Fitch’s Rezapourian lone D-I wrestler to escape unscathed

February 22, 2014 at 12:09a.m.

The first day of the Division I district wrestling tournament at Mentor High School wasn’t very kind to many of the local wrestlers competing on Friday.

Austintown Fitch’s Camran Rezapourian (170 pounds) was the only one to survive the first day without a loss, pinning Dominic Vitrano of Lake in 3:27, and then defeating Alex Mervar of South by technical fall, 16-0.

Andrew Fairbanks (106) and Zach Mackall (145) each won their first match before getting dropping to the consolation bracket after losing in the quarterfinals.

The Spartans’ Mario Graziani (145) started the day off right, pinning his first-round opponent in 48 seconds, however Mentor’s Austin Tomoletz got the better of Graziani sending him to the colsolation bracket.

In another Division II district tournament at Claymont High School, Beaver Local’s Jack Dawson won his first two matches in the 113-pound weight class, including knocking off one of the top seeds, Bashir Ali.

The Beavers’ Daniel Hasson continued to roll, pinning his first opponent and then winning by major decision in the quarterfinals.

In Division III at Garfield Heights High School, it was Girard freshman Dakota McCloskey (106) and senior Nick Cardiero (170) who were among the wrestlers who impressed the most on day one.

McCloskey won in a decision, 8-1 over Cuyahoga Heights’ Trey Combs in the quarterfinals, while Cardiero pinned Will Hopkins, also of Cuyahoga Heights, in 25 seconds.

Anthony Italiano (182) of Jackson-Milton, Seth Bloor (220) of Wellsville and Charlie Smith (285) of United also went unbeaten through the first two rounds on Friday.

A total of 13 local wrestlers were eliminated on the first day of competition with back-to-back losses.

The rest will be fighting to finish in the top four and earn a trip to Columbus for the state tournament next weekend in Columbus.