Elyria finishes third, sends seven to state

PERRYYSBURG» There wasn’t a tougher district in the state than the Division I Perrysburg District wrestling meet, and Elyria still flexed its muscles, qualifying seven wrestlers to the state tournament. The Pioneers finished third overall (161.5) behind champion St. Edward (284.5) and Brecksville-Broadview Heights (234.5).

The seven grapplers were Dylan Shawver (113), Brendon Fenton (120), Mick Burnett (126), Josh Breeding (132), Matt Zuckerman (138), Farouq Muhammed (152) and Jake Evans (160).

Shawver and Fenton were crowned district champions, with No. 2-ranked Fenton beating No. 1 Julian Tagg (Brecksville) in a decisive 3-0 win. Fenton got an escape in the second period, and then when Tagg chose bottom in third, Fenton got a nearfall and rode him out. Seemingly, the reigning twotime state champion turns into a different person in the postseason.

This year, Fenton has a chip on his shoulder.

“He’s coming up to my weight class and I’m the defending

champ, so I’m just going to show why this is my weight class and I’m going to go get my three,” Fenton said. “Mick wrestled him last year and we knew he was going to do fast, quick shots, low shots and I’m just staying on my stance trying to work on my shot and get him out of his position where he doesn’t like to wrestle. My coach keeps telling me to just have fun and don’t put no pressure on yourself and make him have the pressure.”

Fenton also felt he made a statement.

“No one thought I was going to beat Tagg because I did bad at Ironman and Beast of the East, and he placed high at those. So people were just doubting me how they always have. I just wanted to show everybody what I can do.”

Shawver beat Toledo Whitmer’s Jack Haskin in a 9-3 decision for his title. No. 2-ranked Burnett squared off in a sectional finals rematch with St. Edward’s Bryce Hepner (No. 1 ranked), but fell by a point for the second-straight week, 1-0. Muhammed placed second, Breeding and Evans third and Zuckerman fourth.

But coach Erik Burnett applauded his group’s showing.

“It’s a tough district, man,” he said. “Lots of pitfall opportunities as far as the weight classes. Most of them were loaded up. There are kids sitting at home from this district that are state-caliber wrestlers. For our kids that are going, I feel very fortunate for them. We’ve got three very good kids on our team that’s sitting at home and there are countless of other individuals on the other teams that won’t be making the trip. Getting seven out of this district when we came in with 10, I think the kids did a fantastic job. They represented our program well.”

Olmsted Falls placed seventh (80.5) and qualified three wrestlers: Michael Shaw (106), Josh Jaeckin (145) and Jaden Mendeluk (182). The Bulldogs have traditionally had a strong wrestling program and the trio has kept the state tradition alive. Jaeckin and Mendeluk placed second.

Shaw was the lone champion, beating Brecksville’s Jack Stanley in a 3-1 decision. Shaw was noticeably calmer than he was in the semis, where he narrowly edged Ashland’s Case George, 10-5, in a tie breaker in double overtime.

Shaw qualifies for the second straight year.

“I was going in there with a great mindset,” Shaw said. “I had nothing to lose because I already made it to state. I was already happy enough that I made it there, let alone winning it puts you in a better position. In the semis at the end of the first overtime, I felt like I had him broken a little bit, so my confidence went up knowing if I can ride him, I would be able to get the turn once I go down. When I chose down in the second half of the overtime, I was able to hit the reversal again because I knew it worked earlier in the match. I want to make it out on the podium at state. That’s everyone’s goal from this point on.”

Midview finished ninth (71.5) and will have two representatives at state in seniors Trever Begin (182) and Seth Frambach (195). Begin claimed his first district title, beating Olmsted Falls’ Mendeluk, 6-0. After a district alternate spot last year, Begin broke through the barrier.

“It felt amazing. It’s what I’ve been working for ever since I got into high school,” Begin said. “Our coaches have always emphasized that state tournament at the end of the year rather than conference and all the other tournaments. So it feels great to finally make it there. I’m definitely wanting to place at state. I’ve been so close the past few years I know I can do it. I’m right there with those top guys. I want to make a statement down there my first year.” Frambach earned fourth place.

Amherst senior Matt Lee (285) entered as a favorite and left without getting challenged, claiming his first district title. Lee topped Oregon Clay’s Nick Daly in a 9-4 finals decision.

The No. 2 state-ranked senior now eyes a state title.

“I feel good and as you can see, I didn’t pin everyone here so going three periods made me feel comfortable,” he said. “I tried some new stuff and I’ll take it match by match and see what happens. We’ve had a lot of athletic guys in our weight class and I think it’s the best heavyweight class we’ve had in the SWC. We have three state-ranked wrestlers there. So I feel confident moving forward.”

Avon has one representative at state in junior Jack Roesch (220). Roesch placed fourth and feels good about his chances getting on podium in Columbus.

“It’s nice getting there but I still lost (later), so it doesn’t matter,” Roesch said. “I just have to take it and go for next week. I didn’t finish and I’m kind of upset with that but I got there, which is the goal. Nothing to be satisfied with yet.”

Avon Lake has one state qualifier in heavyweight Max Wittman, who placed fourth. He’s the first Shoremen to qualify since 2014 (Joey Bernosky).

“I feel like I’ve trailblazed and shown the kids that you have to power through adversity,” Wittman said. “Adversity isn’t something to be a coward of, you have to power through it to gain victory. I can show them that doing hard work...works.”

“We’ve had a lot of athletic guys in our weight class and I think it’s the best heavyweight class we’ve had in the SWC.” — Amherst’s Matt Lee