3 Canfield wrestlers crowned at Covelli

March 10, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

Prior to this year’s Ohio Athletic Committee Junior High Wrestling Tournament, the best individual finish for the Canfield Wrestling Club was third place.

Sunday, three CWC wrestlers found their way to the top of the podium to earn a state title at the Covelli Centre. Matthew Cardello, David Crawford and Dominic Cooper, all eighth graders, earned top honors in their respective weight classes during the 16th annual competition.

Cardello posted a 5-0 tournament record and won the 102-pound event when he defeated J.D. Stickley of St. Paris Graham, 9-7.

“I knew he was heavy on the hands and could snap me down so I tried to stay on the outside,” Cardello said. “I knew that I would have shots from the outside so I tried to stay away and work my game from there.”

Crawford, who entered the event 38-2 overall, also moved to 5-0 in the tournament with a 6-2 win over Drew Asadorian at 138 pounds. In their only previous meeting at the Wadsworth Duals, Crawford posted a 12-4 win over Asadorian.

“I just worked my offense and tried to get in as many shots as I could,” Crawford said. “I knew that he wanted to shoot on my leg and then catch me in a front headlock, so I made sure not to put my head down.”

At 146 pounds, Cooper posted a 7-5 overtime win over Samuel Stoll. He went 6-0 in the tournament after failing to qualify last year, forcing the overtime session with a takedown before time ran out in regulation.

Wrestling is in Cooper’s blood as his father, Tim, was a two-time state runner-up (1979, 1980) at Boardman High School. His Uncle Greg, also a Boardman graduate, won the 1973 state title.

“I watched him [Stoll] before and felt if I didn’t give up, no matter how tired I was then I would be alright,” Cooper said. “His strategy was to shoot low singles on me.”

Dave Crawford, CWC coach, called the event one to remember.

“This was by far and away our best showing as a group,” Crawford said. “Everyone wrestled well and gave it their all.

“For Matthew to come back and win this year after finishing runner-up last year was very special,” Crawford said. “For David, his bracket contained three of the best wrestlers in the tournament while Dominic won in overtime to get to the finals.”

Cole McComas of Beaver Local, who finished 5-2, placed fifth at 78 pounds with a 10-3 victory over Clayton Eagle. It was his first year in the junior high competition but sixth overall when counting his grade school tourney appearances.

“I’m happy with my performance this weekend,” McComas said. “It’s an excellent competition that draws many of the top wrestlers from across the state.”

Brett Powell, Austintown Fitch High wrestling coach, called the mix of talent some of the very best — not only in Ohio but across the nation.”

“I had the opportunity to coach Tony Jameson, a four-time state champion in four different weight classes and two-time state MVP,” Powell said. “He never won this tournament, that’s how competitive it is.

“The upside is that he got plenty of experience and later in high school, defeated all of those wrestlers.”

The event attracted 2,900 wrestlers statewide with 836 making their way here for the finals. In addition to crowning 18 state champions, the top eight finishers earned all-state status.

Honored by the OAC were Micah Jordan (St. Paris Graham High School) and Jacob Danishek of Dayton Christian High School, former participants and the most recent four-time state high school champions.

The OAC Grade School Wrestling State Championships will be held Saturday and Sunday at the Covelli Centre.