WRESTLING ALL-STARS Tourney-tested grapplers brought home success

These winter-time athletes excelled across Ohio.
NICK DIERKES
School/grade: Jackson-Milton, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: First at Jackson-Milton tournament, Richmond Heights, Josh Hephner, EOWL; first at sectionals and districts, second at state; 41-1 record. First team EOWL and EOWL Wrestler of the Year in Division III, team MVP. Will wrestle on an Ohio all-star team in June for the Disney national duals.
Name a person who has been a positive influence: My dad has been to every match I have ever wrestled, and he has always supported me, win or lose.
Best memory from this season: Wrestling in the state championship match. There were so many people, and it was overwhelming. It was the single greatest experience in my life. I just hope to win the next time.
Something that people would be surprised to learn: I like to play paintball. I go shopping a lot. I also play wide receiver and defensive back on our football team. And I have a dog that weighs 250 pounds.
BRANDON ALEXANDER
School/grade: Howland, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Trumbull County wrestler of the year, EOWL Division II wrestler of the year, third in state, 40 wins, 150 takedowns (313 overall), 39 first takedowns.
Positive influence: My mother and stepdad helped make me push myself to the limit and encourage me to go after everything I want.
Best memory: Our banquet because it was one of the last times that we were together as a team.
Surprised to learn: I'm kind of shy, but sometimes outgoing -- it's a kind of weird situation.
JACOB BARTLEY
School/grade: Southeast, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: 2003-04 Southeast male athlete of the year, four-time All-Portage County League champion, Bill Dies Memorial champion, sectional and district champion, sixth in state (125 pounds), national qualifier, 126 high school wins.
Positive influence: My older brother, Aaron, has always been a very positive influence. I'm a varsity athlete in the same three sports that my older brother participated in. He was fourth in the state as a senior in wrestling. He was also the valedictorian of his class. He attends all of my wrestling matches and scouts out my opponents and instructs me on how to adjust my style for each individual opponent. I've always strived to be as good as he was.
Best memory: At the Senior National Tournament, I pinned one state champ and had a technical fall against another state champ.
Surprised to learn: I have peacocks, red gold pheasants, a monitor lizard, a bearded dragon, a tarantula and the usual farm animals.
NICK BODNAR
School/grade: Austintown Fitch, sophomore.
Statistics/accomplishments: Two-time EOWL champion, two-time state qualifier, two-time sectional champion. First at the Josh Hephner, third at Brecksville, second at districts, Cadet Greco Roman Fargo national team member.
Positive influence: My dad because he is always there for me, no matter how I do. He will drive three hours just to take me to a tournament. He takes me to camps and everywhere to get me better.
Best memory: When I took second at districts and qualified for the state tournament.
Surprised to learn: I help out with the youth wrestling team.
ERIC CHINE
School/grade: Austintown Fitch, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Overall career record of 130-46, three-time state qualifier, junior state placer (fifth place), NHSCA national qualifier (record 2-2), Hephner Memorial MVP, broke the career takedown record.
Positive influence: It's hard to pick and choose just one person, but when it's all said and done and the season is over, I would have to say my coach, Jeremy Gondol. Coach Gondol has been an influence all season, helping me throughout my entire career, and I very much thank him for that. He helped me prepare for the NHSCA Senior Nationals by training, wrestling, lifting and conditioning harder than I ever have before. Therefore, along with my family, friends and other coaches, Coach Gondol has been my most positive influence.
Best memory: Not only being able to see my best friend have his hand raised to know he qualified for the state tournament, but also being able to wrestle in the senior nationals. Yet, only going 2-2, I wrestled very well with all my heart every match to get every one of my opponents called for stalling. I have no regrets on my career!
Surprised to learn: I have the best parents any kid can have who support me in anything and everything I do in life, including my athletics. I'm a three-sport athlete and compete and excel in not only wrestling, but also football and track.
DAVE DILLON
School/grade: Brookfield, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Posted a 31-11 record. State qualifier, fourth at districts, second at sectionals, second at Crestview Invitational, second at Howland Invitational, third at Richmond Heights tournament, fourth at EOWL tournament.
Positive influence: My dad. He's been there for everything in baseball, football and wrestling. Not once didn't he try to make it to every event. He's my biggest fan. He's been behind me in everything I've done since I was little. He told me ever since I started growing up, "If you strive hard enough to get what you want, nothing and no one can stop you," and, "If you don't come out on top, then keep your head high and smile cause the next time you will."
