Beau Bowden first from S.R. to place

By Joe Scalzo

COLUMBUS — South Range senior wrestler Beau Bowden warmed up for his Division III championship semifinal match on Friday wearing a Kelly Pavlik T-shirt from the recent fight at the Chevrolet Centre.

“I just wanted to support Youngstown,” said Bowden, who actually missed the fight due to a wrestling meet.

He did a good representing the Valley and, especially, his school this weekend, winning his first two matches at 171 pounds to achieve two milestones. He’s the first Raider to win a state match and today he’ll become the first to place.

“It’s kind of a big thing in my life,” he said. “It’s really awesome.”

Bowden was one of eight Valley wrestlers to advance to the semifinals. All eight lost, meaning the area will not have a state champion.

Bowden, South Range’s only state qualifier, lost both his matches in Columbus last year and used that as motivation to return and improve on his performance.

“My coach told me all year that it’s a lot harder to get back to state than it is to get there the first time,” he said. “I worked really hard and I got back here.”

Brookfield’s Dann Miller rebounded from his quarterfinal loss on Friday with a 4-2 decision over Van Buren’s Chad Sonnenberg in the consolation quarterfinals.

Girard teammates Tony Cardiero (130) and Niko Francis (152) lost their consolation quarterfinal matches.

In Div. I, Boardman freshman John Dillon, a junior high state champion, lost a close decision in his 103-pound semifinal match to Cincinnati Princeton’s Corey Selmon, 8-5. He was behind just 6-5 in the final minute before Selmon secured a takedown to seal the match.

Fitch’s Shawn Ague (who has won three consolation matches), teammate Louis Greco (who lost Friday’s quarterfinal match and won a consolation quarterfinal) and Canfield’s Aron Brenner (who has won three consolation matches) will wrestle for place this morning.

Consolation semifinals begin at 10 a.m. with the third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches to follow at 11. Championship matches begin at 5:50.

In Div. II, Howland senior Kyle Leek lost to St. Paris Graham’s Matt Stephens 5-0 in the 140-pound semifinals after winning his quarterfinal match. Leek placed second in Ohio at 125 pounds last year.

Beaver Local’s John McComas (103 pounds) and Dylan Ice (140) also lost semifinal matches, as did Southeast’s Shelton Morris (130).

Beaver Local’s Arizona Miller (112), West Branch’s Jake Mellinger (130) and Hubbard’s Robbie Lias (215) won their consolation quarterfinal matches.