The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Lutheran West packs ’em in, pins Rocky River
Lutheran West builds school spirit for wrestling with daytime match
It wasn’t a typical regular season dual on Dec. 10 at Lutheran West, where the Longhorns squared off with Rocky River.
Held in a packed gym in front of the student body, pep band and cheerleaders, the atmosphere resembled that of a basketball game.
Lutheran West made sure its fans went home happy, taking a 51-30 win.
“It was cool, most people here had never seen wrestling before,” said 145-pounder Parker Watson, who won by pinfall (2:14) over Obaida Abazied. “To put on a show for them was fun. When everyone gets loud, it encourages you to go harder.”
The Longhorns forfeited the first three weight classes, going down 18-0. The Pirates forfeited the 126, 138, 152, 160, 170, 182 and 285 classes as they are building up their program.
Rocky River first-year coach Dan Juliani is hoping to bring more students out for the team. Two of the bright spots were Tommy Koch (195) and Mahdi Salti (220) picking up wins.
“Salti came out with a lot of aggressiveness,” Pirates assistant Matt Sycz said. “He wrestled a smart match. We’re going to be looking at the small things for all the guys on our team and small details making sure our guys hit certain moves well. That’s how we can keep them encouraged.”
Koch pinned Dylan Gubanyar in 55 seconds and Salti pinned Nate Knudsen in 1:30.
“We don’t wrestle in front of a crowd like that. I think it’s a great thing for school spirit and we got the kids exposed to wrestling who never see it otherwise.”
— Lutheran West coach Dave Ressler
“I saw my teammates a little down and I knew I had to bring their spirits up,” Salti said. “I went out with a mentality that I had to win this match for my team. I went in aggressive. I’m always trying to improve and Coach Juliani has been good. It’s hard to transition to a new coach, but the fact he came in and brought us together is a positive thing and we hope to improve.”
Longhorns senior Robert Pinkie (132) won a 7-0 decision over River’s Josh Bergin.
Pinkie was a state qualifier in 2017, but broke his collar bone before the sectional tournament last year.
“I’m really motivated to get back,” Pinkie said. “I’d like to get back to sectionals and districts and qualify again. It was a different experience today wrestling in front of our home crowd and we usually practice against the River kids, so it was good going up against them.”
Lutheran West regularly held duals similar to this against Fairview a decade ago.
Coach Dave Ressler wanted to bring it back — and hopes to do it more often.
“Before we came in, we heard the rumble from the crowd and soon as Parker led the team out, they went nuts,” he said. “We don’t wrestle in front of a crowd like that. I think it’s a great thing for school spirit and we got the kids exposed to wrestling who never see it otherwise. I’ve been asking Rocky River for a long time to do it and once Dan took over as coach, I’ve known him since he’s been a wrestler, I told him about it. He was down four guys which would have made it a better match, but it was a fun event and something new.”