Alliance High welcomes Top Gun competitors

Thirty-nine schools are expected to be represented at the two-day event.
By MARK W. MILLERS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
ALLIANCE -- The 20th Top Gun wrestling tournament gets under way at Alliance High school today at 11 a.m., with 39 schools competing, including last year's champion Pemberbrook Eastwood.
There will be two championship rounds and two losers brackets, with the tournament continuing Saturday at 9 a.m.
Boardman, Fitch, Poland, Salem and Alliance are local schools entered.
A North Carolina team is coming as are teams from Attica, New York; Pittsburgh Central Catholic; and New Oxford, Pa.
Participants
There will be 440 athletes competing in the event, including sophomore Tony Jameson (13-0) of Austintown who won the Division I state title at 103 pounds last year. He's moved up to 119 class this season.
Daniel Kolodzik of Miami Valley, the 103 Div. III state champ, will compete in the 119-pound class.
Senior Nick Bodnar (140) of Fitch (12-1) place sixth at state a year ago.
Justin Powell (215), a junior of Boardman (13-0), posted a 2-2 record in the Div. I state meet a year ago.
The Spartans' junior Anthony Wills (135), 13-1, and senior Zac Ballos (160), 12-2, were district qualifiers.
Poland's Ben Pearce, sophomore (13-5) will compete in the tough 130 weight class.
Contending for Salem will be senior Mike Mannypenny (12-3), a 140 district qualifier, and senior Mason Schmidt (11-4) at 189.
Junior Matt Walker, 215-pounds of the Aviators (8-2) placed fifth at state last year in Div. II.
Alliance's senior Josh Cintron, 130, (11-0) was a district qualifier as was senior Chris Dominio, 140 (10-2).
Eastwood will feature state champ Ben Llanas (11-5) at 125 pounds.
Adam Kriwinsky (17-2) of University School, a 2004 state champ, placed second last year in Div. II at 130.
The 152 Div. II state champ junior Colt Sponseller of West Homes will bring a 15-0 record into the competition.
Championship, consolation and fifth place matches will get under way Saturday at 6:30 p.m.
Two-day adult tickets cost $15 while single session tickets cost $7.