Best memory: This past year our team has had so many accomplishments and is said to be one of the best teams in school history. We won five tourneys and were EOWL Div. III champs. My best memory is of my teammate, Tristan Thompson, and myself qualifying to go to state. We were the first to go in 12 years.
R.J. DONADEE
School/grade: Austintown Fitch, sophomore.
Statistics/accomplishments: EOWL champ, fourth at Top Gun, sixth at Massillon Perry District, Cadet Greco Roman national team member.
Positive influence: My father, Rich Donadee. He is a coach at Austintown Youth and the AMS wrestling programs. He has always been there to take me to practice and make me go to tournaments, even when I don't want to go, because he knows it will make me better.
Best memory: Winning the EOWL championship.
Surprised to learn: I help out with our youth wrestling program.
BRIAN EDWARD DYE
School/grade: Southeast, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: Fourth in Bill Dies Tournament, second in Josh Hephner Memorial Tournament, first in PCL Tournament, first in sectionals, fourth in districts and sixth in his first trip to state. Won all his individual school matches, except against Ravenna's Madison Davis. At the Josh Hephner Tournament, Davis took first and Dye second. At state, needed to beat Davis to earn berth in championship match against Aaron Hart, but Davis beat Dye 24-12. Voted one of the team captains and also received the "Most Improved Wrestler" award.
Positive influence: My dad pushed me through the whole year, and if he wouldn't have, I would've slacked off. He told me that all I needed to do was to go down to 103 pounds, and he thought I had a very good chance of making it to state. My dad also came to all my practices. I also ran 20 minutes every day after wrestling practice. I was probably the best-conditioned wrestler on the team. My mom, dad and friends supported me by coming to all my matches and tournaments. After each win, I became more and more confident.
Best memory: At districts, when I defeated Roy McCahan from Coventry. That's the win I needed to make my goal to go to state and place. It was a very emotional win for me. I didn't think I had a chance to beat him because he was ranked seventh in the Brakeman Report. He also went to state in his freshman year and placed third. This was my first time wrestling him, and I was very proud of myself for beating him. It was such an accomplishment, and I am so glad that I listened to everyone that kept giving me confidence.
Surprised to learn: I placed sixth in the state and was basically an "unknown wrestler." Other wrestlers would approach me and ask, "Where did you come from?" I always was fighting for a wrestling spot, and this year I didn't have to. It makes such a difference in your drive when you don't have to worry about wrestle-offs. Our team needed a wrestler at 103 pounds, and I dropped 20 pounds to take that spot. I took advantage of the opportunity to have a successful varsity wrestling season in my senior year.
JACOB HAMBRICK
School/year: Jackson-Milton, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: First-place finish in sectional, second in the Leonard Truck and Trailer event and third in Richmond Heights, Joshua Hephner, EOWL and districts. He also qualified for state.
Positive influence: My brother Jimi for always being there for me and for letting me use him as a practice dummy in the basement. Without his help, I would not have accomplished as much.
Best memory: Beating Levi from Independence.
Surprised to learn: The only reason I even started wrestling was because my brother Jimi pushed me to do it.
ROBERT HOLBERT
School/grade: Howland, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: King of the Hill tournament champion, Hudson holiday tournament champion, Howland Invitational champion, third at Tool City tournament, EOWL runner-up, sectional champion, district champion, sixth in the state.
Positive influence: Coach Cooley. He taught me most of the throws I use in wrestling.
Best memory: Beating Brian Burdette in overtime at state to allow me to place.
Surprised to learn: I can do a split between two chairs.
JOSEPH M. HORTON
School/grade: Hubbard, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: 31-7 record. Hoppel Tournament champion (189 pounds), fifth place at Bill Dies Memorial (189). Eastern Ohio Wrestling League champion (171), sectional champion (171), fifth place at districts (171), state-qualifying alternate. First team All-EOWL, EOWL Wrestler of the Year (171) in Division II, Gatorade High School Athlete Player of the Year.
Positive influence: All of my coaches: Rob Kelley, Shane Zoccole, Bruce Hinkle, Brian Vaupel and Greg May. They all support me 100 percent and always pushed me to my limits so that I would be physically prepared. They also made sure that I was mentally prepared before a match.
Best memory: Winning the EOWL championship.
Surprised to learn: That I'm superstitious. Last year I wouldn't let my mom wash my singlet until I lost a match. My first loss came after 19 wins.
ERIC MORROW
School/grade: West Branch, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: I finished the season at 32-11 and have 143 takedowns and 16 pins in my career. I also earned the most points for our team with 374 and was a state qualifier. I placed first at the Painesville Riverside Rumble Tournament, fifth at the EOWL Tournament and the Bill Dies Memorial Tournament, first at sectionals and fourth at districts.
