Graham rolls; Centerville’s Miller scores state title
HOW MIAMI VALLEY WRESTLERS DID
Division I
First Place
189: Nick Miller, Centerville dec. Caleb Busson, Wadsworth 8-5
Second Place
215: Nick Tavanello, Wadsworth dec. Kyle Rose, Centerville 6-4
Third Place
125: Josh Stevens, Beavercreek pin John Dillon, Young. Boardman 1:55
130: Cody Shivener, Springboro dec. Matt Hammer, Medina 8-1
135: Shawn Fayette, Miamisburg dec. Francis Calarco, N. Royalton 6-5
Fourth Place
152: Pierce Harger, Cin. Arch. Moeller dec. Brian Mathews, Centerville 6-2
Fifth Place
119: Tyler Regan, Miamisburg dec. Max Byrd, Cin. LaSalle 4-3
152: Kyle Bryant, Piqua dec. Sam Conners, Cin. Elder 15-8
Sixth Place
189: Nick Justus, Pickerington North maj. dec. Taylor Franz, Springboro 12-4
Seventh Place
135: Tyler Riegle, Springboro dec. Ty Davis, W. Chester Lakota West 3-0
Eighth Place
103: Nick Montgomery, Madison maj. dec. Eddie Noble, Lebanon 8-0
Division II
First Place
103: Ryan Taylor, St. Paris Graham Local maj. dec. Trevor Fiorucci, Lewis Center Olen 13-3
130: Bo Jordan, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Jake Mellinger, Beloit W. Branch 4-1
135: Isaac Jordan, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Daniel Mirman, Medina Highland 7-2
140: Felipe Martinez, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Tucker Armstrong, Spring. Kenton Ri 7-1
171: Huston Evans, St. Paris Graham Local dec. Kevin Christman, Lewistown Indian Lake 5-2
189: Max Thomusseit, St. Paris Graham Local pin Travis McIntosh, Wash. C.H. Miami Tra 0:53
215: Logan Erb, Wapakoneta dec. Jake Henderson, Tol. Central Cath. 3-2UTB
Second Place
119: Ty Mitch, Aurora dec. Nick Brascetta, St. Paris Graham Local 7-4
160: Brad Wukie, Hunting Val. Univ. School dec. Kyle Ryan, St. Paris Graham Local 2-1
Third Place
145: Matt Stephens, St. Paris Graham Local maj. dec. Joe Grandominico, Lewis Center O 11-1
160: Eric Hildenbrand, Franklin dec. Seth Hoffmann, Pemberville Eastwood 2-1
189: David Day, Germantown Valley View dec. Bobby Blankenship, Plain City Jonathan Alder 9-4
Fourth Place
119: Brandon Gambucci, Lexington tech. fall Josh Nelson, Carroll 18-3
215: Joe Poyser, Louisville maj. dec. Riley Shaw, Wash. C.H. Washington 11-3
Fifth Place
119: Jake Beemer, Wapakoneta pin Collan DaFonseca, Parma Padua Franciscan forfeit
Sixth Place
140: Jake Cramer, Oak Harbor over Matt Hefner, Lima Bath default
152: Cody Ryba, Mantua Crestwood maj. dec. Alex Dues, Celina 13-4
189: Frank Viancourt, Parma Hts. Holy Name dec. Tyler Matte, Wapakoneta 5-2
Seventh Place
125: Sheldon Kegley, St. Paris Graham Local pin Jordan Westfall, Norton 2:33
135: Evan Storts, Spring. Shawnee dec. Dan Cook, Tol. Central Cath. 3-2
Eighth Place
119: Matt Perez, London dec. Keaton Webb, Wash. C.H. Miami Trace 3-1
130: T.J. Fox, Mogadore Field dec. Alex Kooser, Day. Oakwood 3-2
285: Ian Jones, Painesville Harvey pin Codey Welker, Celina 2:45
Division III
First Place
145: Kyle Burns, Troy Christian dec. Andrew DeHart, Covington 5-3
152: Jake Howe, Blanchester dec. Kurtis Jefferis, Barnesville 8-1
189: Corby Running, Clarksville Clinton-Massie dec. Kurtis Schaefer, W. Salem Northwe 7-6
215: Ethan Hayes, New Lebanon Dixie dec. Justin Schafrath, Doylestown Chippewa 9-4
Second Place
125: Logan Stieber, Monroeville pin Zane Goldberg, Casstown Miami East 1:48
160: Dennis Raber, Orrville dec. Nick Leforce, Carlisle 4-3TB
Third Place
152: Thomas Fullenkamp, Versailles dec. Sean Prather, W. Jefferson 7-2
Fifth Place
103: Aaron Assad, Bedford St. Peter Chanel pin Cody Steiner, Waynesville 2:04
285: Tyler Jewell, Carlisle pin Mike Stenger, Clarksville Clinton-Massie 2:40
Sixth Place
103: Zon Fields, Marion Pleasant pin Robert Carter, Day. Northridge 3:13
160: Kyle Gladieux, Oregon Cardinal Stritch pin Cody Rodgers, Mechanicsburg 0:52
215: Andrew Wright, Galion Northmor over Josh Salyers, Mechanicsburg default
Seventh Place
140: Pawlos Campbell, Troy Christian dec. Zane Nelson, Massillon Tuslaw 9-6
145: Dustin Chatterton, New Lebanon Dixie dec. Vincent Pickett, Williamsport Westfall 5-4
