Austintown Fitch wrestlers look to emulate Jameson

March 7, 2019 at 12:06a.m.

AUSTINTOWN

When every wrestler comes out of the tunnel to compete during the three-day Individual State Wrestling Tournament, they’ll pass Tony Jameson on their right.

The former Fitch wrestler and current Poland coach is immortalized on the lower walls of the Jerome Schottenstein Center in a Fitch singlet holding an Ohio State flag because he is one of just 29 wrestlers to have won four titles in four years, doing so from 2005-08.

“I think that can be me. I think I can be up there with him,” Falcons 138-pounder Gus Sutton said.

While Sutton can’t catch Jameson in titles, the senior has already passed him in another way. During last weekend’s Division I district tournament at North Canton Hoover, Sutton passed Jameson as the program’s all-time leader in wins. Sutton has 170 victories and counting as he arrives Columbus, passing Jameson’s 168.

“It feels amazing. He’s the biggest name around here,” Sutton said “It’s just nice knowing that I might be up there with him and can be in the conversation with him.”

Sutton is looking to bounce back from an underwhelming tournament last year. He was the darling of the state in 2017 when he upset a No. 1-seed as a sophomore in the opening round en route to a sixth-place finish. He followed up with an undefeated 2018 regular season and a district title, but ended up faring worse at state as a junior by placing eighth.

“I learned that you can never look by anyone,” Sutton said. “Everyone is just as good as you and anybody can be taken out.”

Sutton is competing as a third-place finisher out of Hoover, tying him with sophomore teammate Colin Roberts (113) as the highest-placed finisher from Fitch. Junior Zach Richards (132) is a first-time qualifier after taking fourth place.

“Getting three out the Hoover district was a good showing for us,” Fitch coach John Burd said. “We had three guys who worked hard all year and it showed. They were able to battle through to this weekend.”

Burd isn’t kidding by describing his wrestlers as having to battle their way to state. Richards had to wrestle four bouts last Saturday to qualify after losing in the opening round last Friday.

“I waited out the night and then I was feeling good again. I kind of got on a roll. I had two easy kids first. I had to face Zach Evans from Hoover — who I wrestled at sectionals,” Richards said. “I was losing by two going into the third period and then put him on his back for five and just held on to him for the rest of the match. It was a pretty exciting moment.”

Richards’ season sort of resembles Sutton’s sophomore year. He entered this year unranked in the state, but started putting himself in the conversation with some big victories, such as an Eastern Ohio Wrestling League title in January.

“I can see it,” Sutton said. “Our whole team has that same kind of, ‘We can beat anyone’ energy like he has.”

Last year, Roberts was the first freshman state qualifier for Fitch since Jameson. He was a match short of placing, but in the second go-around, there’s none of the jitters.

“The first time you step out there, you know it’s a big shock,” Roberts said. “Once you start wrestling, it’s like any other tournament.”