difficult field at Perry.  State qualifier Walters has wrestled a brutal schedule and been knocked around a bit, but he really is a tough, tenacious competitor.  He was 7^th at the Beast, losing to Agozzino, 7-4, and was 4^th at Medina, losing two one-point decisions to Guerra.  At the Ohio Duals he took Agozzino into overtime before losing.  After him chaos reigns.  With state qualifier Nasteff, Kovacich, and Kallai slight favorites to qualify.  However, it would little surprise me if that trio were supplanted by Ramsey, Jeffers, and Basso.

Guerra won two bouts at Columbus last year, and could do even better this year.  He was 3^rd at Medina and won at Waite and Perrysburg.  State qualifier Marzec is also very good.  He won big at Oak Harbor and Tiffin and was 3^rd at the CIT, losing to Davis in overtime.  State qualifiers Samples and Anderson are also here with Wickboldt edging past the latter.  Newbury is probably the best long shot choice, but Ciracky is also strong.

145#

Projected Champion:  TRAVIS KOVACH (Massillon Perry)

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