43
EOWL wrestlers wipe off the rust, beat Portage
The exhibition event keeps the athletes busy until the summer season starts.
NORTH JACKSON — For the high school wrestlers in the Valley, the offseason only lasts about two weeks.
After that, it’s back to the wrestling room and competition.
Some of the top wrestlers in the area were back on the mat Friday night, as the EOWL all-stars took on the best from the Portage Trail League at Jackson-Milton in the third annual competition. The event is sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Coaches Association.
The locals won the first four matches to built a 19-0 lead before holding off their PTC counterparts 30-29. The victory gives the EOWL a 2-1 advantage in the series.
“It’s a fun exhibition,” said Fitch junior Louis Greco, who represented the EOWL at 152 pounds. “It’s just for fun, but I guess the competitor in me wants to win.
“We took a little time off, but we were back to practice the week after state. The offseason is pretty intense with tournaments and practices three to four times a week. It’s not as intense as during the season, but we still work out and wrestle live.”
The EOWL and PTC each won seven matches Friday. The locals dominated in the light and heavyweights, while the Portage Trail wrestlers won in the middleweights.
Earning victories for the EOWL were Fitch’s Shawn Ague (103) and Chris Miller (215), Jackson-Milton’s Santino Pizzuto (119), Joe Skaggs (145) and Alex Tomaino (130), Boardman’s Jeff Liggitt (135) and Alliance’s Logan Ruff (275).
Canfield’s Brad Benedict (140) dropped a 10-6 decision to Ravenna’s Issac Dukes, who finished third in the state. Despite the loss, Benedict didn’t let it get to him.
“This is just fun and about hanging out with the other guys,” said Benedict. “I haven’t really done much in the last two weeks; just some lifting.”
Summer season
The all-star meet will serve as a springboard for getting back into shape for local wrestlers, as they prepare for freestyle and Greco-Roman season this summer. Many will travel all over to wrestling camps and tournaments around the country.
A group of locals will travel to Disney World in Orlando in June to compete in the Disney Wrestling Scholastic Duals as members of the Ohio Dragons – an all-star team run by Canfield assistant coach Chris Canale.
Two teams will be traveling to Florida. One team will include Fitch’s Tony Jameson, as well as state champions from around the state. This year’s team will include nine state champions and wrestlers with a total of 27 combined state titles. Last year’s squad went 8-1 at Disney and finished ninth in the field. The event draws nearly 80 teams.