Lamancusa eager for work

The unbeaten West Branch grappler is looking for a trip to state.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
BELOIT -- If West Branch High's Andy Lamancusa loses a match next week at the Division II district wrestling tournament, he won't get too upset or dwell on it for long. In fact, he might actually be happy about it.
"It would just make me more determined and make me work harder to prove that it was just a fluke and that I can still win a state championship," Lamancusa said. "If I lose, but still go to state, it will just make me go harder."
The senior hasn't had to deal with losing the past two years. Including Saturday's sectional championship victory over Southeast's Kenny Colman, Lamancusa is now a combined 72-1 the past two seasons.
He finished 40-1 in 2005 with his only setback coming in the state semifinals, as he finished third in the state.
32-0
Heading into next week's district tournament, Lamancusa is 32-0 this season with tournament titles at sectionals, Bill Dies and Riverside. He is the projected state champion at 145 pounds.
Lamancusa cruised to his second straight sectional championship, defeating Colman 26-11 in the finals, to earn a trip to next week's Division II district tournament at Akron Firestone High School.
The senior was one of four individual champions for West Branch, who ran away with its third straight sectional team title, scoring 226 points. The Warriors qualified 10 wrestlers to the Firestone district.
Canfield (191 points) advanced nine grapplers to the district tournament en route to a second-place finish in the team race. Winning sectional crowns for the Cardinals were Matt Narducci (135) and Damon Buente (171).
Ryan Ivany (160) and Nick Rousher (275) finished second, while Brad Benedict (112), Ryan Hendrickson (140) and Brennan Spaulding (152) took third.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class advanced to district competition.
Other teams
Rounding out the top five teams were Southeast (160), Alliance (148.5) and Girard (134.5). Liberty (116) was seventh, Salem (89) took eighth, Hubbard (70.5) finished ninth and Poland (16) was 10th.
Area individuals winning sectional champions were: West Branch's John Marshall (112), Nick Hoopes (119), Lamancusa (145) and Sharp (275); Girard's Tony Cardiero (103); Canfield's Narducci (135) and Buente; Liberty's Robbie Webber (152); and Southeast's John Braham (160) and Joe Knopick (189).
For Lamancusa, the sectional title was just one step toward his goal of winning a state title in his senior season. The Brian Brakeman Wrestling Forecast has him as a projected state champion and he knows that means added pressure to perform.
"That projected state champion label puts a big target on my chest for sure," Lamancusa said. "I was just one win away from winning it all last year so I'm hoping to go all the way this year. It will take hard work and confidence, and I think I can do it.
"Losing that match last year was hard because I was ahead by two points going into the third period, but got caught in a cheap move. But I bounced back and took third. You can't dwell on losses. You just have to work harder."
Team philosophy
Despite the sectional team title, West Branch coach Mike Helm hopes his squad won't be content with the accomplishments so far.
"We don't talk about winning tournaments, we tell the kids that we just want to get as many kids out as possible and if we do that, the team scores will take care of themselves," Helm said. "We're never satisfied and we'll push to do well next week at Firestone.
"We've had a tough spell the last four weeks with things not going our way in some dual meets and us losing some overtime bouts. But I'm proud of the kids for not quitting and coming back to have a great weekend here at sectionals. I'm a little surprised because Southeast and Canfield are solid programs, but we found a way to win."