Simply amazing. Amazing. Wow. Awesome! Holy Cow! Any of a number of
interjections can be used to express just how awesome Wadsworth’s
wrestling team has been at its Suburban League Wrestling Meet the past
18 years.
The Grizzlies won their 18th-straight
league title recently by scoring a league-meet record 288.5 points.
Second place went to Copley with 144 points. Wadsworth won 11
individual champions while taking three second-place finishes, two that
were just one point away from ties and another that found a wrestler
losing due to injury.
Let’s repeat that: All 14 Grizzly wrestlers made the league meet finals!
Heavyweight
Ben Buzzelli and 145-pounder Brad Squire won their fourth-straight
individual titles. Also claiming titles were Alfredo Gray (11), Kagan
Squire (119), Chris Baughman (125), Louden Gordon (135), Nate Ball
(140), Clay Wenger (152), Sheldon Brandenburg (160), Caleb Busson (189)
and Nick Tavanello (215).
Brandon Jones (103) and Cory Jones
(130) both lost their championship matches by one point while Bart
Randolph had to forfeit his match due to injury midway through his
title match at 171 pounds.
PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
Luke Langdon, Uhrichsville Claymont Wrestling and Hope Mancini, Mayfield Girls’ Basketball:
Langdon won a shocking title at his league wrestling tournament while
Mancini accomplished something many basketball players never do at
either the high school or collegiate level.
Langdon won Wrestler
of the Year in the East Central Ohio League after knocking off
Cambridge’s Andrew Bertubin in the 112-pound finals 2-1. What made the
sophomore’s feat much more meaningful was that Bertubin is the
projected state champ at 112 and is a returning state placer.
Claymont
won the league title with 222 ˝ points to outdistance defending champ
New Philadelphia’s 1965 ˝. Joining Langdon in the winner’s circle for
Claymont were Kyle Warner (130) and Tyler Beckley (152).
Mancini, a senior guard at Mayfield, scored her 2,000th point in her team’s 62-49 loss to Lakewood. She finished the night with the loss but did have 27 points. Her 2,000th point was a simple free throw midway through the third quarter.
TEAMS OF THE WEEK
Dover Girls’ and Boys’ Swimming Teams:
These two Tornado programs have been on the uprise for many years but
took the cake at the Steubenville Division II sectional. The Tornado
boys claimed the team title with 324 points to outdistance rival New
Philadelphia’s 301. J.B. Stahl led the way with a noew pool record in
the 200 freestyle in 1:50.33. He also won the 100 freestyle in 49.47
and won the 200 free relay in 1:34.50 and the 400 free relay in
3:31.80. He was joined by Zach Rafter, Casey Smith and David Maurer on
both teams.
Rafter also won the 100 backstroke in 58.43 and advanced to districts in the 200 free and 100 backstroke.
Also
advancing to the district for Dover were Connor Bell in the 50 free,
Mark Stanke in the 200 free, Nathan Thomas in the 500 free and 100
butterfly, Nathan Stutz in the 500 free and 100 back, Maurer in the 100
breaststroke and 200 individual medley and Smith in the 200 individual
medley.
The Tornado girls won the team title 332 to 223 for
second-place Coshocton. The 200 medley relay team of twin sisters Sarah
and Jenna Reichman, Frieda Ibarra and Cassie Toney set a new pool
record as did the 400 free relay team of the Reichman sisters, Ibarra
and Nikki Petricola.
Jenna Reichman won the 100 freestyle in 57.51 while Sarah won the 200 freestyle in 2:04.39.
Also
advancing to the district at Ohio State University were Jenna Reichman
in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Megan Telle in the 50 and 100 free, Sarah
Reichman in the 200 free and 100 backstroke, Petricola in the 200 and
500 frees and Ibarra in the 500 free and 200 individual medley.
RECAP
On Firestone:
Akron Firestone swimmers Katie Miller and Katie Campbell dominated
action at the Akron North sectional swimming for Division I as they
claimed four individual wins and were on two winning relays together.
Miller
won the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle while swimming with
Campbell on the 200 medley relay and 400 free relay. Campbell won the
100 and 200 freestyles.
