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Boardman wins three EOWL championships
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Neighbors | Submitted.Boardman wrestler Nick Mancini (top) looks to control his opponent during EOWL tournament action last weekend. Mancini won the 103-pound championship for the second straight season.
Boardman’s John Dillon had a decision to make prior to last weekend’s Eastern Ohio Wrestling League tournament at Salem High School.
He made the right one.
The junior wrestler dropped from 125 pounds to the 119-pound weight class for the first time this season and the move paid dividends after he won his third straight league title by defeating Jackson-Milton’s Vinnie Pizzuto 2-1 in overtime during Saturday’s finals.
“He was at 119 all year and we encouraged him to drop sooner,” said Boardman coach Dom Mancini. “But he was undefeated at 125, so there was no hurry to drop. He’s a pretty big 119-pounder, but only an average size 125-pounder. We think 119 is the best weight for him for state, so he went ahead and dropped starting this weekend.”
Dillon was one of three Spartans to win individual EOWL championships. Nick Mancini won the 103-pound weight class by pinning Canfield’s Anthony Spencer in 5:27. It was the sophomores second league crown in as many seasons. Nico Graziani took the 152-pound title after earning an 8-6 decision over Hubbard’s Nick Nadeja.
Other place winners for Boardman were Carlo DeAscentis (fourth, 145) and Devon Fletcher (fifth, 171),
“This was our final tune-up for sectionals,” said Mancini. “If you are going to make a mistake, it’s better to make it here. This tourney is a good confidence builder for sectionals. You just want to wrestle crisp and get yourself ready for sectionals.”
Boardman (113) finished seventh in the overall team standings and fourth in Division I. Howland (206.5) won the overall and Division I team titles. Canfield (179) was second and West Branch (169.5) was third overall and first in Division II. Jackson-Milton won the Division III team title and Pymatuning Valley was fifth overall and the champion of Division IV.
Wrestling sectionals will be contested Friday and Saturday. Boardman will compete in the Division I sectional tournament at Fitch High School.