SECTIONAL WRESTLING Fitch wins sectional title, advances 13 to district

West Branch narrowly edged Southeast for the Div. II title.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
AUSTINTOWN -- Nick Bodnar, Fred Weidenthal, Joe Murray and Eric Chine each won sectional titles to lead Fitch to the team title in Saturday's Division I sectional wrestling tournament at Fitch High School.
"Our guys have worked awfully hard or they wouldn't be in this position at this time," Fitch coach Brett Powell said. "Last week, I told them they were going to get an exam. If I graded that test, they would have passed it.
The Falcons, who edged Hudson for the team title, have 13 wrestlers advancing to next weekend's district meet at Massillon Perry. The top four in each weight class advance.
"We get a new start next week and we'll see what comes around then," Powell said.
Bodnar (28-5) won his second straight sectional title, beating Madison's Benny Barrette, 8-3, in the 130-pound weight class.
"I watched [Barrette] on film and I got very physical with him throughout the match," Bodnar, a state-qualifier last year, said. "I worked on my takedowns and my foot movement a lot during practices and that helped me a lot today."
Pin
Murray (20-4) pinned Canfield's Jim Hendrickson in 37 seconds to win the 171-pound title -- his fourth pin of the tournament. All four pins have been in 75 seconds or less.
"I went right out and attacked him," said Murray, a three-time state qualifier. "I had a few injuries and a couple setbacks early in the season, but it feels good now and I am peaking at the right time."
Weidenthal won by technical fall over Kent Roosevelt's Tommy Tarver in the 160-pound final and Chine defeated Canfield's Jarek Escaro, 5-1, in the 189-pound final.
Canfield's Steve DeMaiolo beat Fitch's Brian Weidenthal, 3-1, in the 112-pound final. DeMaiolo also beat Weidenthal to win the Eastern Ohio Wrestling League title earlier this year.
"It was a very difficult match," DeMaiolo said. "I watched him on tape and was pretty much ready for anything that he did."
Canfield's Brett Sebbio defeated Madison's Derek Oeibrecht, 11-7, in the 125-pound final and teammate Chris Pankewicz won by decision over Hudson's Ryan Dozanti, 5-3, in the 152-pound final. Alec Roman pinned Kent's Joel Ratchford in 3:58 as the Cardinals placed fourth.
Division II
AUSTINTOWN -- West Branch's Levi Bardo avenged an early season loss by defeating Alliance's Matt Adelman in the 160-pound championship as the Warriors narrowly edged Southeast, 233.5-232, for the Div. II team title.
Bardo's twin brother, Luke, finished second in the 145-pound weight class. West Branch's Eric Morrow pinned Salem's Sonn Hostetter in 4:48 to win the 119-pound final and Brad Learn won a major decision over Crestwood's Josh Prochnow, 18-5, in the 140-pound final.
"We feel that hard work has brought back that winning tradition," said West Branch coach Matt Helm, who had 10 wrestlers advance to this weekend's Akron Firestone district.
Howland's Brandon Alexander (189) and Robert Holbert (275) each earned titles for the Tigers, who placed fifth.
"I really wanted this," said Alexander (32-0). "It feels great to be undefeated and a sectional champ. I never think about the record. I just take it one match at a time."
Southeast's Bryan Dye (103), Jacob Bartley (125) and Brad Lanham (215) earned individual titles.
Hubbard's Joe Horton won the 171-pound title.
Division III
ROOTSTOWN -- Tristan Thompson (103), Ross Tice (135), Ed Thompson (145), John Underwood (189) and Richard Baum (275) each won individual titles to lead Brookfield to the sectional title at the Div. III sectional.
Jake Hambrick (112) and Nick Dierkes (140) won individual titles to lead Jackson-Milton to a third place finish. Dierkes is 34-0 on the season.
Warren JFK's A.J. Seifert placed first in the 215-pound weight class as the Eagles finished fifth.
Division III
WEST SALEM -- Western Reserve's Jordan Spellman placed third in the 140-pound weight class of the Div. III sectional at Northwestern High School. Spellman advances to the district meet at Mentor.