The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Pioneers capture second at sectional
Elyria finished as the runnerup (231.5) to St. Edward (338) at the Division I Westlake wrestling sectionals on Feb. 24. The Pioneers sent seven through to the finals and crowned two champions.
Midview placed third (159.5), while Olmsted Falls (146.5) and Avon (118.5) followed.
Pioneers sophomore Dylan Shawver (113) and senior Brendon Fenton (120) took home titles, while eight more wrestlers qualified for districts: Bryce Allison (106), Mick Burnett (126), Josh Breeding (126), Jake Evans (160), Haydon Rockmon (170), Matt Zuckerman (138), Enrique Munguia (145) and Farouq Muhammed (152). Elyria coach Erik Burnett knew with St. Edward involved, it was going to be a tough
sectional.
“You’ve got to be ready for it and it is what it is,” Burnett said. “You go where they tell you to go, and I’m not a crybaby and say we shouldn’t be here. We have to go and wrestle whoever is there and better get the job done.”
The showdown of the day was Mick Burnett (126), ranked No. 2 in the state, against No. 1-ranked Bryce Hepner of St. Edward. Burnett controlled most of the match, and led, 3-2, before Hepner hit him with a takedown in the final second for a 4-3 win.
In what is in all likelihood a preview of a state finals match, and with both mostly likely seeing each other next week at the Perrysburg district, Burnett still came away with confidence. “It’s never easy to take a loss like that, but I know what I got to work on now,” Burnett said. “The fact that I controlled the match — I’m pretty confident that I can win the next time we wrestle at districts or state. I didn’t really set up my head inside single so I had to keep going head outside and we knew he had a good counter for that. That’s pretty much it and I took him down one time with that high crotch and he didn’t really open much to that. He’s good on the bottom and I couldn’t turn him and that’s something I need to work on in the next week.”
Hepner, an Avon resident, liked seeing Burnett early in the postseason and didn’t hold anything back.
“I think it just prepares me for what’s going to happen and it’s inevitable with how loaded my bracket is that I’m going to see tough competition,” Hepner said. “In all honesty, I think the kid I wrestled (Burnett) will probably make it as far as I do in states and it’s nice to get a little preview of where I’m at and see what I need to work on. I’ve been wrestling with him all my life and he’s one of my good friends.”
Midview qualified six wrestlers to districts — and senior Trever Begin (182) captured his first sectional title when he pinned rival Jaden Mendeluk of Olmsted Falls in 3:55.
Begin fell short of a state berth last year and is ready for redemption.
“Winning my first sectional title is a good start to what I want to do this season,” Begin said. “I’m just going to go in there (districts) and wrestle my matches, push the pace and try to keep things where I’m comfortable. I feel stronger than I ever have since last year. My conditioning and strength has went up a ton. I credit that to all my work in freestyle and going to Fargo (N.D.) in the offseason.”
As a heavy favorite, Amherst senior Matt Lee (285) pinned his way to his first sectional title, beating Avon Lake’s Max Wittman in 2:21 in the finals.
“Being favored to win this tournament, that’s a lot of pressure and the best thing to do is keep your calm,” Lee said, a football commit at Tiffin. “I’m going to go hard and take my time with things (preparing for district).
“As much as wrestling is a grind, and you can hate it at times, I’m going to miss it and these last couple weeks are going to be hard. I’m never going to hit the mat again, so I’m taking it slow and enjoying it.” The Comets qualified two more to districts: junior Tim Carrion (138) and Clay Carpenter (182).