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Fitch wrestlers fourth at EOWL championships
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Fitch heavyweight Tyler Bell (left) faces off against West Branch's Connor Sharp during the EOWL Tournament finals last weekend. Bell lost 3-2 to Sharp.
Two days before the lights went out in New Orleans during the Super Bowl, Valley wrestlers were left in the dark prior to the start of the 2013 EOWL wrestling tournament in Boardman last Friday night.
As the Valley’s top grapplers warmed up for the tournament, the school lost power. The delay put the tourney’s starting time back an hour to 6 p.m. and caused a long night of wrestling. Once electricity was restored around 5 p.m., wrestlers were given an hour to warm up.
When the lights came back on, the Fitch wrestling team performed well in the spotlight. The Falcons put together one of their best performances of the season, scoring 140 points and finishing third in Division I and fourth overall.
“This team had it all come together this past weekend,” said coach Brett Powell. “It was a great experience for each member of the team — every wrestler scored points and we placed seven wrestlers out of 14. Our coaching staff of John Burd, Scott Vaughn and Lou Greco have done a great job of working with these guys the last few months.”
Leading Fitch’s charge at EOWL was senior heavyweight Tyler Bell, who finished second to returning state placer Connor Sharp (West Branch). Bell lost a 3-2 decision to Sharp in the finals.
“Bell has gotten better this year — he is very difficult to score on and has great feet and is a consistent winner,” said Powell. “He has a strong chance to be in Columbus at state tournament time, but he must really prepare as we go to Mentor [districts].”
Junior Zach Mackall has made his mark in the Fitch record books, breaking the program’s single-season pin record with 28. That mark was previously held by 1997 state champion Greg Faunda, four-time state champ Tony Jameson and RJ Balog.
West Branch piled up 236 team points to win the overall team title and the EOWL Division II crown. Canfield (204) took second overall and won the Division I trophy. Poland won the Division III team title, while Grand Valley claimed the Division IV championship.
Prior to the EOWL finals last Saturday, the league inducted a new class into its Hall of Fame. Included in that group was a former Fitch standout and another wrestler who competed in Austintown as a youth.
2013 EOWL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
ERIC CHINE
Eric Chine is not only one of the most decorated wrestlers in Austintown history, but one of its most decorated athletes. He was a four-year letter winner in wrestling, football and track and capped his senior year by winning the EOWL championship and placing fifth in the state his senior season.
He completed his high school career as a three-time state qualifier, 132 wins and holds the school career takedown record with 524.
Upon graduating from Fitch, Chine wrestled at Kent State where he was a three-year letterman and finished his college career with 108 wins. He was only the 10th wrestler in Kent State history to register 100 career wins and was also named a Cliff Keen Freestyle All-American.
MAX PEARCE
Max Pearce began his wrestling career as a youth wrestler at age 11 in the Boardman youth wrestling program. As a young wrestler participating weekly at Austintown Fitch High School, he finished as a OYWA state qualifier. He went on to represent Poland as its first wrestler in 2001. To develop his skills, Pearce practiced throughout the EOWL where he was welcomed by coaches from Austintown, Canfield, South Range and Boardman.
While at Poland, he was a Sectional champion and District runner-Up. He completed his high school career by finishing fifth at the 2005 state tournament. He graduated from Miami University in 2009.