Howland’s Leek, Ryan repeat as mat champs

David Hunter and Adam Rubesich of Howland also won championships.

HOWLAND — Howland High’s Kyle Leek and Greg Ryan, for the second year in a row, won championships, helping the Tigers to defend successfully their title Saturday at the 47th Howland Invitational wrestling tournament.

Eight schools competed in the event, with Howland, Liberty and Franklin each having two teams entered.

Howland scored 186 points; Geneva was second with 138.5 and was followed by Hickory, Pa. (129.5), Salem (124), Conneaut (104), Franklin, Pa. (101), Eastlake North (90.5), Howland B (45), Liberty (19), Liberty B (9) and Franklin B (0).

The Tigers won four titles and they had the runner-up in three weight classes.

Leek (20-4) pinned teammate Kai Yancey in 4 minutes, 39 seconds for the 125-pound title, while unbeaten Ryan (25-0) won by decision over Fabio Boccuzzi of Franklin, 9-4 for the 140 crown.

David Hunter of the Tigers pinned Miguel Labra of Salem (6:08) for the 135 title, and Adam Rubesich of the Tigers won by decision over Mitch Bidwell of Conneaut for the 152 championship.

In other title matches, Tyler Rubesich of the Tigers was beaten by Lance Zappitella (27-0) of Conneaut, 16-6, for the 130 crown, while Joe Hamilton of Salem pinned Damar Anderson of Howland at 160. The Quakers’ Greg Lambert pinned Anthony LaCamera of Hickory (5:24) at 285. Valley Bencivenni (22-1) of Eastlake North defended the 119 title as he pinned Brad Battison of Howland (5:15). John Fischer (25-0) of Hickory won by decision over Dan Hoberney of Eastlake North in the 103 championship match.

Brian Greenlee of Franklin won by decision over Leon Phillips of Geneva 7-3 at 145, Tyller Rice of Conneaut won by decison over Joey Minella of Hickory, 3-2, at 171, Josh Buckey of Geneva won by decision over Sean Cogswell of Franklin, 11-5, at 189 and John Apa of Hickory won by major decision over Jarred Frawley of Franklin, 13-3, at 215.