Geauga County boys and girls wrestlers had excellent success on Feb. 28 and March 1 at Northeast Ohio OHSAA sectional wrestling tournaments.
Geauga County boys and girls wrestlers had excellent success on Feb. 28 and March 1 at Northeast Ohio OHSAA sectional wrestling tournaments.
At Kenston, the Bombers Boys Wrestling Team advanced four wrestlers to the OHSAA District tournament including freshman Teo Triscaro (120 pound division) and sophomore Carter Baran (126) who both won OHSAA Sectional Titles. In addition, Brady Baran finished runner-up, while J.J. Strano took third place.
To get to the finals, Triscaro had a first round bye. Then, in the quarterfinals, he quickly pinned his Madison Blue Streaks opponent, sophomore Leonard Lucaj. In fact, Triscaro was dominant in the match, taking his opponent down four times within the first 44 seconds. He then got the pin with just 33 seconds left in the first period.
In his semifinal matchup, Triscaro earned the decision defeating freshman Luke Stover from Norton, 9-4. To get the victory, Triscaro got out to a quick 7-0 lead after one period. He then added two points in the second period to take a 9-0 lead into the final round.
To win the OHSAA Sectional Title, Triscaro defeated 14th ranked Div. II Buckeye wrestler, Collin Bartos, 6-2.
Having lost earlier in the season to Bartos, Triscaro used that experience to his advantage by developing an excellent plan for the finals match.
“We stuck to the plan,” Triscaro said. “I was focused on staying on my knees, (and) getting the shots when I could. From wrestling before, I knew I could wrestle him that way and it would benefit me.”
In the 126 pound weight class, Bombers OHSAA Sectional Title winner, sophomore Carter Baran was focused on making a statement.
“Last year, obviously I wanted (to have success), but I was a freshman, I was just happy being here and being with my brothers last year,” Baran said. “But it was a little bit different this year. I want to be on the state podium, not just make it down there. To have a dominant performance in sectionals and just literally go out there and tech everyone, that really helps in the district matches (coming up).”
To win the title, Carter Baran defeated his first three opponents with first period technical falls.
In the first round, Carter Baran quickly defeated Grady Frombach from Bay, with a 15-0 technical fall just 1:14 into the first period.
Then, in the quarterfinals, Carter Baran defeated Jordan Durey from Edgewood, 18-1 on a technical fall with 33 seconds remaining in period one.
Just as in the first two matches, Carter Baran recorded a 16-0 technical fall over University School junior Ahmed Akbenlioglu with 7 seconds left in the first period.
In the 126 Pound Division Sectional Title match, Carter Baran took on junior Brenden McKee, the 7th ranked Div. II wrestler, from Buckeye.
After having faced McKee at the Top Gun Tournament in a close match earlier in the season, Carter Baran said that he was highly motivated to have a dominant performance against him in the Sectional Title match.
“I wrestled him at Top Gun and it was a bit of a closer match,” Carter Baran said. “I was going all out today, full hammer down. I wanted to give it everything I got, make a statement, let people know who I really am.”
And with that mindset, Carter Baran defeated McKee with a 15-0 technical fall with 33 seconds left in the finals match to win the OHSAA Sectional Title.
Just like the Bombers, the West Geauga Wolverines had multiple wrestlers qualify for the OHSAA District Championships.
On Feb. 28 at the OHSAA Div. II West Branch Sectional, the West Geauga Wolverines won their third straight OHSAA Sectional Title as eight wrestlers advanced to the OHSAA District Tournament.
Four Wolverines wrestlers won OHSAA Sectional Titles including Caden Kaleal (120 pound division), Zander Joltin (138), Brian Denamen (165 – 4 time sectional champion), and Maveric Milnar (285). Also advancing to districts were Austin Wheatley (2nd – 190; recorded 100th career victory), Danny Sizler (2nd – 144; recorded 100th career victory), Blake Welker (3rd – 215) and Daniel Russell (4th – 150).
Also, at the Div. II Sectional at West Branch, qualifying for districts were Hawken’s Nicholas Hayes (3rd – 132 pound division) and John Ours (4th – 165)
At the Div. II Sectional at Canal Fulton Northwest, the Chardon Hilltoppers finished in third place as a team. Winning OHSAA Sectional Titles for the Hilltoppers were Sawyer Smith (150 pound division), and Luke Vucetic (157). Also, moving on to districts were Zach Rosipko (190 – 3rd place), and Charlie Shamakian (138 – 4th place).
Seven Berkshire Badgers boys wrestlers advanced to districts at Berkshire on Feb. 28 including 190 Pound Division OHSAA Sectional Title winner, Danny Tiller. In addition, advancing to districts for the Badgers were Estevon Huesca (2nd -157), Alex Sustin (3rd – 106), Josh Heiden (3rd – 113), Caden Klingman (3rd – 132), Jacob Ulatowski (4th – 120), and Trent Holland (4th – 150).
Also, on March 1 at the Austintown-Fitch Sectionals, three Badgers girls wrestlers qualified for districts including Piper Geiss (4th – 110 pound division), Maya Mendelora (4th – 135) and Catherine Toth (4th – 155).
In the Div. III Boys Wrestling Sectional at Berkshire, four wrestlers from Chagrin Falls qualified for OHSAA Districts including Jay McGinnis who won the OHSAA Sectional Title in the 126 pound weight class. In addition, Jack Bundy (190 pound division), Eli Havas (215), and Owen Stull (144) all advanced to districts by finishing in fourth place.
On March 1 at the Euclid Sectional, the Tigers’ Savannah Brent finished in 4th place in the 145 pound division while recording three pins. With her accumulation of 27 pins throughout the season, she now holds the Tigers school record for most pins in a season.
Boys wrestlers from Chardon, Hawken, Kenston, and West Geauga will next compete in the OHSAA Div. II District Championships at Kenston on March 6th and March 7th, while Boys wrestlers from Berkshire and Chagrin Falls will compete at the Div. III District Championships at Independence on March 6th and March 7th.
Girls wrestlers from Berkshire and Chagrin Falls will next compete at the OHSAA District Championships at Mentor on March 8.
