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Cousins share a love of the sport
By Curtis Pulliam
Canfield
There is a big size difference between Boardman’s Vince Mancini and Anthony Mancini.
Vince wrestles in the 106-pound weight class and Anthony weighs in at 160.
That does not break the bond the cousins share in qualifying for the state wrestling tournament for the first time.
Both are seniors this year.
“It’s really quite something,” Vince said. “I kind of expected it to happen.”
Vince finished fourth in the district and Anthony placed second.
Anthony says he used a quarterfinal matchup against Tristan Brady of St. Ignatius in last weeks district tournament to propel him.
“It was probably one of the hardest matches in the postseason I had,” Anthony said. “I was down 6-0 in the first period but I came back and won the match 17-15. It was a close match. He almost pinned me.”
But the heavier Mancini escaped but eventually lost to Noah Edwards of Twinsburg 10-5 in the district finals.
However Anthony could not contain his excitement when he learned of his cousin Vince made it to Columbus.
Vince made it to the third-place match but lost to Spencer Dusi from Willoughby South.
“I felt good for myself but I wanted the whole family to feel good,” Anthony said.
The head coach for Boardman is Dominic Mancini, who is Vince’s dad and Anthony’s uncle.
“It’s really nice,” Vince said. “Every time I come home from practice he’s always telling me what I need to do on the next opponent and everything that the next opponent does so I’m ready for what’s next.”
Maybe championships will come next for the cousins.
“If both of us can win that would be pretty cool,” Vince said.
Vince (42-7) starts with Joshua Breeding (43-6) of Elyria and Anthony (41-8) has Alex Sepeda (24-10) of Marysville.
The pair from Boardman aren’t the only cousins who made it to Columbus.
Howland’s David-Brian Whisler (170) and Jordan Radich (182) both qualified for today’s state tournament.
Both seniors, the pair has made it to state each year since they were sophomores.
Whisler finished seventh at 152 last year, but he moved up to 170 this season.
“I’m not cutting as much weight — that was a big thing that hurt me last year,” Whisler said. “But I’m having more fun this year.”
Whisler is thrilled to share the experience with Radich to cap off their final year of high school wrestling.
“Jordan is my drill partner and my best friend,” Whisler said. “Whenever we accomplish anything together it is an awesome feeling.”
Whisler (37-2) faces Connor Rogers (37-8) of Springfield Northwestern high school in the first round.
“Any time I compete there is a little bit of nervousness but it’s always that good nervousness,” Whisler said. “Not the kind that is really going to affect you but gives you good adrenaline.”
Radich (34-7) wrestles Drew Kasper (39-1) of Lexington. Radich finds it neat that two sets of cousins from the same area made it.
“It just goes to show you wrestling is a family sport,” Radich said. “Especially with me, we both got started at the same time years ago and we really push each other every day. The hard work has paid off. There is no one I’d rather be down there with.”