Year Weight Division First Last School pounds Class A Eric Woodland Bishop Michael J. Ready High School

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Rosalyn Short
5 years ago
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The Ohio High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament! That is quite a long-winded but proper way of stating what fans call The Big Show.

1 The Ohio High School Athletic Association State Wrestling Tournament! That is quite a long-winded but proper way of stating what fans call The Big Show. Even in this day of mega-tournaments, pitting the best from all corners of the state or nation, as well as recently added State Duals tournament format for Ohio, there still remains something overly special about the individual state tournament. From its inception in 1938 until today, the state tournament has long been revered as the pinnacle in our sport for the individual. Getting its start in local high school gyms in the Cleveland area, the tournament began more as an invitational than what we see today. Although the tournament began in small settings, its popularity pushed it to larger venues. Eventually, centrally-located Columbus was set up as the home for the state tournament. Aside from a few years here or there, Columbus has hosted the state tournament on the campus of The Ohio State University, beginning with St. John Arena and now the Schottenstein Center since (The Erving J. Nutter Center in Dayton hosted from ) In 1960, Gary Joseph (Whitehall-Yearling) won the 133-pound weight class to become the first state champion from the Central Ohio area. Since that day, there have been 183 state championships won by Central District wrestlers. This weekend, wrestlers from our area will try to add their name to the list. D-III 106: To kick things off we have Jake Adkins (Northridge). This sophomore enters the tournament at 49-4 and was the Philo District champion. His half of the bracket will have some steep competition, coming from returning 4th place finisher Ulinski (Woodmore) and freshman Bray (Dayton Christian). Should he reach the finals, he will most likely take on the Spiess (Delta)/Vadika (Black River) winner pounds Class A Eric Woodland Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A Joe Bonaventura Grandview Heights High School 113: District champion Caleb Ohl (Newark Catholic) returns to the Big Show after bowing out last year prior to placing. Ohl has the ability to reach the semifinals and guarantee a top 6 placing, but making the finals is not an over-the-top thought! His likely semifinal opponent on Friday night will be junior Clary (Dayton Christian), who finished 3rd last year. Additional Qualifier(s): Joey Coe (Amanda Clearcreek), Kristopher Hill (Bishop Hartley) pounds Class A Rusty Weiner Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A Mike DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A Brent Wohrle Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A Vince DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A-AA Bob Dieli Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A-AA Bob Dieli Bishop Michael J. Ready High School INSIDE THE CIRCLE - 1

2 120: Returning state place-winner Chandler Minnard (Bloom Carroll) is one of three current Central Ohio wrestlers to have placed as a freshman. (Marysville s Noah Forrider and Taleb Rahmani are the other two.) Getting to the semifinals will ensure a top 6 finish, but in order to do that, he ll have to defeat opening round opponent Stiner (Keystone) and likely quarterfinal opponent Lacure (Greenview). Should he win those, returning state champion Sammy Gross (Beachwood) will be awaiting him. Additional Qualifier(s): Brendan Fitzgerald (Grandview Heights), DJ DeVito (Newark Catholic), and Billy Shannon (Amanda Clearcreek) pounds Division 3 Tyler Heminger Northmor High School pounds Division 3 Jim Smiles Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Division 3 Jim Smiles Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class AA Mike Branham West Jefferson High School pounds Class A Ken Ramsey William V. Fisher Catholic High School pounds Class A-AA Jack Low Grandview Heights High School 126: Nick Hoffman (Amanda Clearcreek) pounds Division 3 Brian Haimerl Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Division 3 Dominic DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Division 3 Adam DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A Ken Ramsey William V. Fisher Catholic High School pounds Class A Luke DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A Leo DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Class A Leo DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School INSIDE THE CIRCLE - 2

3 132: Undefeated Gennar Feucht (West Jefferson) is in a nice position (aside from being a talented wrestler) to reach the finals. Dayton Christian s Becker might try to help his team by playing spoiler in the quarterfinals. A Feucht victory here would bring likely semifinal opponent Marthey (Tuslaw) front and center on Friday night. Should Feucht pass both those tests, he will most likely meet VanVleet (Edgerton) in the finals. Last year VanVleet finished 5th at this weight while Feucht finished 4th at 126. All of that to say - Let s go Gennar!!! Additional Qualifier(s): Grant Rathburn (Bishop Hartley), Tim Violet (Madison Plains) pounds Division 3 Alex Garcia Columbus Academy pounds Division 3 Jason Amicon Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Division 3 Dominic DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School 138: Jared Dilley (Amanda Clearcreek) has a tough quarterfinal opponent in returning runner-up Nelson (Applecreek Waynedale). I think the finalist from the top half of the bracket comes from the winner of this match, and will most likely have to defeat Day from Archbold to make the dream a reality. Additional Qualifier(s): Dalton Scott pounds Division 3 Dominic DiSabato Bishop Michael J. Ready High School pounds Division 3 Johnny Vogel Grandview Heights High School 145: Returning state place winner Thomas Williams (Northridge) has the benefit of being on the opposite side of junior (and 2x state champion, and recent Indiana signee) Jacob Danishek (Dayton Christian). Just a point of note: The folks on the Titanic were confused as to the need for life boats. And the Philistines sent out Goliath for a reason. Go get m, Thomas! Additional Qualifier(s): Jamie Baldridge (Northmor) pounds Division 3 Johnny Vogel Grandview Heights High School pounds Class A Tom Strejcek Grandview Heights High School pounds Class A Erick Thomas Columbus Academy pounds Class A Barry Broome West Jefferson High School INSIDE THE CIRCLE - 3