Dominating the Pool: University
School’s boys and Hawken’s girls dominated their respective sectional
swim meets last weekend. University finished with 518 points to easily
outdistance Orange’s 249. Nicholas Crane set new sectional meet marks
in the 100 backstroke (53.56) and 200 individual medley (1:59.19) while
the 200 medley relay team of Kevin Stang, Russell Stack, Korey
Schneider and Andrew Malone set a new record in 1:39.95.
Hawken’s
girls had 566 points to dominate as Sarah Koucheki had wins in the 100
butterfly (meet record of 57.52) while also winning the 100 free in
52.99 and the 400 and 200 freestyle relays.
Dukes From Distance: Marlington
beat Canal Fulton Northwest 53-39 recently in girls’ basketball action
and in the process, the Dukes hit eight 3-pointers to set the school
record for triples in a season at 89. For the game, Jessica Draper had
five triples for 15 points.
Tilden From Triple: Ravenna’s
Lauren Tilden hit five 3-pointers for 23 points in her team’s 62-34 win
over Mantua Crestwood. She now has 161 three-pointers for her career.
University Takes Iggy To School:
Hunting Valley University’s hockey team claimed its second-straight
Baron Cup I title with a 3-2 overtime win over St. Ignatius. Ian
Robertson scored the game-winning goal in overtime on a tip-in after a
George Chapman shot. Sam Turben and Joe Grisko both scored for
University while Sam Nader and Nolan Schade had goals for St. Ignatius.
Making the Most:
In Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s 73-49 win over Walsh Jesuit, standout
players Jakarr Sampson and Lorenzo Cugini played a total of 39 minutes.
They scored a combined 44 points.
Super Sandy: Magnolia Sandy
Valley needed every place it could get as it looked to claim its
ninth-straight Inter-Valley Conference wrestling title, edging
Sugarcreek Garaway 326 ˝-326 at its recent league meet.
The
Cardinals got five champions in Luke Lehmiller (103), Eric Cassidy
(112), Dutch Kirkman (135), Billy Natale (140) and Zak Monte (152).
Poland Pounding:
Poland connected on 12 three-pointers in a 83-56 win over West Branch.
Niko Fatimus was the head trifecta sniper with six triples on his way
to 18 points.
Hat Trick Smith and Malone: In Amherst’s
10-0 dismantling of Avon Lake, Jeron Smith hit for three goals with an
assist. In Mayfield’s 7-0 shutout of Bay in Baron Cup III finals, Jake
Malone of Mayfield scored a hat trick.
Thousand-point Club:
In Elyria Catholic’s 56-44 win over Padua in girls’ basketball, Elyria
Catholic’s Emily Taylor, just a junior, scored 19 points to surpass the
1,000-point mark for her career.
In Strasburg’s 65-34 win over
Conotton Valley, Tiger senior Carly Clark scored 14 points to move past
1,000 points for her career. She now has 1,009.
PAC On the Mats:
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy repeated as Principals’ Athletic
Conference wrestling champions with 228 points to beat out runner-up
Tuslaw’s 168 ˝. Don Lorence was named Coach of the Year.
Wrestler of the Year went to repeat champion Beau Wenger of Fairless at 215 as he improved to 32-1.
Firing Flannigan:
DeMonte Flanningan of Villa Angela-St. Joseph hit for 15 points and
ripped down 19 boards in his team’s 62-51 win over Lake Catholic
(Mentor).
Great Green: Green’s girls basketball team
clinched its first league title (Suburban) in 24 years in a 72-39
victory over Tallmadge. Morgen Jackson had 15 points and Kelsey Corle
had 13 for Green.
Dukes Diming It: While its girls’
basketball team was setting single-season 3-point records, Marlington’s
boys wet a new school record for assists in a game with 29 total
helpers in a 77-41 win over Massillon Tuslaw. Craig Knisley led the way
with seven dimes.
Wollet Willing: Poland’s Luke Wollet handed out 14 assists to go with 12 points in his team’s 107-73 win over Niles.
