PREP WRESTLING Div. I district event begins today at Perry

Fitch, Canfield and Boardman have 23 wrestlers in the meet.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Twenty-three wrestlers from Austintown Fitch, Canfield, and Boardman high schools will compete in the Division I district tournament at Massillon Perry today and Saturday.
The Falcons are sending a school-record 13 wrestlers into action, having somebody in every weight class but 215 pounds.
Senior Joe Murray (19-5, 171 pounds) will seek his fourth straight trip to state. At last week's sectional tournament he pinned four opponents in 1 minute, 14 seconds; 55 seconds, 35 seconds and 37 seconds to repeat as champion.
The Falcons, who edged Hudson for the sectional title, also had 2003 state qualifiers, Nick Bodnar (45-1, 130) and Eric Chine (29-6, 189) earn sectional titles.
Canfield, which moved up to Div. I this season, had seven qualifiers, including sectional champs Steve DeMaiolo (29-6, 112), Brett Sebbio (39-1, 125) and Chris Pankewicz (20-3, 152).
Boardman freshmen Anthony Wills (25-10, 103) and Justin Powell (16-11, 215), and junior Adam Chizmar (34-2, 119) all placed second at the sectional.
Division II
Eight schools will be represented by 47 athletes at the Div. II meet at Akron Firestone High.
West Branch, which edge Southeast for the sectional crown, had 10 qualifiers, including sectional champions Eric Morrow (29-7, 119), Brad Learn (26-6, 140) and Levi Bardo (25-8, 160).
Southeast had nine wrestlers advance, including sectional title winners Brian Dye (23-4, 103), Jacob Bartley (20-1, 125) and Brad Lanham (28-4, 215).
Salem junior Sonn Hostetter (30-5, 119), a 2003 state qualifier, finished second at the sectional.
Brandon Alexander (33-0, 189) of Howland heads into district seeking a return trip to state. He is one of six Tigers that will compete, including sectional champ Rob Holbert (30-3, 275), a junior.
Five wrestlers from Hubbard qualified, including sectional champion Joe Horton (27-5, 171), a senior
Beaver Local will compete in the Div. II district at Pataskala Watkins Memorial High. Adam Hoppel (34-1, 275) will be seeking his fourth trip to state, while junior Grant Hoppel (27-8, 140) will try for his second.
The Beavers had seven qualifiers entered in the district event.
Division III
Thirty wrestlers from six area schools will participate in the Div. III district at Mentor.
Jackson-Milton junior Nick Dierkes (34-0, 140) will take his unbeaten record into the meet.
The Bluejays had eight qualifiers, including sectional champion Jake Hambrick (30-5, 112), a junior.
Brookfield had 10 qualifiers, including sectional champions Tristan Thompson, 103; Ross Tice, 135; Ed Thompson, 145; John Underwood, 189, and Richard Baum, 275.
Sectional champ A.J. Seifert (29-11, 215), a junior, will lead five Warren JFK wrestlers.