4 152: Colin Visconti (Northmor) bowed out of last year s state tournament after going 0-2. In order to overcome last year s fate, he ll have to beat Knoll (Riverdale) in the first round, and then defeat undefeated Moore from Norwayne. If that happens, he is sure to face Jordan Marshall (Troy Christian) in the semifinals. Quinn (Shadyside) will be awaiting either opponent. Additional Qualifier(s): Caleb Horn (Amanda Clearcreek) pounds Division 3 Jedd Moore Pleasant High School pounds Division 3 Jedd Moore Pleasant High School pounds Division 3 Brian Baldridge Northmor High School pounds Division 3 Ross Thatcher Bishop Michael J. Ready High School 160: By getting second in last week s district tournament, Zach Gibson (Bloom Carroll) was placed, thanks to the pairings, on the opposite side of heavy favorite Ryan Harris (Beachwood). Similarly, Erwin (Mechanicsburg) was upset last week, and thus placed third and is also in the top half of the bracket. But this, by no means, makes it easy. Gibson will have to defeat returning state place winners in his first two matches. First, a very tough Stanley (Waynedale), who placed 8th last year, then 5th place finisher Mattin (Delta) in the quarterfinals. Last but not least, he will most likely face Moore (Norwayne) in order to face the aforementioned Harris. Mr. Gibson; should you pull this off, you will go down in history as one of the greats! Give them #SixMinutesOfGibson. Additional Qualifier(s): Steven Fearnow (Amanda Clearcreek), Rob Mickey (Northridge) pounds Division 3 Colin Heasley Worthington Christian High School pounds Division 3 Steve Wilson Pleasant High School pounds Division 3 Brendan Courtot Newark Catholic High School INSIDE THE CIRCLE - 4

5 170: Jason Tipton (Amanda Clearcreek) was a district runner-up last week. His finals loss came at the hands of returning state champion Mays (Nelsonville York). If I were Tipton, I would reach the semifinals after beating Sullivan (National Trail) and Spieth (Liberty Center) in the first two rounds. Then, in the semifinals, I would upend Linton (Rootstown), in order to meet up with Mays again in the state finals. Then, I would exact my revenge. Yeah. That s would I would do pounds Division 3 Alex Picazo Grandview Heights High School pounds Division 3 C.B. Dollaway Northmor High School pounds Division 3 Ross Thatcher Bishop Michael J. Ready High School 182: Carter Harris (West Jefferson), Jordan Leasure (Amanda Clearcreek) pounds Class A Greg Martin Joseph M. Wehrle High School pounds Class A Joe Thompson Bishop Michael J. Ready High School 195: A familiar saying among coaches is The road to a state championship often begins with a district title. In a weight class that boasts 4 state qualifiers from the Central District, Tyler Beck (Northmor) has an excellent chance of reaching the finals because of his district title. Beck will most likely meet up with Brettrager (Kirtland) in the semifinals. A win there will advance him into the finals where his likely opponent will be Ishmael (North Baltimore). However, it would be more exciting to see him take on Bullard (Johnstown Monroe)! Additional Qualifier(s): Clayton Bullard (Johnstown Monroe), Gunner Loughman (Heath), Dan Jones (Columbus Academy) pounds Division 3 Scott Smith Columbus Academy pounds Division 3 Tommy Rowlands Bishop Michael J. Ready High School 220: Corey Ginn (West Jefferson) is currently He was the district champion last weekend and will look to put on the finishing touches of his high school career this Saturday night in the state finals. More than likely, the wrestler standing in his way is Moore (Rootstown). One good thing going for Ginn is that both returning place winners from last year are on the same side of the bracket. Hopefully, come Saturday night, none of that INSIDE THE CIRCLE - 5

6 will matter, as Ginn stands atop the podium, and represents himself, his family, his school, and the Central Ohio area as state champion! Additional Qualifier(s): Tony Peoples (Harvest Preparatory Academy) pounds Division 3 Chad Davis Grandview Heights High School pounds Division 3 Tommy Rowlands Bishop Michael J. Ready High School 285: Patrik Patch Garren (Bishop Ready) is the lone Central District representative at the state tournament for this weight class. That is okay. He will represent well. Last year, as the lone sophomore in the 285 pound weight class, Garren finished third. This year, it is about finishing on top. Garren s likely semifinal opponent will be Ramos (Collins Western Reserve). After that victory, he will enter the finals against, more than likely, undefeated Cary (Loudenville) pounds Division 3 Corey Estell Amanda-Clearcreek High School pounds Division 3 Dan Pullins West Jefferson High School Best of luck to all of the D-III state qualifiers from the Central District! INSIDE THE CIRCLE - 6

Team Season Accomplishments

Team Season Accomplishments Meet Name Results 2011 District Boys 8 th of 16 teams District Girls 13 th of 14 teams MSL Boys 2 nd of 8 teams MSL Girls 4 th of 8 teams Grandview Boys 2 nd of 6 teams Grandview