Perfection: East
Canton’s boys continue to impress this year, moving towards 20-0 after
two big wins last week. The Hornets beat Minerva 75-62 as Ryan Burfield
scored 21 points to improve to 18-0. They beat rival Malvern, who they
were 0-5 in the last five games, 73-56 as Joe Cartwright led the way
with 27 points on the strength of seven 3-pointers.
Long Distance Lowellville:
Lowellville hit 11 three-pointers in a 60-44 win over Heartland
Christian. It marked the sixth time this year that the winners had hit
10 or more triples in a single contest. For 13-straight games,
Lowellville had made six or more triples. Pat Minnie led the way this
time with 16 points.
Consistent Snyder: Louisville St.
Thomas Aquinas guard Ryan Snyder was the image of consistency in his
team’s 63-58 win over West Salem Northwestern. He scored 34 points (17
in each half).
Nasty Knight: In Bloomfield’s 71-61 win
over Ledgemont, the winners’ Aaron Knight scored 31 points, including
23 in the first half while hitting on 5 of his first six 3-pointers in
the first half.
Bowled Over: At the Lake County Bowling
Sectional, Fairport Harbor took the boys’ title and Garfield Heights
claimed the girls’ title. Fairport won with 3,967 pins as Cody Zalar
had a 631. Heights had a 3,447 as Kayla Schmitt tallied a 551 and
Jordan Hodge a 549.
High series for boys was Central Catholic’s
Markis Allen at 644 while top girl was Wickliffe’s Angela Harnichar and
her 568 series.
Finally a Title: Zoarville Tuscarawas
Valley earned its first league title in the Principals’ Athletic
Conference since 1994 as it earned a share with defending champion
Akron Manchester with a 68-50 win over Tuslaw. Sara Tucke had 22 points
for the 19-1 Trojans (13-1 in the league).
ON TAP
District Swimming at Cleveland State University, Feb. 17, 18, 19 and 20:
Wednesday actually kicked off with Division I diving and on Thursday
was Division II diving. Division I boys and girls swimmers will take to
the pool at 2 p.m. today and tomorrow is Division II boys and girls at
11 a.m.
St. Vincent-St. Mary at Cleveland Benedictine Boys’ Basketball, Tonight, 7:30 p.m.:
It’s a smorgasbord of talent featuring St-V standout Jakarr Sampson and
Cameron Wright of Benedictine, among a host of other great Northeast
Ohio players.
Sectional Wrestling Tournaments, week of Feb. 15: Division
I sectionals are spread out and so are the top teams. Twinsburg is at
Austintown-Fitch while mighty Wadsworth leads the field at Medina.
Massillon Perry leads the North Canton Hoover sectional while Brush and
Maple Heights lead the way at Heights. Lorain Southview features Elyria
and St. Ed’s while St. Ignatius headlines North Royalton’s sectional.
The
Division II Northeast sectional sites are located at Walsh Jesuit, Lake
Catholic in Mentor, Medina Highland, North Canton Hoover and West
Branch in Beloit.
Division III takes place at West Salem Northwestern, Brooklyn, Rootstown and Beachwood.
Malvern at Tuscarawas Central Catholic Boys’ Basketball, Saturday, 4 p.m.:
The reserves begin at 2 p.m. in this make-up game between two of the
better Division IV teams in the Eastern District. Malvern nabbed a win
at home earlier in the season over the Saints and are led by senior
sharpshooter Adam Wackerly and sophomore guard Travis Tucci. TCC
counters with heady point guard Brandon Sweet and an athletic starting
five that includes Max Tolloti, Sam Fondriest, Tyler Sunderlin and
Jimmy Fickes.
Uhrichsville Claymont at Dover Boys’ Basketball, Tonight, 7:30 p.m.:
Claymont grabbed the first round win at their place, shocking the
Tornadoes in overtime. Dover has to keep pace with Coshocton in the
East Central Ohio League after losing to the Redskins and hanging a
game back in the standings with two contests left. Dover has star
Anthony Monaco and bruiser Marcus Mamarella while Claymont is led by
6-foot-8 senior Daniel Wise.
High School Indoor Track Meet at The University of Akron, Saturday, 9 a.m.: Some of the top prep speedsters will be competing in Akron over the weekend.
