Feb 12, 2017

St. Edward scored pins and turned away Massillon Perry for its third OHSAA state wrestling team dual tournament championship in the event’s five-year history.

(2-15-17) The most recent USA Today Top 25 Wrestling rankings came out today and it listed five Ohio schools.

Two of the schools were in the Top 5, Lakewood St. Edward (3) and Graham (5). The other three schools making the list, Massillon Perry (14), Elyria (15) and Olentangy Liberty (19). Add to that two schools are on the teams to watch list, Mason and Wadsworth.

USA TODAY NATIONAL TOP 25 WRESTLING

  • No. 3 Lakewood St. Edward
  • No. 5 Graham (St. Paris)
  • No. 14 Massillon Perry
  • No. 15 Elyria
  • No. 19 Olentangy Liberty

Teams to watch:

  • Mason
  • Wadsworth

This past weekend the OHSAA held it’s team championships in Columbus.

OHSAA Recap Story

COLUMBUS, Ohio (2-11-17)  – Graham and Lakewood St. Edward were in familiar territory at the 2017 dual team wrestling state championships Sunday night at St. John Arena, Graham took home its fifth Division II title, while St. Edward claimed its third Division I title.

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St. Edward defeated Massillon Perry 39-24 to win the Division I title. It is the Eagles’ 33rd overall OHSAA wrestling state championship (30 coming at the individual tournament). The Eagles beat Dublin Coffman 57-16 in the quarterfinals and Mason 35-24 in the semifinals before knocking off Massillon Perry in the finals. That improves the Eagles’ dual wrestling tournament record to 12-2 in five appearances. Massillon Perry now has two state runner-up finishes (2013, ’17) to go along with one state championship (2014) in five appearances.

Lakewood St. Edward is the top seed in the Division I state tournament for a fourth time in five years. Winning state last year and back in 2013, the Eagles are led by a pair of seniors in three-time state placer Allan Hart (132), a 2015 state champion, and two-time state runner-up Jared Campbell (220). Other returning medalists include state champion Bryce Andonian (120), Matt Kazimir (126), Michael Carpenter (160) and Tyler Stepic (182). Cody Howard (195) qualified for the individual state tournament last year, while Angelo Rini (106) was a Cadet freestyle All-American this past summer, despite being in reserve behind Andonian during the scholastic season.

From the preview of the State Team Finals, provided by the OHSAA:

Seeded second is Elyria, which has lost to St. Edward in each of its previous two state tournament appearances; 34-24 in the 2015 semifinal and 43-28 in last year’s final, with the Pioneers winning six of 14 bouts both times. Their advancement to this stage was keyed by an impressive 38-25 win over Wadsworth in the regional semifinal. Three-time state placer Kevin Vough (285), a 2015 state champion, is their best wrestler. Other notables include a pair of two-time state placers in state champion Brandon Fenton (120) and J.T. Brown (182), impact freshmen Mick Burnett (106) and Dylan Shawver (113), 2015 state qualifier Josh Breeding (126/132), returning state qualifiers Matt Zuckerman (126/132) and Brendan Price (160/170), along with state alternate Tristan Brady (152/160) and district placer Cameron King (195).

Massillon Perry, was  in its fifth straight dual team state tournament. The Panthers won in 2014, finished as runners-up in 2013, and advanced to the semifinals each of the last two years. Two-time state champion David Carr (152) is the anchor wrestler, while other notable wrestlers include state placer Zach Blackiston (182), 2015 state placers Joe Koontz (160) and Matt Carrick (285), state qualifiers Gary Define (138) and Emil Soehnlen (170), along with district placer Malachi Strickland (145).

Mason was seeded fourth, and returns to the state tournament seeking its first victory after losing in the quarterfinal round in both 2014 and 2015. The Comets feature six returning state qualifiers, including a pair of two-time state placers in Colin Schuster (120) and Zack Donathan (132). Others with experience in the individual state tournament include Jack Stein (160), Marcus Nasdusak (113), Jamien Hood (126) and Sam Glassco (120/126), while Chris Donathan (138) and Eric Vermillion (170) placed at the district tournament last year.

OHSAA Team Tournament – Division I – State

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In Division II, Graham continued its run of perfection in the dual wrestling tournament, claiming its fifth duals title in five years, a perfect record of 16-0. The Falcons defeated Wauseon in the finals for the second straight year by a score of 48-9.  Graham stormed through the tournament, knocking off Washington Court House Miami Trace 65-12 in the quarterfinals and Mentor Lake Catholic 57-13 in the semifinals. The Falcons have also won every OHSAA individual wrestling tournament since 2001.

From the preview of the State Team Finals, provided by the OHSAA:

D2 145 Lbs. Finals Rocky Jordan- Graham dec. Sandro Ramirez-Wauseon 4-0—2016 Ohio State Wrestling Tournament, Columbus OH

Graham was the top seed for the fifth straight year. Next month, the Falcons are also well-positioned to win a 17th straight individual state tournament title. They feature nine returning state placers, including a pair of two-time state champions in Mitch Moore (132) and Rocky Jordan (152), though the status of Moore for this tournament is uncertain. Other medalists include Jordan Crace (120), state runner-up Jeffrey Thomas (126), Joey Sanchez (145), two-time placer Ryan Thomas (160), Gage Braun (182), Kavan Sarver (195) and Johnny Shafer (220).

OHSAA Team Tournament – Division II – State

Total attendance for the state tournament was 3,777, a record-high for the tournament.