J-M’s Pizzuto wins 112 title in district wrestling meet

Santino Pizzuto was one of nine area wrestlers to make the state tourney.

MAPLE HEIGHTS — Jackson-Milton junior Santino Pizzuto defeated Jimmy Mallos of Cuyahoga Heights, 6-1, to win the 112-pound championship at the Division III district wrestling tournament at Maple Heights High School Saturday night.

Pizzuto (31-4) was one of four Youngstown area wrestlers to advance to the state tournament which begins Thursday at Value City Arena at Ohio State.

Also advancing were two Brookfield wrestlers — sophomore Tyler Thompson (33-10) at 103 pounds and Dan Miller (41-7), a junior, at 130. Thompson finished third with a pin in 4 minutes, 28 seconds against Cody Tschantz of Bedford Chanel, and Miller finished fourth, losing to Tyler Powers of CVCA 1-0.

Also finishing fourth and advancing was South Range’s Beau Bowden at 171 pounds. Bowden (37-10), a junior, lost 8-6 to Matt Schaefer of West Salem Northwestern in the consolation finals.

Apple Creek Waynedale won the team championship with 153.5 points. Chanel was second with 150 and CVCA was third with 147.5.

Division II

AKRON — Five area wrestlers advanced to the Division II state tournament but the majority them face an uphill climb.

Ben Pearce of Poland was the highest area finisher at the Firestone High school district meet, with a second-place performance at 145 pounds. Pearce won three straight matches over the weekend before falling to Billy Painter of Aurora, 6-0, in the championship match.

Pearce will face a third-place finisher from another district at this week’s state tournament at Ohio State.

The other four finishers, though, will have a more difficult first-round opponent.

Howland’s Greg Ryan and Kyle Leek advanced. Ryan finished third at 135 with a 6-1 win over Brad Wukle of University School. He’ll face a district runner-up in his opening round match at the state tournament Thursday.

Leek finished fourth at 125 pounds. Saturday night he lost to Rich Knotek of Walsh Jesuit 5-0 in the consolation finals.

Hubbard’s Tanner Thompson and Jeremiah Jones of West Branch also finished fourth, meaning they — along with Leek — will face district champions in their opening matches at Ohio State.

Thompson lost to Cody McGee of Minerva, 3-1, in the consolation finals at 103, while James fell to Julian Rosen of University, 8-1, in the consolation finals at 189.

Walsh Jesuit won the team title with 159.5 points and qualified seven wrestlers to the state tournament, including three champions. University finished second with 135 points and six qualifiers, including three champions, and Chesterland West Geauga was third with 111 points and five qualifiers, including one champion.