Eight youth wrestlers advance to state meet

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Neighbors | Submitted.Andy Garr circles behind to score a takedown during the district meet. .

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Neighbors | Submitted.Daniel Kapalko working to score back points during the district meet. .

Sixth-graders Daniel Kapalko and David Crawford captured district titles to lead the eight Canfield wrestlers advancing to state.

Kapalko pinned his way through the 16-man bracket, including a win over his teammate, Anthony D’Alesio in the finals. Crawford beat Mentor’s Zach Kincaid to win his second district title.

Angelo Petracci, Andy Garr and Dominic Cooper placed second. Nathan Whitehead placed third and Alec Herman placed fourth. All eight will wrestle in the Ohio Youth Wrestling Association State Championship in Akron.

For Crawford, Garr, Kapalko and Whitehead, this is their second trip to the state meet. Crawford placed fourth in 2011.

Several Canfield youth wrestlers were one match away from qualifying for the state meet, including Dominic Gelonese, Michael O’Horo, Nick Crawford and Taarek Maaluof. Other Canfield wrestlers competing at Districts were Jake Kowal, Ethan Fletcher, Hunter Helminiak, Tyler Stein and Victor Labra. Several of these wrestlers will be traveling to Steubenville to qualify for the OAC State Meet to be held in March at the Covelli Center in Youngstown.