Fitch wrestlers finish eighth in national meet

Vindicator staff report

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Austintown Fitch High wrestling team earned All-America status at last week’s Disney Duals at Walt Disney World.

Fitch’s A team went 8-4 in dual meet competition against some of the top teams in the country to finish eighth out of 36 schools in the upper division of the community team event.

Fitch’s Shawn Ague, a senior-to-be who competed at 112 pounds, and Louis Greco, a recent graduate who competed at 145 pounds, each went 13-0 over the four-day event to earn gold medals. Boardman’s Jerry Pasquale (119 pound senior-to-be) also captured gold by going 13-0.

Earning bronze were Canfield’s Rob Reed (11-2 at 125 pounds) and Fitch’s Chris Miller (11-2 at 215). Fitch’s Scott Satterlee went 10-3 at 130 to earn copper, the equivalent of fourth.

Fitch’s B team, which consisted of varsity and JV, finished 26th out of 36 in the lower division. Fitch’s Andy Koch went 6-1 at 189 to earn silver, Howland’s J.R. Perry went 6-2 at 103 to earn bronze and Canfield’s Alex Benedict went 5-3 at 130 to earn copper.

Community teams consisted of high school teams. There was also an association team event for statewide all-star teams. Community teams were required to have 11 wrestlers from their own schools, but were allowed as many as three additions from nearby schools.

“It’s an awesome event,” said Fitch High coach Brett Powell, whose team finished 11th last year. “It’s like the Taj Mahal of wrestling. It’s really packed, they treat you great and you see some great competition.

“We faced some of the top competition in the country and the team represented the school and the area very well.”