Nine wrestlers in D-2 qualify for state meet

By Eric Hamilton

AKRON — Nine Mahoning Valley wrestlers are bound for Columbus for the state tournament after surviving what is considered to be the toughest Division II district at Firestone High School.

The qualifiers earned the right to compete at the Schottenstein Center next weekend by finishing in the top four in their respective weight classes. Valley wrestlers will be represented at state in 11 of the 14 weight classes.

The nine qualifiers are the most the area has sent to state in Div. II since eight advanced in 2005.

West Branch clinched its first district runner-up trophy in school history and Howland completed an impressive third-place team finish.

University School won the team championship.

West Branch will send four wrestlers to state; three others placed in the top six of their weight classes.

Leading the group for the Warriors were district runners-up Jake Mellinger (130 pounds) and Brent Stoffer (152). Joining that duo in Columbus will be Adam Lamancusa (160) and Eric Bates (171).

“This is the first district trophy we’ve ever taken home and the kids really earned it,” said West Branch coach Mike Helm. “We brought 12 kids and all but one won matches here. We did this as a team, just like we have all year.

“We’re not done yet, though. The kids won’t be satisfied with just getting to state, they are there to place and get on that podium.”

The match of the night featured Howland’s Kyle Leek (No. 3 in the Brakeman Report) against projected state champion Harrison Hightower (University School). Hightower is a defending state champion and expected by many to win the 140-pound title this year.

Having already secured his second straight trip to state, where he finished second at 125 pounds last year, Leek knocked off Hightower 5-4 to win the district crown.

The match was tied at 2-all going into the final period. Harrison began in the down position and Leek took advantage by putting him on his back and nearly pinning him. The three back points gave leek a 5-2 lead.

But with 30 seconds left, Hightower cut the deficit to 5-4 with a reversal. Leek managed to stay off his back in the final seconds to secure his biggest win of the season.

“It feels great,” said Leek. “I was nervous on the drive over here after the break, but Greg [Ryan] got me going and then I just got in a zone. When you wrestle a kid that good, you just can’t make mistakes and get caught.

“He’ll be on the other side of the bracket next week, so if we both keep winning, we’ll see each other again and it could go either way. But he’ll still be the one with the target on his back because he’s the No. 1 kid in the state. And I’ll just go back to being Kyle Leek. I can be excited tonight, but it’s back to training tomorrow.”

Like last year, Leek will have a roommate in Columbus, as sophomore Cody Reesman battled back through the consolations with three wins to clinch his first state tournament berth. He finished third with a victory in the finals.

Hubbard’s Anthony Nadeja (160) and Robbie Lias (215) are going to state next week also.

Nadeja lost his second round match Friday, but rebounded to score three straight victories in the consolation bracket to secure a spot at state.

Lias avoided a repeat of 2008 when he advanced to the semifinals, but lost two straight matches on Saturday to fall short of state.

On Saturday, he lost his semifinal bout, but rallied to win by pin in his state qualifying match to earn the elusive appearance at 215.