Wrestlers from 21 schools to compete in tourney

VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
AUSTINTOWN -- Athletes representing 21 teams will wrestle in four pools when the 13th Josh Hephner Memorial tournament is held in the Fitch High School gymnasium Friday and Saturday.
The first three rounds of competition in 13 weight classes will be held Friday at 4 p.m. Two more rounds are set for Saturday at 9 a.m., with finals and consolations scheduled for 6 p.m.
Fitch Blue will return to defend its title, with unbeaten Tony Jameson (18-0), the 2005 103-pound champion, favored in the 119 class.
The Falcons' Nick Bodnar (16-2), the defending 135 champ, is the athlete to beat at 140. Both athletes were Division I state qualifiers last year.
Fitch coach Brett Powell is counting on 2005 state qualifiers J.J. Pankewicz (17-6) 160, Brian Weidenthal (15-5) 152 and R.J. Donadee (145) to defend the team title.
The Falcons are ranked ninth in Division I of the state coaches poll.
Some other area state qualifiers returning are Jackson-Milton's Mike Wiseman, 152, and Alliance's Matt Walker, 215, and Josh Cintron, the defending 130 Hephner champion.
Massillon Jackson, which is entering for the first time, has Dante Rini, who was third at state, as the athlete to beat at 119 pounds.
Ravenna has three state qualifiers coming back; Shaker Heights has two.
Besides Fitch's Blue and Red teams, other schools entered are Girard, Jackson-Milton, Liberty, Poland, Warren JFK, John Marshall, Lake, Madison, Marlington, Mogadore, Ravenna, Kent Roosevelt, Shaker Heights, Akron Springfield, St. Thomas Aquinas, Stow and Tallmadge.
Price of admission is $5 each session for adults and $3 for students. An adult two-day pass will cost $10.