One of the principal industries of the millennium celebration (besides Y2K issues) was the creation of dozens of listings covering almost every field of endeavor. Not to be outdone, I've spent considerable time pondering the greatest Ohio high school wrestlers in the past 100 years. This would be a listing of those competitors who most dominated the sport during their secondary school years. While it is difficult to separate high school evaluations from college accomplishments, I have tried to do that as far as is possible. A good example might be Pat Milkovich who was not a dominant high school wrestler, but who was a four-time NCAA Division I finalist (and two-time champion). He is not included in this listing.
I've asked others that I've seen over the past few months to provide input, and much of that has been very helpful. However, this list is solely my own and reflects my personal experiences and idiosyncrasies when it comes to evaluating high school talent. I have seen virtually every outstanding Ohio wrestler during the last 40 plus years, but that still leaves a good part of the century uncovered. I've relied on historical records and discussions with "old timers" to fill in that gap, but you'll note that only one or two made this list. That probably reflects my personal view that high school wrestling changed dramatically in the decade of the '60s, and that, for the most part, most of the truly great wrestlers have come from that time frame onward.
I've made these selections without regard to weight class and have listed my top 15 in alphabetical order.
1. Mike DeAnna, Bay (1973-1976) -- From his very first bout as a freshman, you knew that Mike was something special. Had he not drawn an outstanding leg wrestler in the semifinals of his first year, he probably would have been a four-time champ. Still, three titles and a fourth place are heroic, and he won with such effortless ease he seemed almost like royalty.
2. Luke Fickell, Columbus DeSales (1989-92) -- A brilliant three-time champion, Fickell was the best heavyweight in Ohio high school history. Tall and remarkably slim-looking, he wrestled in an era of outstanding heavyweights and dominated them all. By his last two years, he was pinning 95 percent of opponents in the first three minutes of action despite every conceivable defense. He was also a wonderfully nice person who could always be counted on to provide a pleasant conversation.
3. Alan Fried, St. Edward High School (1986-89) -- He was, perhaps, the most charismatic wrestler that Ohio produced in the last quarter of the 20th Century. For every WVIZ telecast, finalists fill out a form that asks (among many other things) for them to identify a personal hero. Of those choosing a wrestler, Fried was by far the single largest response category for half a dozen years. And little wonder since he was a three-time State champ (and third once) who easily could have won four. Not only was he a big winner but he did it with a flair and passion that transmitted itself to the audience.
4. Jim Heffernan, St. Edward (1980-82) -- Jim won two State titles with remarkable ease after State placement in his sophomore season. Coolly analytical, he understood wrestling like few high school students ever will. I sat with him at a Sectional Meet for 30 minutes and was astounded at his powers of observation and his ability to dissect wrestling styles. Then he went out, as he did so many times, and demolished another opponent.
5. Joe Heskett, Walsh Jesuit (1994-97) -- A brilliant three-time State champ who was one of the cornerstones of the great Walsh teams of the '90s. A fabulous pinner, he won his last two titles by pinning virtually everyone at the sectional, district and State level. Even in his freshman year he was calm and cool in clutch situations, freeing him to wrestle at absolute peak efficiency.
6. Rex Holman, Upper Arlington (1986-88) -- I've always had an avid interest in the upper weight classes, and in the modern era (1975 and beyond) Rex was the best at those weights. Mike Buddie, Mike Davies and Mark Coleman were all outstanding, but at the high school level Holman was just a little bit better. Wonderfully quick for a big man, he combined speed and intelligence as well as anyone his size.
7. Carl Hoppel, Beaver Local (1959-1962) -- The last son of a famous wrestling family, he turned out to be the best of an excellent set of brothers. Except for a semifinal loss his sophomore year, he would have been a four-time State champion. A crushingly strong young man, he went 83-2 in his high school career competing against the best talent in Ohio and won State titles between 119 pounds and 145 pounds.
8. Jimmy Johnson, Walsh Jesuit (1991-94) -- Jimmy was the victim of some terrible wrestling luck his first two years at States, or he might easily have become a four-time champion. As it was, he totally dominated his last two years pinning virtually every opponent. He was not always recognized for how good he really was, as he was overshadowed by his far more voluble Walsh teammates.
