Fitch’s Jameson suffers rare loss

St. Paris Graham’s Ben
Jordan got a late takedown to top the three-time champ.

By ERIC HAMILTON

VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT

ALLIANCE — Was it a takedown or wasn’t it?

That question will be the subject of debate for quite a while when high school wrestling fans discuss the outcome of Saturday’s 145-pound Top Gun championship match between Fitch’s Tony Jameson and St. Paris Graham’s Ben Jordan.

The battle of state champions was as exciting a match as many had anticipated. The standing-room-only crowd was at a hush during most of the match.

In the third period, it was tied 6-all, when Jameson took an 8-6 lead with a two-point reversal with 30 seconds left.

Jordan made it 8-7 with an escape soon after. Just when it looked like Jameson would hold on for the narrow victory, Jordan scored a takedown on the edge of the mat with two seconds left to earn a 9-8 triumph.

“I’ve been waiting for this match for a while, so obviously I’m disappointed in myself,” said Jameson, which was denied his fourth straight Top Gun championship. “It was a matchup of two of the best guys and unfortunately one of us had to lose. He wanted to win as bad as I did and he just took it to me tonight.

“But all in all it was a fun match and I would have rather wrestled a tough match like this than win an easy one in the finals for that fourth title. He was a tough kid, so I have to keep my head up and learn from it.”

The setback was Jameson’s second of the season, after losing to defending Division III state champion Zach Toal (Troy Christian) a few weeks ago. Jordan has beaten Toal twice this season and will face him a third time in two weeks.

Jordan compared the two opponents.

“Jameson’s better,” said Jordan, who owns two Division II state titles and a second. “He’s a phenomenal scrambler and can [escape] out of so many things. I knew this match would be back and forth and thought it would come down to whoever got the last takedown.

“This was a big win because I was disappointed last year losing in the state finals and losing in the semifinals here, so I needed to win a big match like this to help my confidence.”

Jordan’s win was just one of many for St, Paris Graham, which blew away the field to win its second straight Top Gun team title. The Falcons scored 316 points to easily outdistance second-place University School (151.5).

Fitch (137.5) finished third, its best finish since taking second in 2005. Claymont (135.5) was fourth and Ravenna (122) rounded out the top five teams.

St. Paris Graham placed 13 wrestlers in the top eight of their respective weight classes and finished 7-0 in the championship finals.

“We wrestled well this weekend,” said Graham coach Jeff Jordan. “This is a good tournament and we get to see a lot of teams from other parts of the state. We see some Division I and Division III teams and there are some great individuals here.

“We enjoy competing against teams like Austintown, Walsh, Ravenna and others. We wrestle a brutal schedule and Top Gun brings that for us.”

The Mahoning Valley, represented by Fitch, Boardman, Brookfield and Poland, didn’t break through with any individual champions. But nine area wrestlers made it to the awards podium by placing in the top eight of their weight classes.

Fitch led the way with four placers. In addition to Jameson’s second-place finish, junior Louis Greco finished third at 152 pounds, Chris Miller also finished third and DJ Moss took seventh place at 285 pounds.

Greco, who lost in the quarterfinals on Friday, won four straight matches in the consolation bracket on Saturday and beat Ravenna’s Tony Karaffa 4-3 for third place.

“It feels real good,” said Greco. “I was disappointed about losing Friday, but I just had to trust myself and do what I do best. Sometimes, guys lose in the quarters and then just go in the tank, but I stayed confident.

“This was tough competition, but that’s nothing new since we wrestle in some tough tournaments. I’m just hoping all my training in the offseason and during the season will pay off.”

Boardman had three placers at Top Gun. Senior Jeff Liggitt proved his mettle by overcoming two one-point losses to 2007 Division II state runner-up Brad Wukie (University School) and finish fifth at 135 pounds. He beat Graham’s Mark Meyer 5-3 in overtime.

Ricky Zupko (112 pounds) finished seventh for the Spartans and Nick DeMarinis was eighth at 152 pounds.

Brookfield’s Dan Miller was sixth at 160 pounds and Poland’s Ben Pearce (145) took eighth at Top Gun for the second straight year.