Friday, February 29, 2008
The Fitch senior won his opening match at Value City Arena.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
COLUMBUS — Austintown Fitch High’s Tony Jameson began his quest for a fourth state championship with a high-scoring victory Thursday at the 71st state wrestling championships.
Jameson improved to 41-2 this season with a 23-20 victory over Rudy Hendon in the preliminary round of the Division I tournament at Value City Arena on the Ohio State campus.
Jameson’s win advanced him to today’s championship quarterfinals, where he will face Caleb Marsh (35-7), a sophomore from Marysville.
Jameson is seeking to become only the 16th Ohio high school wrestler all-time, and first from the area, to win four straight state titles. Jameson won the 103-pound title as a freshman, the 119-pound championship as a sophomore and the 135-pound crown as a junior last year.
Only eight of the area’s other 24 wrestlers at the state tournament won their preliminary round matches Thursday.
None was bigger than Howland’s Kyle Leek, who knocked off district champion Jacob Vaughan of Columbus DeSales, 9-6, in a 125-pound match in Div. II. Vaughan (36-7), a junior, is a two-time state placer, finishing fifth in 2006 and eighth in 2007, both at 125.
Leek (33-8), also a junior, advanced to meet Eaton senior Tim Silvers (40-3) in today’s quarterfinals.
Leek’s Howland teammate, Greg Ryan, also won his 135-pound preliminary round match, 13-2, over Jordan Wray of Rossford. Ryan (39-3), a senior, will take on Andy Stine of Richmond Edison (48-1) in the quarterfinals.
Boardman’s Jeff Liggitt advanced to the quarterfinals in Div. I’s 135-pound bracket with a 5-3 win over Nick Diafabritus of Mason. Liggitt (36-8), a senior, will take on Lakewood St. Edward junior Collin Palmer (27-0) in the quarterfinals today.
In Div. III, Tyler Thompson of Brookfield advanced at 103 with a pin in 1 minute, 20 seconds, of David Harrington of Sandusky St. Mary Central Catholic. Thompson (36-10), a sophomore, will face Spencer Pierce (36-1) of Richwood North Union in the quarerfinals today.
Also advancing with preliminary-round wins were Beaver Local teammates Dylan Ice (140), Jon Bittinger (160) and Derek Wolfe (285), and Ryan Crabtree (189) of Wellsville.
Seven other wrestlers who lost their preliminary-round bouts came back with victories in the first round of consolations to advance.
The tournament continues at 10 a.m. today.