West Branch’s Sharp places third at state

Staff report

Columbus

Although they didn’t finish their seasons on top of the medal stand, three Mahoning Valley wrestlers ended their seasons on top.

Led by West Branch junior Connor Sharp’s third-place finish, the Valley had four wrestlers place in the top five on the final day of the state wrestling tournament on Saturday at Value City Arena.

Competing at 285 pounds in Division II, Sharp decisioned Perry’s Billy Miller 2-1 to win the third place final.

Sharp pinned Toledo Central Catholic’s Levi Pickerel in 4:30 in his first match Saturday morning to advance to the third-place bout.

Also, Sharp’s coach, Mike Helm, was honored as the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association Division II coach of the year.

“It is a humbling thing to be recognized by your peers,” Helm said. “But it is really about all the people behind the scenes that make these awards possible.”

Howland’s Gabe Stark (138 pounds) decisioned Sandusky Perkins’ Cameron Campbell, 7-2, in a fifth place match. Earlier, Stark fell to Millersburg West Holmes’ Max Rohskopf 2-0 in the consolation semifinals.

In Division I, Boardman senior Nico Graziani (160) defeated Brecksville-Broadview Heights’ Quinton Hiles for the second time this weekend, this time earning a 4-3 win in the fifth-place final.

Graziani also earned a 4-3 victory over Hiles in Friday’s second round.

Graziani lost to Solon’s Justin Kresevic in Saturday’s consolation semifinals by a 3-2 ultimate tiebreaker. Both of Graziani’s losses this weekend were by ultimate tiebreaker.

In Division III, South Range’s Max Brooke saw his impressive run through the consolation bracket come to an end with a 9-6 loss to Beachwood’s David Shapiro in the third-place final.

Earlier Saturday, Brooke earned a 16-8 major decision over Codie Millhone of Zoarville Tuscarawas Valley in the consolation finals. After losing in Thursday’s first round, Brooke had won four straight matches.