PREP WRESTLING Seven teams battle in Howland event

The Top Gun Tournament in Alliance will have 37 teams competing today and Saturday.
HOWLAND -- Seven champions will try to defend their titles at the 42nd Howland Invitational wrestling tournament Saturday.
Schools entered are Brookfield, Cleveland JFK, Geneva, Howland, Liberty, Salem, defending champion Hickory, Pa. and Franklin, Pa.
The meet has three state qualifiers from last year -- Warren JFK's Jaryl Hunt (103 pounds), Geneva's Steve Britton (275) and Hickory's Ryan DeArment (275).
Returning tournament champs are DeArment, Howland's A.J. Lamp (125), Anthony Prvonozac (130) and Brandon Alexander (160); Salem's Jason Mullins (119); Brookfield's Joe McFarland (135) and Franklin's Matt Jackson (145).
Hickory is the team to beat with nine athletes back that placed a year ago. Howland should challenge also with nine veterans who placed in the top four.
Tickets are $5 for adults and $3 for students.
Top Gun Tournament
ALLIANCE -- Thirty seven schools, including Boardman, East Liverpool, Fitch and Poland, will compete today and Saturday in the Top Gun Tournament at Alliance High School.
Wrestling started today at 11 a.m. and continues Saturday at 10 a.m., with championship matches and consolation finals scheduled for 6 p.m.
McGuffey, Pa. returns to defend its crown. Alliance placed 10th last year, while Boardman was 19th and Fitch was 23rd.
East Liverpool and Poland didn't compete last year.
Fitch junior Joe Murray (12-1), who placed fourth at state at 125 pounds last year, has moved up to 135 where he is seeded No. 2 behind Groveport-Madison's Tommy Cunningham (12-2).
Boardman senior Adam Chizmar (15-3) will compete at 103 pounds and is seeded fourth. East Liverpool's Anthony Duffield (17-2) is the top seed.
In 119-pound class, Fitch's Nick Bodnar (15-4) is seeded eighth and Boardman's Jon Green is 11th. Fitch's Kyle Gabrick (8-3) is 11th at 140 and teammate Fred Weidenthal is 12th at 145.
Boardman's Brian Thompson (15-3) is seeded ninth at 152 and Jesse Tierney (11-4) is 12th at 160. East Liverpool's Chris Green (19-1), a 2002 state qualifier, is seeded fourth at 171 and the Potters' Josh Stansbury, who placed fourth at state, is the top seed at 215.
Adult tickets for the two-day event are $15 and student tickets are $10. Tickets for each session are $6 for adults and $4 for students.
Championships and consolation finals cost $7 and $5, respectively.