Wrestling programs at Berkshire and Kenston hosted OHSAA sectional tournaments Feb. 25.
Match photos click here.
Wrestling programs at Berkshire and Kenston hosted OHSAA sectional tournaments Feb. 25.
In addition, wrestlers from Cardinal, Chagrin Falls, Chardon, NDCL and West Geauga traveled to various Northeast Ohio sites to compete in other OHSAA sectional wrestling tournament.
Geauga County wrestlers had great success at sectionals, as five wrestlers won individual titles and 21 others qualified for districts, which will take place across three divisions at different locations this weekend.
Sectional championship winners included Josh Brown (Berkshire), Brian Denamen (West Geauga), Josh Ripley (Cardinal), Will Vucetic (Chardon) and Bryce Wheatley (NDCL).
Five wrestlers from Berkshire qualified for districts, including Josh Brown (1st – 150), Johnny Heiden (2nd – 138), Colin Hering (2nd – 113), Alex Munn (2nd – 157) and Amadeus Kosava (4th – 144).
With his sectional title, Brown remained undefeated on the season and is currently ranked 5th in the state.
“So I came into this tournament, made 50 again; it was going real well,” Brown said. “Worked my fundamentals, got to my pin combination, and made it happen today.
“Excited to wrestle those guys (at districts next week) who have more fundamentals and more skills and better movement.”
Hering, who also qualified for districts, talked about the importance of the mental game as you move on through the postseason.
“Having a great tournament so far,” Hering said. “It’s all about believing in yourself, just hitting your moves like you do in the room every day.”
Also competing at the Berkshire sectionals were the Chagrin Falls Tigers. Two Tigers wrestlers qualified for districts: Jay McGinnis and Hunter Blair, who both finished in fourth place at sectionals.
“My first match I pinned the kid,” McGinnis said. “It was a pretty tough match, it got pretty aggressive, but I came out on top.
“The second match, I had some trouble. Got stuck. I got pinned. But just wrestled my third match and qualified for districts.”
Blair also talked about his qualification.
“The first match was pretty easy for me — I pinned him in 24 seconds,” he said, and also described the match he won to clinch his spot in districts. “A lot of hand fighting in the beginning. I shot in, I got a takedown, and then I was going for one move (but) it didn’t work out so I switched it over for a head lock and got the pin.”
Likewise, Kenston also hosted an OHSAA sectional tournament.
Qualifying for districts from Kenston were Ben DiMarco (2nd – 190), Sean Doyle (2nd – 285), Leo DiPadova (4th – 120), Carmen Fratoe (4th – 106) and AJ Pemberton (4th – 144),
Cardinal saw three wrestlers qualify for districts at the Independence Sectional. Winning the sectional title at 165 was Josh Ripley. In addition, Aiden Hatcher (2nd – 190) and Andrew Tucholski (3rd – 215) qualified as well.
West Geauga and NDCL were in action at the Harvey sectional.
Five West G wrestlers qualified: Brian Denamen (1st – 144 pounds), Ethan Bartlett (2nd – 165), Justin Artino (3rd – 157), Zander Joltin (4th – 113) and Nasir Levy (4th – 175).
Qualifying for districts for NDCL were Bryce Wheatley (1st – 190) and Tucker Pason (4th – 126).
Chardon’s Will Vucetic won the title in the 165-pound weight class at the Wadsworth sectional. Also qualifying for districts for the Hilltoppers was Aidan Croyle (3rd – 175), Caden Foley (4th – 132) and Graham Husek (4th – 138).
District championships will be held March 4.
