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| Hawken's Louis DeMarco seeks his fourth sectional championship |
Post-season wrestling begins around the state of Ohio on Friday but those wrestlers competing at the Division III sectional tournament at Beachwood will have to wait another day to kick off their post-season campaigns.
For the first time in its history the Beachwood sectional will be conducted on just one day, with wrestling scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday.
This year, 102 wrestlers will represent 11 different teams all vying for one of the top four places in their respective weight classes to earn a spot in next week’s district tournament at Garfield Heights.
A new champion is likely to emerge this season as Berkshire, the defending sectional champ, has just six wrestlers entered. Brookfield, Cardinal, Grand Valley, Kirtland, Newbury and Pymatuning Valley are among the favorites to take home the team title.
Pymatuning Valley has entered a tournament-high 13 wrestlers with five of them earning a seed in their respective weight classes. Grand Valley and Newbury both have 12 wrestlers entered. The Mustangs should have four seeded wrestlers while the Black Knights could have as many as 10.
Kirtland could see as many as 10 of its 11 entered wrestlers earn a seed while Cardinal has seven potential seeds out of 10 wrestlers. Brookfield entered nine wrestlers but just three have met the seed criteria.
Individually, the tournament boasts six returning state qualifiers as well as two state alternates. Only one wrestler, Hawken’s Louis DeMarco, placed at state last season. He finished eighth at 113 pounds.
DeMarco is one of seven wrestlers ranked by InterMat’s Josh Lowe. He is No. 9 at 120 pounds while Pymatuning Valley’s Mitch Skleres is No. 14 at the same weight class. Two of the other ranked wrestlers—Garfield’s Logan Kissel and Cardinal’s Ian Mast—also find themselves in the same weight class. Kissel is ranked 13th at 126 while Mast is 14th. Kirtland’s Evan Francis is 12th at 138 pounds while teammate Clayton Davidson is eighth at 160. Beachwood’s Josh Bialosky is ranked 15th at 182 pounds.
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| Cardinal's Ian Mast seeks a third straight sectional title |
Five wrestlers have the potential to place at the Beachwood sectional for the fourth consecutive season. DeMarco has won three straight sectional titles, two at 106 and one at 113, while Kirtland’s Davidson will attempt to win his third straight after placing third in 2012. Cardinal’s Mast also will try for his third straight sectional title after placing third in 2012. Wickliffe senior David Monturi placed fourth in 2012, third in 2013 and won a sectional title last season. Kirtland’s Francis will attempt to win his first sectional crown after placing third as a freshman and second both as a sophomore and junior.
Here’s a look at each weight class:
106 Defending Champ: Trent Mast (Cardinal)
Two returning place winners are among the favorites to win the 106 pound title. Kirtland junior Brendan Williamson is 32-2 on the year. He finished second to Mast last season. Berkshire’s John Kumher finished fourth last season. He is 28-9 this year.
Wickliffe freshman Jake Buttari (31-10) and Newbury freshman Robert Couch (22-13) should round out the top four seeds. Garfield sophomore Guy Peart (17-19) and Hawken freshman J.P. Hlifka (15-21) also should compete for one of the four district berths.
113 Defending Champ: Louis DeMarco (Hawken)
With just five entered wrestlers the 113 pound weight class won’t have much drama heading into Saturday’s night’s championship bout. Cardinal sophomore Trent Mast (28-5) won the 106 pound championship last season and is expected to be among the top finishers at 113 this season.
Brookfield junior Gavin Miglets (25-12) was fourth at 113 last year and Pymatuning Valley sophomore Mathew Schoenbeck was sixth at 106 in 2014. Kirtland senior Mike Petterson (18-18) and Berkshire junior Alex Hanson (11-18) round out the field.
120 Defending Champ: Ian Mast (Cardinal)
The 120 pound weight class only has seven entered wrestlers but that group includes a pair of returning state qualifiers and a freshman with 30 wins to his credit.
Hawken senior Louis DeMarco, the defending 113 pound champ who is ranked No. 9 in Division III, is a returning state placer with a 35-1 record. He’s the likely top seed while Pymatuning Valley sophomore Mitch Skleres, ranked 14th in Division III, is a returning state qualifier with a 28-6 mark. He’ll likely earn the second seed.
The No. 3 seed likely goes to Garfield freshman Ryan Finney, who is 30-11 on the season. Cardinal sophomore Brandon Nevison (19-11), Newbury freshman Mike Weston (21-14) and Kirtland sophomore Daniel Jahnke (20-19) will fight it out for the fourth district berth.
126 Defending Champ: T.J. Malkus (Berkshire)
One of the deepest weight classes in the tournament, the 126 pound weight class features a returning state qualifier in Cardinal senior Ian Mast, ranked 14th in Division III, two district placers and three other wrestlers with at least 21 wins this season.
Mast likely nabs the top seed while Beachwood sophomore Ben Kitay (18-10), a returning district placer who finished third at 106 in 2014, should be the No. 2 seed based on criteria. Garfield freshman Logan Kissell (38-4), who already has a win over Mast in the Cardinal tournament final, is ranked 13th in Division III. He’ll either be the No. 3 or No. 4 seed, which could play a factor in the consolation semifinals.
Five wrestlers will compete for what could be just one of four district berths at 126. That group includes Newbury freshman Alex Lampert (29-11), Wickliffe sophomore Dominic Billie (28-17), fourth at this weight last year, Hawken junior Michael Miller (11-6), who was fifth at 120 last season, Kirtland sophomore Blake Andonian (16-10), who was sixth at 113 last year, and Pymatuning Valley junior Kegen Hoopes (21-15), who was fifth at the same weight in 2014.
