Boardman duo motivated

February 24, 2017 at 12:05a.m.

high school wrestling

BOARDMAN

Only two pins separate Boardman wrestler Carlo DeNiro from history.

In Saturday’s Division I northeast sectional tournament in Kenston, the 182-pounder has a shot to become the Spartans’ all-time leader in pins.

“I’ve just been counting down since the beginning of the season,” DeNiro said. “I knew I have to get 30 pins. So far, I’ve got 28. Two more in the postseason doesn’t seem that hard with three more tournaments.”

DeNiro is chasing Justin Powell’s 84 pins. Powell was a two-time state placer — including a 2007 state title — who also wrestled for Ohio University.

DeNiro is able to chase that mark despite a mix of injuries and a stacked Boardman program kept him from becoming a full-time starter until his senior season.

DeNiro appeared in just 15 matches as a freshman, Boardman coach Dom Mancini said. Then the combination of a back injury and Anthony Mancini — a state placer — pushed him out of the lineup as a sophomore. He started his junior season 20-3 before Mario Graziani — another state placer — recovered from a football injury and took DeNiro’s spot.

“He’s emotionally engaged with his goals and when you get knocked back like that, he reacts as any elite athlete would. He’s not happy about it,” Mancini said. “I think as he’s built up these unhappy moments throughout his career, a lot of times they add up for you and when you get your chance, you make the best of it.”

DeNiro is 30-8 this season with 93 percent of those wins coming by pin. He’s currently ranked No. 27 in the state for his division.

“I’ve always been real aggressive on top and I just know that no matter the score, if I can finish the match with a pin, then I win the match,” DeNiro said. “I always try for the pin.”

His sparring partner, sophomore 172-pounder Mike O’Horo said DeNiro offers a completely different look than most of his opponents.

“Most kids [from] 172-to-182 can’t cradle like he does from every position,” O’Horo said. “He’s pretty good on his feet as well. He’ll attack your legs if you’re not ready.

“It really helps you be alert at all times.”

O’Horo himself stands a good chance of making a name for himself at Kenston — the site of Saturday’s Division I sectional — and beyond. He’s ranked No. 13 in the state with a 20-4 record, adjusting well to D-I wrestling after transferring from D-II Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy. Like DeNiro, he’s had setbacks of his own to deal with.

On the night before the Josh Hephner Memorial Tournament in early February, O’Horo needed to have his appendix removed.

“Going to the hospital, I couldn’t eat anything because I was still considering wrestling the next day and I had to keep my weight down, which was kind of funny,” O’Horo said.

“Right when I came out of surgery, my first thought was ‘How long until I can wrestle again?’”

He returned to action in less than three weeks.

“It definitely sucked coming out of the wrestling season when I had the momentum rolling with me,” O’Horo said. “I feel like I’m back to 100 percent now.”

Matches begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Kenston.