160: Trevor Kunk, Coldwater dec. Matt Meadows, Cuy. Val. Chr. Acad. 8-5
189: John Sullenbarger, Arcanum dec. Kaleb Miller, Amanda-Clearcreek 4-1
Eighth Place
125: Tyler Reed, Waterford pin Jared Beatty, Arcanum 4:21
152: Jeff Stover, Tiffin Calvert dec. Kyle Keplinger, Troy Christian 11-5
285: Clint Endicott, Ashland Crestview pin Cody Johnson, New Lebanon Dixie 2:15
STATE TOURNAMENT NEWS, NOTES & NUGGETS
Led by the final performance from one of the state’s all-time greats – senior Logan Stieber – Monroeville captured its first Division III team title with relative ease Saturday at the 73rd annual Ohio State Wrestling Tournament.
Although the Eagles were thought to get challenges from Bedford Chanel and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, they didn’t.
Monroeville finished with 116 points, while runner-up CVCA had 76.
Stieber, an Ohio State recruit, won his state record 179th straight match with a pin of Miami East’s Zane Goldberg in the 125 final. He finished his high school career with an overall record of 184-1. Stieber’s lone defeat is a 7-3 setback as a freshman in the finals of the 2006 Ironman to current Penn State freshman and four-time state champion David Taylor (Graham).
Stieber, who has been ranked No. 1 in the country in his weight class for the last three years, has been especially dominant on the sport’s final weekend. In 16 state matches, Stieber won nine by pin and seven by tech fall.
“It’s a lot harder then people think. There’s a lot of stress,” Stieber said. “But I was relaxed this week and I felt good and I usually wrestle better when I’m like that. I was thinking about it in the tunnel, but freshman year I was all stone-faced and nervous before I came out and this year I was joking around with people and trying to relax.
“Ever since I was a little kid one of my main goals has been to win four state titles. No one likes to lose. It’s very easy to get motivated.”
Monroeville was also powered by its trio of monster juniors, who each added their third state titles.
Logan’s brother Hunter won at 119, while Cam Tessari and Chris Phillips won at 140 and 171, respectively.
On the season the quartet of the Stieber brothers, Tessari and Phillips went a combined 190-1.
Cal Clark added points with a seventh place finish at 135.
Monroeville’s title ends a string of three straight by Troy Christian. The Eagles finished fifth.
GRAHAM GREAT – AND NATIONAL CHAMPIONS – AGAIN
A year after breaking a 58-year old record for most individual state champions with seven, the Falcons fell one short of tying their record with six. The consolation prize was the program’s 10th straight D-II state title and 12th overall. The Falcons scored 223 points to runner-up Oak Harbor’s 78.5.
Individual champions for the Falcons were Ryan Taylor (so., 103), Bo Jordan (fr., 130), Issac Jordan (so., 135), Felipe Martinez (so., 140), Huston Evans (so., 171) and Max Thomusseit (sr., 189).
Graham also appears to have wrapped at least a share of its second national championship as well. Tied with Apple Valley (MN) for No.1 in the Amateur Wrestling News national poll, expect the Falcons to stay there once the final rankings are released in a week following the Pennsylvania State Championships next weekend.
ANTICIPATED MATCH-UP
In a meeting of defending state champions, Aurora’s Ty Mitch won his third championship with a 7-4 victory over Graham’s Nick Brascetta in the D-II, 119 final. Despite having lost to Brascetta twice earlier this year, Mitch came out fast and scored on a takedown seconds into the match. He never let up or trailed.
ANTICIPATED MATCH-UP II
The third, fourth and fifth times weren’t the charm for Kenton Ridge senior Tucker Armstrong. Neither was the sixth. In a bout between state champions, Armstrong fell to Graham’s Martinez for the sixth time this year in the D-II 140 final. It was the fourth straight week the duo had met in the finals (Central Buckeye Conference, Tipp City Sectional, Goshen District and State). Martinez’s 7-1 win was also the most lopsided of the duo’s six meetings, three of which had been decided by a point.