132 Defending Champ: Sam Gross (Beachwood)
Grand Valley sophomore Cody Rhoads (34-9) finished second at 126 then placed fifth at the district tournament last season. He’s the likely No. 1 seed this year. Cardinal junior Brandon Neikirk (31-7) was second at 113 pounds last year.
Kirtland senior Mike Calvert is a wildcard here as he missed most of the season with an injury. He returned in time for Kirtland’s appearance in the Division III state dual tournament and enters the sectional tournament with a 9-5 mark. He finished second at 138 pounds last year.
The rest of the field is wide open with Garfield junior Noah Hiem (14-11) the only other entered wrestler with a winning record. Pymatuning Valley sophomore Cameron Yeary and Wickliffe freshman Jordan Sidhu both enter the tournament with more than 20 wins to their credit.
138 Defending Champ: Cody Charvat (Berkshire)
Kirtland senior Evan Francis is the clear No. 1 seed. The returning state qualifier is 36-5 on the year after finishing second to Gross at 132 and fourth at the district tournament last year. His competition for the sectional title likely will come from Hawken senior Corey Cox (30-7), Cardinal junior Craig Shanower (18-11), who was fifth at 132 in 2014, Garfield junior Matt Kuzniakowski (23-16) and Wickliffe senior Patrick Bonano (24-19). Grand Valley freshman Eduardo Hernandez is 16-16.
145 Defending Champ: David Monturi (Wickliffe)
Wickliffe senior David Monturi (29-3) is a returning champion and a returning state qualifier. He’s the best bet to earn the top seed.
Kirtland junior Chris Brown (18-15), who was fourth at 160 last season, Grand Valley sophomore Nathan Rasmussan (18-17), who was sixth at 132 last year, and Newbury freshman John Chambers (18-18) are the only other seedable wrestlers in the weight class. Hawken sophomore Max Boise (17-18) and Beachwood senior Jake Markovich (11-12) could be in the mix come placement time.
152 Defending Champ: Clayton Davidson (Kirtland)
With the returning champ at 160, Wickliffe junior Russell Horacek (27-12) should earn the No. 1 seed. Pymatuning Valley senior Gary Baker (28-13) and Kirtland senior Chris Sakenes (23-14) should fill the second and third seeds while Cardinal senior Khaleel Samir (16-10) and Newbury junior Shawn Flannery (16-16) are in line for the fourth seed.
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| Kirtland's Clayton Davidson is a three-time sectional placer and two-time champion |
160 Defending Champ: Luke Baldwin (Grand Valley)
Kirtland senior Clayton Davidson won the 152 pound title last season and is the only undefeated wrestler in this year’s tournament. He enters the sectional competition a perfect 38-0 and ranked eighth in Division III.
Brookfield freshman Bryce Randall (18-12) and Newbury sophomore Matt Seymour (10-7) both have seedable records while Garfield sophomore Austin Mangeri and Pymatuning Valley sophomore Ryan Sito have recorded nine wins or more.
170 Defending Champ: Ryan Harris (Beachwood)
Only five wrestlers are entered at 170, which means all but one will advance to the district tournament.
Newbury sophomore Tom McKale, who was fourth at 170 last season, enters as one of two possible No. 1 seeds. He’s 32-2 on the year. Pymatuning Valley freshman Gaige Willis (36-9) is the other potential top seed. Cardinal junior Bryn Havel (16-17) is the only other wrestler with more than one win this season..
182 Defending Champ: Josh Bialosky (Beachwood)
Defending champion Josh Bialosky returns after placing sixth at the district tournament a year ago. He’s 12-2 this year after missing most of the season with a football injury. Newbury senior Mike Fenstermaker should land the No. 2 seed with a 20-13 mark. He was fifth at 160 last season.
Pymatuning Valley sophomore Brandon Muha has 10 wins and Cardinal junior Donovan Drebus has 11. Muha was fourth at 182 last season.
195 Defending Champ: Glenn Zaller (Grand Valley)
The seeding at 195 is wide open as four wrestlers enter with similar resumes.
Newbury sophomore Kade Marker is 26-10, Beachwood senior Justin Albaugh is 13-6, Wickliffe junior Alan Haavisto is 27-13 and Kirtland senior Anthony Porter is 22-12. Porter was fifth at 170 last year while Haavisto was sixth at 160.
220 Defending Champ: Alex Stotter (Hawken)
Only four wrestlers are entered at 120, which means all that is left to be decided is the order each wrestler will finish heading into the district tournament.
Brookfield junior Zach Hackett enters the tournament with a 23-7 record and was a state alternate last season. He finished third at 195 at last year’s sectional tournament.
Newbury sophomore Joe Ule qualified for districts last season with a third place finish at 182. He is 26-10 this year. Pymatuning Valley freshman Steven Dodge enters the tournament with a 25-10 record and Kirtland junior Dylan Choe has 10 wins to his credit.
285 Defending Champ: Shawn Shreves (Pymatuning Valley)
Five wrestlers will compete for four district berths at heavyweight, which is an improvement from last season when just two wrestlers competed in the entire weight class.
Cardinal junior Lester Troyer (13-7), Wickliffe freshman Patrick Sheridan (19-11), Grand Valley sophomore Austin Mathis (19-14) and Berkshire sophomore Tony Urban (21-13) will split the top four seeds and Pymatuning Valley sophomore Jaret Wright also will compete.
Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. with the finals expected to start at 5:30 p.m. OhioVarsity.com will provide streaming video of the finals. Click here to watch.
