DIVISION I WRESTLING Fitch finishes sixth at district tourney, advances 3 to state

Nick Bodnar, Eric Chine and Fred Weidenthal all qualified for the Falcons.
By JOHN BUTERA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
MASSILLON -- Austintown Fitch High sophomore Nick Bodnar (130 pounds) and senior Eric Chine (189) will be making return trips to the state wrestling tournament, while junior Fred Weidenthal (160) and Canfield's Chris Pankewicz (152) are going for the first time.
The Division I state wrestling tournament will be held Friday and Saturday at Ohio State.
Perry won the district with 175.5 points. Wadsworth was second with 149.5, Mentor was third with 107.
Fitch was sixth with 68.5, Canfield was 16th with 35 and Boardman finished with two.
Bodnar (48-2) lost to freshman Thomas Straughn of Perry, 5-4, in a championship match. He was the only area athlete to compete for a district crown.
Bodnar decisioned Bill Dickey of Green 2-1 to get into the title match.
"Right now I just want to concentrate on going to state and placing in the top four," said Bodnar. "I wouldn't change anything about the way I wrestled tonight."
Weidenthal (31-8) decisioned Chad Beck of Green for third place.
"It feels really great to come out of here third," said Weidenthal. "I had high expectations coming in, and I wrestled tough to get out."
He decisioned Mark Hayhurst of Akron Ellet in a consolation semifinal, after being pinned by Perry's Steve Luke in 46 seconds in the championship semis.
Chine finished fourth as he lost 5-4 to Clay Armbruster of North Royalton.
"Right now this is the toughest district in the state," said Fitch coach Brett Powell.
"So we are hoping for our guys who placed here to get a place next week.
"To show you how tough this tournament is, a lot of guys who went to state before aren't going back."
Battling back
Battling his way back through the consolations, Chine decisioned Dave Kascar of Hudson 7-2 and Myron McConnel of Euclid 9-2. He then eliminated Canfield's Jarek Esarco, 5-1, who lost to Nick Roman of GlenOak, 2-1, in the semis.
Canfield's Pankewicz (25-4) decisioned Payton O'Brien (Mentor) for third place.
"Last year I was an alternate for state, so this really feels good," said Pankewicz.
"It feels like I have accomplished something. This is a tough district, so I like my chances going to state.
"Right now I just want to concentrate on getting three good days of practice and making sure my weight isn't an issue," he added.
Pankewicz decisioned Gino Russo of Nordonia 6-4 in a consolation semifinal, after losing a championship semifinal to Ken Miller of Wadsworth 8-3.
Coming close
Senior Joe Murray of Fitch (171) pinned Mike Pushpak of Brecksville in 39 seconds, then won a major decision 12-0 over Cory Brecksville to reach the semis.
Murray, who has had his ups and downs this season because of an injury, was pinned by Adam Milton in a semifinal match (2:43), then bowed out as he lost to Joe Deak of Madison, 8-5.
He then forfeited his match and placed sixth.
Matt Westhead (119) of Austintown was eliminated by Jordan Ciccarello of Brush, 7-0, in the consolation.
D.J. Donadee (135) of the Falcons bowed out as he finished sixth, losing to Matt Sargent of North Royalton.
Senior Kyle Gabrick (140) was eliminated as he lost a 6-4 decision to Phil Campbell in the consolations.
Steve DiMaiolo (112) lost to Brad Thomas of Mayfield in the semis, then lost to Dave Borchart of Cloverleaf, 9-7, and finished sixth, losing to Matt Dunlap of Painesville Riverside, 6-4.
Derek Ford of Wadsworth eliminated Brett Sebbio of Canfield by pin (1:52) in the 125-pound consolation rounds.
Alec Roman (215) of Canfield was eliminated by Adam Lange of Hudson, 6-2.
At 215, freshman Justin Powell of Boardman bowed out as he lost by pin to Devyn Hoffner of Perry, 4:42, in consolation.