9. Jim Jordan, St. Paris Graham (1979-1982) -- Back in the 1970s, the Southwestern District was considered something of a wrestling backwater, but Jim and his brother changed all that. He wrestled with a kind of mechanical precision that would not allow for error of any kind. Four State titles and only one high school loss indicate the success of that methodology. Above all he was always the perfect gentleman who added class to any event that he attended.
10. Lee Kemp, Chardon (1972-74) -- A virtual novice on the mat his first year of high school, Kemp may have had the steepest learning curve of anyone in wrestling. His junior year he faced one of the toughest fields in Division II history and completely demolished it. By his senior year his mistake-free style was in top form and, while his scores weren't always large, there was never a doubt as to who would win.
11. John Matteucci, Cleveland West (1946-48) -- The first three-time champ in Ohio high school history, John wrestled a style very different than what we see today. The ability to ride was a critical factor and nobody was better than Matteucci when it came to controlling an opponent. He may have set a record for percentage of high school opponents that he shut out.
12. Johnny McGhee, Coventry (1993-96) -- Over the years I've seen tens of thousands of wrestlers, but no one was more entertaining to watch than McGhee. He didn't worry much about defense, but instead concentrated solely on pinning his opponent. He tried every possible throw and made most of them work on this way to four State titles. He was the only four-timer to win all his titles at the middle weights or above, bespeaking his ability from his first varsity bout.
13. Tom Milkovich, Maple Hts. (1967-69) -- Maple Hts. dominates our memories in the quarter century between 1950 and 1975, and the wrestler that best represents that dynasty is Tommy Milkovich. A three-time State champion, he finished his high school career with a perfect 100-0 mark. He is also remembered for that hint of showmanship as he performed before the crowd and for the fabulous fireman's carry.
14. Tommy Rowlands, Bishop Ready (1996-99) -- One of the pleasures of wrestling is to watch a good little wrestler grow up to near-heavyweight size, and yet retain the mobility and techniques of lightweight. Tommy Rowlands is the prototypical example of such a phenomenon and he dominated upper weight wrestling for two years in an almost unprecedented manner. Ed Potokar comes to mind as another cast in this mold, but I think Rowlands was just a smidgen more dominating.
15. Don Tomko, Medina Highland (1969-71) -- Possibly the most physically dominating wrestler in high school history, Tomko won two titles with all the subtlety of a jackhammer. A fantastic pinner, he used brute force to lever his opponents to their backs. Not as well known as some other champions, he, nonetheless, would have dominated in any era.
My original list had 80 names, and every one was terrific wrestler. This might be a stab at a second 15 (again in alphabetical order).
1 Dick Bonacci (Cleveland West) 9 Harry Houska (Parma) 2 Mike Buddie (St. Ignatius) 10 Markus Mollica (Walsh Jesuit) 3 Roger Chandler (St. Edward) 11 Clint Musser (Walsh Jesuit) 4 Greg Elinsky (St. Edward) 12 Joe Peritore (Maple Hts.) 5 Clark Forward (Archbold) 13 Ed Potokar (Richmond Hts.) 6 Sean Garel (Shaw) 14 Steve St. John (VASJ) 7 Joe Green (Toledo Scott) 15 Fred Schleicher (Cleveland Rhodes) 8 Don Horning (Walsh Jesuit) 16 Mark Zimmer (Columbus DeSales)
Finally, the best five wrestlers who never won a State title in the 1990s:
Dan St. John
Brian Dolph
Gene Gibbons
Bruce Trammell
Jake Percival
Teams
There has been some discussion as to the team of the decade, but that seems fairly clear cut. Walsh won seven State team titles, had 27 individual champions, and 17 different boys won State titles. The only competitor that's even close is St. Edward, which won four team titles, had 20 individual champions and 12 different boys won State titles. Those are incredibly impressive numbers for both teams, but the difference is easily visible. To me, one of the reasons the 1990s was such a great decade for wrestling was the St. Edward-Walsh rivalry, which provided plenty of excitement and also set a new level for other teams, coaches and wrestlers to aim at.
Decade Team
1990s Walsh Jesuit
1980s St. Edward
1970s Columbus DeSales
1960s Maple Hts.
1950s Cleveland West/Maple Hts.
1940s Cleveland West Tech St. Edward
If we use the 10-year period 1975-1984, Richmond Hts. won four State team titles and four runner-up trophies -- a feat which should be recognized.
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You can contact me at John@Ohiowrestler.com
