The Hilltoppers lost 45-22 to the Mayfield Wildcats at home despite some tough performance by certain Chardon wrestlers.
The Hilltoppers lost 45-22 to the Mayfield Wildcats at home despite some tough performance by certain Chardon wrestlers.
Chardon entered the match with some key injuries that have dampened the beginning of 2020.
Coach Nick Salatino, now in his 12th season, has been moving wrestlers up weight classes and filling in holes where he can.
Heavyweight Jaret Hall suffered a season-ending injury to his left leg. Nick Becker has been out. And many other Hilltoppers have been nursing injuries or playing at a higher weight class.
Vaughn Fink returned to the lineup at 145 pounds, despite being a more natural 138-pound wrestler.
“He’s tough, but maybe we put too much on his plate,” Salatino said.
Colin Perz was bumped up to 152 and got the decision win against Mayfield. Alex McDonald won for Chardon at 195 pounds.
The coach has been impressed with Jaden Farris at 126 pounds, Jake Hamulak at 113 pounds and Kaz Rajko, a freshman, at 132 pounds.
Charlie Brosch pinned his opponent at 170 pounds, which impressed Salatino.
“That’s the type of aggressiveness we are really looking for,” Salatino sad. “He’s got good energy. And he doesn’t get tired. I know we’re going to get 100 percent out of him no matter what.”
The Wildcats remain a strong program under head coach Dwight Fritz, a 30-year veteran going back to his days with Geneva.
“They are tough all the way through,” Salatino said. “From middle school, to youth, just a solid program.”
The Western Reserve Conference tournament that determines the conference championship team will be held Feb. 15.
The match was filmed for GTV, and a DVD can be purchased by visiting www.geaugatv.org.