Positive influence: My brother was the person who got me involved in wrestling and showed me how to never give up and give everything I have in all that I do.
Best memory: The best memory that I have is at districts when I won my semifinal match and qualified for state.
Surprised to learn: I have a brother, Wade, who is over in Iraq serving our country as a Marine. I also have been inducted into our school's National Honor Society and have a grade-point average higher than 3.75.
CHRIS PANKEWICZ
School/grade: Canfield, senior.
Statistics/accomplishments: EOWL champ, sectional champ, Adam Provencial champ and MVP, third at districts, state qualifier, first team All-MAC (152), first team All-EOWL, 29-6 record.
Positive influence: My older brother Nick because he taught me to wrestle and has always been a good role model for me.
Best memory: Winning my consolation semifinal match at Perry in overtime to go to state.
Surprised to learn: I love poker, and I want to be a college football coach.
NATHAN SHARP
School/grade: West Branch, freshman.
Statistics/accomplishments: Third place Riverside Rumble, fourth place Dies Memorial, third place sectionals and second place Firestone Districts. Most pins on the season for the team. Second team Northeastern Buckeye Conference, first team Eastern Ohio Wrestling League. Team leader in points. State qualifier.
Positive influence: My coaches, all the way from Terry Romigh up to Coach Helm, have always helped a lot during the regular season, but in the summer no one can compare to my parents for taking me all over the place to wrestle and get better. The constant motivation I got from my brothers also played a key role in my development as a wrestler.
Best memory: The celebration after we beat Carrollton. We had had a tough week at practice and everyone was a little off, but we pulled together on Thursday and really did what we had to do. That was the first time I really felt like a part of the team.
Surprised to learn: I watch almost nothing but cartoons and the History Channel. English is my best subject. I've lived on a farm all my life, and can barely drive a tractor.
TRISTAN THOMPSON
School/grade: Brookfield, freshman.
Statistics/accomplishments: 36-6 record, first place at Division III Richmond Heights tournament, first place at Crestview Invitational, third place at Howland Invitational, second place at EOWL tournament, first place at sectionals, fourth place at districts, state qualifier.
Positive influence: Dad, Rich Tice, John Kettler, Chris Bell. They never gave up on me and kept pushing me to be all I can be, and to always get better.
Best memory: State, because a lot of people don't make it to state. I went, along with Dave Dillon.
Surprised to learn: I'm involved in 4-H, raising a pig.
FRED WEIDENTHAL
School/year: Austintown Fitch, junior.
Statistics/accomplishments: 33-10 record on the season, 10-0 in dual matches, 22 pins. State qualifier/academic All-Ohio, first at sectional, third at district, third at Josh Hephner tournament, first at EOWL tournament, sixth at Top Gun tournament, eighth at Brecksville tournament. First team All-Federal League, first team EOWL, won Fitch's Coaches Award, three-year letterman.
Positive influence: My parents have always been there for me throughout my career in wrestling, and they push me to do my best in every match. They're always there to cheer me on.
Best memory: In the district tournament, when I won my semifinal match to go to state. The past two years my coaches and I knew I was good enough to go to state, but I didn't work as hard and didn't get it done at districts. So this year, I worked as hard as I could and had the best year of my career. In the semifinal match, I pinned the kid in 42 seconds. I felt like all of my hard work went into that match to win, and it was a great feeling.
Surprised to learn: I'm also a multi-year letterman in football and track, and I'm also an Honor Roll student.
COACH OF THE YEAR
BRETT POWELL
School: Austintown Fitch, 18th year.
Statistics/accomplishments: 8-2 dual meet record, EOWL dual team champions, Josh Hephner Memorial champions, OHSAA sectional champions, third place in Federal League, 13 district qualifiers, three state qualifiers.
Positive influence: My assistant coach, Jeremy Gondol, is a quality coach and role model for our kids. Jeremy is a loyal friend, as well as a hard worker both in the wrestling room and in the classroom. I could not ask for a better person to coach and teach with. Our program has made great strides since he has started coaching at Fitch.
Best memory: Getting a school-record 13 wrestlers to the district. I am very proud of all the things we accomplished this season. But my best memory was watching it all come together at the sectional. It was a very inspirational thing to be a part of.
Surprised to learn: 1998 Ohio Coaches Association Division I Coach of the Year.
XThe Vindicator did not receive a response from Adam Hoppel, senior, Beaver Local.