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Canfield grapplers handle Howland
By TIM CLEVELAND
HOWLAND
When you combine the fact that Canfield is on a roll this season and Howland is a young, inexperienced team, Wednesday night’s dual wrestling meet went as expected.
The Cardinals won nine of the 11 weight classes contested (there were three forfeits) — including five pins — and earned a 58-14 victory, putting themselves closer to their third Eastern Ohio Wrestling League title in four seasons.
“Howland is really well-coached,” said Canfield coach Dean Conley, whose team improved to 9-2 and 3-0 in the EOWL. “It’s always tough to win here. It’s tough to wrestle here. We got off to a couple wins there, and I think that gave us some momentum.
“We’re going to see them five more times this season, so I know they’ll be ready and they’re going to keep fighting.”
The first match was at 145 pounds, and Canfield sophomore C.J. Frost got his team off to a quick start with a 19-2 technical fall over Brock Garretson.
“I started off wanting to get a pin because to get the team off to a good start,” said Frost, who qualified for districts last season at 138. “It always helps the team to start off strong, to get us rolling.”
Frost and Conley both said the sophomore has worked hard in improving. Frost is now 14-4 this season.
“I do a lot of tough stuff in the room,” Frost said. “I’ve definitely in high school really picked it up. It’s gotten a lot harder. I’ve gotten a lot better.”
“C.J.’s getting better and better and better,” Conley said. “He’s a young guy, but he’s an experienced kid. Sometimes young guys you think have a lot to learn. He came pretty experienced. He wrestles in the offseason. Great support at home. He’s kind of a student of the game. He asks some pretty high-level questions.”
The bright spot for Howland was junior Jordan Radich, a 17-2 technical fall victor over Ross Duffett.
Radich improved to 13-3 this season. A year ago, he qualified for state and was one match from the podium.
“I started off a little bit slow, but as the match went on I got a feel for it,” Radich said. “I wrestled pretty smooth, I thought. I was happy with it.”
With another victory notched, Radich was asked his goals for the rest of the campaign.
“The next tournament’s the (Howland) Invitational (on Jan. 18),” he said. “I want to win that. I definitely want to get on the podium at state or win it if I can.”
Howland coach Bill Beasom said Radich performed as expected for the Tigers.
“He wrestled tough; he came out and got a technical fall,” Beasom said. “He did what he’s supposed to do. He stepped it up and did what he’s supposed to do.”
After much success in years past, Beasom has had to work through a tough season this time around. The Tigers have three victories this season, and had no seniors compete Wednesday night.
“Very young team,” he said. “I think I have four or five kids that this is their second year ever wrestling. I have one kid who was in the varsity lineup today (freshman Shawn Carr) who’s been wrestling four weeks. He didn’t wrestle in middle school or anything. It’s hard to go against this type of competition when you have this many young kids on the team.”