Wrestling back at Covelli Centre this weekend

March 14, 2014 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN

With three champions crowned during last week’s junior high tournament, the Canfield Wrestling Club is hoping to duplicate that success this weekend when the Ohio Athletic Committee returns to the Covelli Center to stage its rapidly growing grade-school competition.

The event, which begins with preliminary action at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, concludes Sunday afternoon when winners will be crowned.

The event is expected to attract nearly 1,200 students — ranging from 5-13 years of age — from across the state.

“This is the 11th year for our grade school tournament and the quality of wrestling just keeps getting better each year,” OAC executive director Jared Opfer said. “More than 2,900 wrestlers statewide competed at district sites with 1,200 qualifying at the state level. Participants come from all over Ohio and we will crown 41 champions this weekend. We’re very excited to bring our events to Youngstown as the Covelli Centre remains the perfect venue for us to showcase these young athletes.”

Nearly 60 wrestlers with local ties are expected to compete with Beaver Local sending the most (13) to the mat. CWC second with nine and Austintown Wrestling Club sending eight students.

“It will be a little different this weekend division-wise in that there are more age groups on the grade school as opposed to junior high level. That only means more opportunities for the kids,” CWC coach Dave Crawford said. “The OAC attracts the very best wrestlers from all over the state. It’s a great tournament, great event and held at an absolutely marvelous facility.”

For Beaver Local, their club has been participating since the event was first staged at Bowling Green State University during its infancy.

“It’s a hometown event but you get to see the top talent from around the entire state. This is the most we have ever qualified so we’re excited about our chances,” BL club head coach Dan Hasson said. “Events like this take a lot of time out of everyone’s schedules and couldn’t be done without the support and guidance of parents, so they are to be commended as well.”

Beaver Local is led by Cole McComas (80.4 pounds), who placed fifth at last weekend’s junior high meet and was a 2014 Ohio Youth Wrestling Association state champion.

He was also a 2013 FloNationals champion; an event which is held in Pennsylvania that attracts not only top wrestlers from the tri-state area, but nationally as well.

For the Canfield contingent, Nick Crawford (130.4 pounds), Ethan Fletcher (75.4 pounds), Santino Marucci (120.4 pounds) and Anthony D’Alesio (130.4) head a group on whom to keep a watchful eye.

Crawford was an OAC runner-up in 2012 and OYWA state champ this year while Fletcher placed fifth at OAC a year ago and finished third at this year’s OYWA.

Marucci and D’Alesio each claimed third-place at OYWA in 2014.

Eight hopefuls will represent Austintown Wrestling Club and head coach Frank Giordano feels good about their chances, especially Donovan Jones (85.4 pounds) who posted a 4-2 mark during last weekend’s OAC junior high competition.

“Collin Roberts won two matches last year and A.J. Winterburn should win some matches this year as well,” Giordano said. “The other six wrestlers are first-time qualifiers and will gain valuable experience while wrestling on this big stage.”

Columbiana’s Youth Wrestling Club will pin their hopes on seven entries, including four wrestlers that qualified on their very first try.

“While our competitive season is over, I told our kids that as long as they wanted to continue working out then I would make everything available to them,” head coach Bob Davis said. “They continue to practice and keep getting better so we are definitely seeing positive results from their efforts.”

First-time qualifiers include Gabrielle Gilliland (75.2 pounds), Chandler Parish (100.3 pounds), Jazzmyn Shively (55.1 pounds) and Caleb Burt (45.1 pounds).

Burt’s brother, Cyle, is making his third trip to the state tourney and has won matches both years prior while now looking to place at this year’s event.

Roclen Bettura (85.2 pounds), a champion in 2012 who placed fourth last year, is hoping to get back to his championship ways this weekend.

“This year Roclen is a No. 1 seed in his weight class and has a real chance to earn his second crown. We believe all of our wrestlers can make some noise,” Davis said.

One of the OAC’s original founding members, Jude Roth, never expected his dream to grow so fast nor be so well-received.

“At the time there wasn’t anything that gauged the level of wrestling competition across the state, so we went statewide with four districts and attracted 1,100 wrestlers that first year,” said the former wrestling coach at Sandusky St. Mary High School. “Since then we’ve added grade schools and between the two events each year attract over 5,000 young participants. We never gave it that much thought as to how big it might become and each year you learn and tweak a few things here and there. The numbers and kids are impressive, yet the overall production necessary for things to run smoothly, especially at venues like the Covelli Centre has really been something else.”

A 501(c) (3) non-profit organization that was established in 1999, the OAC was formed to promote youth athletics by creating and providing state level events.

To date they have awarded $56,800 in scholarships (since 2007) and this year alone will be awarding $6,500 in sports of wrestling, football, cheerleading and cross country.

Area clubs from Brookfield, Boardman, South Range, Salem, Poland, Girard and West Branch are also set to take part.

Doors are set to open at 7 a.m. Saturday with matches to get underway at 8:30.

Sunday’s competition starts at 8 a.m.