Area wrestlers compete in district events this weekend

By Eric Hamilton

A berth on the big stage at the state wrestling tournament will be at stake this weekend for dozens of local wrestlers, who will compete at their respective districts in Division I, II and III Friday and Saturday.

Wrestlers from Fitch, Boardman and Canfield will battle in Division I at Massillon Perry in what is considered the toughest district in the entire state – in any division.

In Division II, competitors from Howland, Hubbard, Liberty, Salem and West Branch will try their luck at the Akron Firestone district.

In Division III, the area group includes wrestlers from Brookfield, Girard, Jackson-Milton, South Range and Warren JFK. Those grapplers will attempt to advance to state out of the Maple Heights district.

The top four in each weight class will clinch spots at next week’s state tournament March 5-7 at the Schottenstein Center on the campus of The Ohio State University.

Four Fitch wrestlers have opportunities to advance through the rugged Perry district.

Chris Miller, ranked No. 9 in the Brakeman Report at 215 pounds, has maybe the best chance. In his bracket, only Wadsworth’s Nick Tavanello (No. 6) is rated ahead of him – and he is in the other half of the bracket.

Louis Greco, a sectional champion, got a tough draw and will likely face Lake’s Zack Cline in the second round. At 145 pounds, four of the top 7 rated wrestlers in the state will be at Perry.

Shawn Ague bumped up to 112 pounds, after wrestling all season at 103. It might turn out to be a good decision. The fight will likely be for second, as Wadsworth’s Kagan Squire is the favorite to win. Ague will have a shot at one of the other three qualifying spots.

Jake Peterson (140) faces a tough road that starts with a first-round match against No. 10 rated Terrell Hodge (Bedford). If he wins his first two matches, Peterson would meet former state champion Brad Squire in the semifinals.

Canfield’s Aron Brenner is projected to advance out of the Perry district at 152 pounds. He’s considered the second-best wrestlers in the bracket behind projected state champion Andrew Gasber (Madison), who beat Brenner at the Fitch sectional.

Boardman’s John Dillon will compete in arguably the toughest bracket at the district. Six of the top 10 rated wrestlers at 103 pounds are here. To get to the finals, Dillon would need to beat wrestlers rated No. 9, No. 4 and No. 6.

Howland’s Kyle Leek will be among the favorites to advance at 140 pounds at Firestone. He is in the opposite half of the bracket from projected state champion Harrison Hightower (University School) and No. 7 rated John Fraley (Streetsboro).

Cody Reesman faces a tough second round match at heavyweight in No. 11 rated Ian Jones (Harvey). He is in the opposite half from No. 3 Ricky Williams (Geneva).

Hubbard’s Rob Lias (215) is the second highest rated wrestler at Firestone and wouldn’t meet No. 6 Nick Thompson until the finals. Lias is projected to secure a spot at state.

West Branch’s Dustin Graham (No. 6) is the highest rated wrestler in his half of the 103-pound bracket. His possible semifinal match would be against Streetsboro’s Cory Stainbrook, also rated in the Brakeman.

Jackson-Milton could potentially have three state qualifiers, including brothers Vinny (103 pounds) and Santino (119) Pizzuto and Dan Clawson (215). All are projected to advance. Clawson is the highest rated wrestlers in the whole bracket. Both Pizzutos will face at least two other ranked wrestlers in their brackets.

Brookfield duo Tyler Thompson (112) and Dan Miller (140) enter as sectional champions. Thompson, a 2008 qualifier, could face No. 11 Tim Triskett (VASJ) in the semis. Miller is in the same half of his bracket as No. 3 Josh Pfister (Black River) and No. 9 Ian Trusnik (Chanel).

Girard’s Tony Cardiero (130) and Alex Saunders (189) look to exit Maple Heights. Cardiero, a state alternate, is rated No. 12 and could meet No. 16 Tony Widder (Waynedale) in the second round.

Saunders is opposite of projected state champion Kurtis Schaefer (Northwestern), but will contend with No. 9 Colton Zody (Triway) and No. 12 Mitch Klemp (Manchester) in his half of the bracket.