Wrestlers to keep an eye on Alexander Ash, Chardon, Sr.: He achieved a record of 35-10 and qualified for the Division I district competition. Antonius Bertone, Perry, Jr.: He finished with a 24-14 record and was a Division III state qualifier. Chris Bezzeg, Perry, Sr.: He recorded 35 wins and 15 losses, and qualified for […]
Wrestlers to keep an eye on
Alexander Ash, Chardon, Sr.: He achieved a record of 35-10 and qualified for the Division I district competition.
Antonius Bertone, Perry, Jr.: He finished with a 24-14 record and was a Division III state qualifier.
Chris Bezzeg, Perry, Sr.: He recorded 35 wins and 15 losses, and qualified for the Division III state tournament.
Jack Deboe, Mentor, Sr.: He tallied a record of 34-13 and qualified for the Division I state competition.
Devon Coffin, Benedictine, Jr.: He went 38-9 and earned a spot in the Division I state tournament.
Brian Denamen, West Geauga, Jr.: He achieved a 44-8 record and became a Division II state alternate.
Caden Foley, Chardon, Sr.: He finished his season with a 40-11 record and was a Division I district qualifier.
Will Greenberg, Hawken, Sr.: He posted a remarkable 39-3 record and was the Division III state runner-up in heavyweight. He has pledged to Bucknell for his college wrestling career.
Caleb Greenwood, Beachwood, Jr.: He achieved a record of 44-8 and secured eighth place in the Division III state tournament.
Antonio Hobbs, Benedictine, Sr.: He finished with a 31-12 record and qualified for the Division II state contest.
Zander Joltin, West Geauga, Jr.: He recorded a 42-7 season and was a Division II district qualifier.
Caden Kaleal, West Geauga, Jr.: He ended his season with a 43-6 record and placed sixth in the Division II district tournament.
Liam Lloyd, Mentor, Sr.: He posted a 37-10 record and was a Division I state qualifier.
Chris Maloney, Benedictine, Sr.: He achieved a 42-9 record and finished fourth in the Division II state competition.
Chance Schlauch, Perry, Jr.: He ended with a 24-13 record and qualified for the Division III state tournament.
Johnathan Sims, Brush, Sr.: He had a record of 39-9 and was an alternate for the Division I state tournament.
Tommy Slack, Lake Catholic, So.: He achieved a 37-11 record and placed fifth at the Division III state tournament.
J.J. Strano, Kenston, So.: He finished his season with a record of 34-13 and was a Division II state qualifier.
Chance Wuhr, Lake Catholic, So.: He recorded 32 wins and 17 losses and finished sixth in the Division III state tournament.
Danny Zmorowski, Lake Catholic, So.: He posted an impressive 43-7 record and secured third place in the Division III state tournament.
Focus Points
• To sum up, Lake Catholic has a strong roster and is the undisputed top team in the area. Three state placers are back — Chance Wuhr at 106 pounds, Tommy Slack at 120, and Danny Zmorowski at 215. Freshman Tyler Ineman is among the premier 126-pounders in the state. Pedro Arapiraca was a U15 national freestyle champion in Brazil. Freshman Giovanni Magistrelli and Ben Mitchell display maturity beyond their years. With 31 wrestlers overall, daily competition in practice is intense. This team has the potential to vie for the Division III state championship in both dual meets and individual tournaments.
• Perry is returning 13 starters from last year’s team, including three state qualifiers and four additional district placers. Depth is an asset for first-year coach Dan Trentanelli. Due to another lengthy playoff run in football, the Pirates may not be at their full strength until around January. Nevertheless, this team is set for a CVC title and is poised for deep runs in the Division II state duals and individual tournaments.
• Nine starters come back for University, with four having district experience. Doyle Grosz won 37 matches as a freshman. It’s a relatively inexperienced team, with 11 starters being underclassmen.
• VASJ is youthful, but three key returnees are in place, including senior Joey Oriano, who won 22 matches last season for Coach Bob Mullin, now in his 36th year with the Vikings.
• NDCL has a complete lineup, a rarity in recent years. There’s a youthful vibe with Tucker Pason having won 29 matches last season. Ten of the 15 wrestlers are multi-sport athletes, reflecting a unique commitment of the school’s athletic department.
• West Geauga aims to elevate its program further. The Wolverines bring back 11 district qualifiers. They have bolstered their schedule this year by adding the Top Gun and Division II state duals. If this team remains healthy and meets the challenges of a more demanding schedule, several Wolverines could potentially reach the D-II state tournament this season.
• Chardon boasts five returning Division I district qualifiers and transitions to Division II. The Hilltoppers present strength from 132-285, with considerable experience. Caden Foley (40) and Alex Ash (35) are both leaders with a wealth of wins last season.
• Benedictine possesses one of the top squads in the area. Ten starters are back, including returning state placer Chris Maloney (44-9 last year) and fellow state qualifiers John Jones Jr., Devion Coffin, and Antonio Hobbs. A football playoff run may delay some wrestlers from achieving peak performance until January, but this squad is structured for success in both individual and team tournaments.
• Mentor experienced a significant loss of state qualifiers from last year but is banking on the leadership of state qualifier Jack DeBoe, Liam Lloyd, and Ben McWilliams, all of whom achieved over 30 wins last season.
• It’s encouraging to observe North and South having full, or nearly full, varsity lineups. South features eight returning starters, while North has six returners under first-year coach Sean Jackson. Participation numbers are on the rise in both programs.
• Participation is also up at Harvey, with over 40 wrestlers signing up under veteran coach Jeremy Patty. Juan Munoz and Aiden Moreno are prominent returners, each having won 25 matches last year.