UNDEFEATEDS
There were a total of seven wrestlers who finished undefeated seasons. They were:
B.J. Miller, Sr., Defiance (54-0, D-II, 112): Miller is the school’s first state champion since 1971.
Logan Stieber, Sr., Monroeville (55-0, D-III, 125): Stieber as noted above won his fourth state title.
Felipe Martinez, So., Graham (38-0, D-II, 140): The championship is Martinez’s second.
Cam Tessari, Jr., Monroeville (53-0, D-III, 140): Tessari won his four state matches 3:41, 1:22, 9-2 and 10-0.
Nick Sulzer, Sr., Lakewood St. Edward (40-0, D-I, 160): Sulzer’s title was his first after finishing second twice and third once.
Chris Phillips, Jr., Monroeville (42-0, D-III, 171): Phillips dominated his competition again, winning his four state matches 20-5, 1:25, 26-12 and 7-5.
Nick Miller, Sr., Centerville (21-0, D-I, 189): Miller dropped 51 pounds to get down to 189 for the season. He was a fullback for the Elks and played football at 240. The dedication and sacrifice far outweigh the doubt now. He is Centerville’s first state champion since 1985.
REMEMBER WHEN
There were several wrestlers who made history or snapped long exiles from the state podium for their school. The list includes:
Artem Timchenko, Olentangy Orange, D-I, 112: The freshman became his school’s first state placer with a seventh place finish.
Brian Spangler, LeGrange Keystone, D-III, 103: The sophomore is his school’s highest state placer ever after finishing runner-up.
Matt Perez, London, D-II, 119: The senior became his school’s first state placer with a seventh place finish.
Jared Beatty, Arcanum, D-III, 125: The junior became his school’s first state placer ever after finishing eighth.
Thomas Butryn, Ashtabula Edgewood, D-II, 125: The senior became his school’s first state placer since 1998 with a sixth place finish.
Tyler Luft, Asheville Teays Valley, D-I, 145: The senior became the Vikings first state placer since 1999 by finishing fourth.
Caz Gresham, Goshen, D-II, 152: The senior’s third place finish was the highest by anyone from Goshen since 1979.
Waquiem Comar, Twinsburg, D-I, 152: The senior’s state title was the first for a Twinsburg wrestler since 1988.
Dennis Raber, Orrville, D-III, 160: The senior became his school’s first state champion since 1986.
Logan Erb, Wapakoneta, D-II, 215: The junior’s state title was just the second in school history and first since 2000.
John Sullenbarger, Arcanum, D-III, 189: The senior became his school’s second placer and it’s highest ever by finishing seventh.
GWOC…GWOW
The Dayton-based Greater Western Ohio Conference had a banner year at the state tournament in D-I.
Last year the GWOC had just two wrestlers finish in the Top 3 and this year it had five, including Centerville teammates Nick Miller and Kyle Rose who placed first and second, respectively, at 189 and 215.
Other top 3 finishers were Miamisburg’s Fayette (third at 135), Springboro’s Cody Shivener (130) and Beavercreek’s Josh Stevens (125).
Centerville’s Brian Mathews was fourth at 152.
In all, 11 GWOC wresters placed.
FUTURE FOUR-TIME WINNERS?
There were three freshmen that won state titles his year. Heil from St. Edward, Bo Jordan from Graham and Nathan Tomasello of CVCA (D-III, 103).
ATTENDANCE
The finals and overall attendance for the state tournament was the lowest its been since the event moved from Wright State’s Nutter Center in 1999.
A crowd of 14,886 witnessed Saturday’s finals, while the five-session total was 64,617. Last year crowds of 14,787 and 64,914 took in the finals and tournament, respectively. The largest five-session total ever is 75,582 in 2003.
Regardless, the state wrestling championship (Session 5) remains the single highest attended OHSAA state championship event, eclipsing finals in both football and basketball.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
The 74th annual state wrestling championships will be held March 3-5, 2011 at the Schottenstein Center.
KEEP AN EYE OUT
For Ohio High Magazine’s Winter State Tournament Commemorative Issue due out in early April. The special supplement will include a recap of the entire state tournament and feature a photo gallery of every state champion in every weight class in each division. We’ll also unveil our JJHuddle/Ohio High All-State Tournament Team and name our Ohio High/Huntington Bank State Wrestler of the Year. Click here for more information.
Semifinal Session 3: Doesn’t Disappoint
Complete Results
Complete Pairings
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