Saturday, January 26, 2008
The Indians’ wrestling team was tied for eighth at the Hephner tournament.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
AUSTINTOWN — High school wrestling is pretty intense both in the practice room and on the mat during matches. But for Girard’s Tony Cardiero and his teammates, there has to be at least a little bit of fun involved to take the edge off.
“Sometimes, we’ll play dodgeball or have relays or something,” said Cardiero. “It’s just fun being with your teammates and pushing each other to get better every day.”
While the fun and games have had their place this season for the Indians, when it comes down to match time, Girard has been all business.
With Cardiero leading the way with a 26-1 record, the Indians have taken the competition by storm this season. Girard owns an impressive 11-0 dual match record and won the Hillsdale and Leonard Truck tournaments. The Indians also took fifth at the Riverside Rumble.
Facing perhaps its toughest tournament field of the season this weekend at the Joshua Hephner Memorial Tournament, Girard lived up to expectations Friday and sits tied for eighth place among the field of 25 teams after three rounds of pool wrestling.
“We’ve just all been working hard in practice and making each other better,” said Cardiero, who was 3-0 Friday. “Everyone is pulling their weight this year and no one is slacking off. We’ve accomplished a lot so far, but we want to keep pushing and continue to prove ourselves.”
Cardiero is having his best season with an undefeated dual match record and tournament titles at Leonard and Hillsdale. He suffered his only loss at the Riverside Rumble in the beginning of the season at the hands of returning state qualifier Ricky King (Cleveland Benedictine).
The junior is a two-time district qualifier and is hoping to take the next step this year and secure a spot at the state tournament in four weeks.
“Every time I win a match, I get more and more confidence,” said Cardiero. “Every tournament before sectionals is just practice. I’m just trying to get my timing down and get things in place for when it counts the most. So far, I’m doing great, but I need to push myself.”
Cardiero and Girard have aspirations of winning a sectional tournament championship — something that has never happened in the program’s history. The Indians will continue their tune-up next week at the EOWL Tournament at Canfield High.
Girard coach Jim Cardiero is pleased with the way his team has performed so far, but is looking for bigger and better things in the coming weeks.
“It doesn’t matter what you’ve done right now, it’s what you do in the postseason that matters,” he said. “We’ve done what we expected to do so far, but I think people didn’t expect us to be undefeated right now, but I like it that way.
“We need a tournament like the Hephner to challenge our kids. We need to get a lot better. We’re starting to believe we are winners and our conditioning has been good. Things have just fallen into place for us.”
Girard has three seniors and four freshman in the lineup this season. In addition to Cardiero (125), other standouts have been senior Gary Bass (171), with a 24-3 record, and sophomore Nico Francis (135).
Cardiero is looking for that trio, as well as a few others, to go deep into the postseason and give Girard a chance to compete for a Division II sectional championship at West Branch.
“Everything would have to go our way,” said Coach Cardiero. “It’s going to take a little luck and some good wrestling. We’re just trying to get better and see what happens.”