The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
High school wrestling state preview
State wrestling tournament
What: 2019 State Wrestling Tournament Where: Jerome Schottenstein Center, 555 Borror Dr, Columbus When: March 7-9 Time schedule: March 7 - 3 p.m. (champion preliminaries, first-round consolation); March 8 - 10 a.m. (quarterfinals, second-round consolation), 6:30 p.m. (semifinals, consolation quarterfinals); March 9 - 10 a.m. (consolations), 5:30 p.m. (championship round) Admission: All-session tickets are $75, single-session tickets are $15 Area Division I qualifiers: Elyria (9 qualifiers) — Peyton Fenton (106), Bryce Allison (113), Nate Burnett (120), Dylan Shawver (126), Mick Burnett (132), Matt Zuckerman (138), Enrique Munguia (152), Jake Evans (170), Drew Levis (220)...Avon (4 qualifiers) — Cael Saxton (106), Tommy Sear (145), Jordan Greer (195), Jack Roesch (285)...Olmsted Falls (2 qualifiers) — Caiden Fetterman (182), Justin Jaeckin (195)...North Olmsted (2 qualifiers) — Dalton Diaz (170), Tyler Jones (285)...Midview (1 qualifier) — Daniel Bucknavich (285)...North Ridgeville (1 qualifier) — Jacob Dunstan (126)...Westlake (1 qualifier) — Liam Kruger (160) Breakdown: Elyria will look to crown two champions in No. 1-ranked Dylan Shawver (126) and Mick Burnett (132), both vying for their first titles. Last season, each were state finalists. The nine Pioneers qualifiers is the second most in program history (10 in 2017). Avon is sending a program record four qualifiers. The previous most was three in 2005, and all three placed. They’ll be hoping to at least tie that record. Jordan Greer (195) and Jack Roesch (285) will attempt to become the program’s first state champions. Midview’s Daniel Bucknavich (285) is ranked No. 4 in the state and will attempt to become the program’s first state finalist since Spencer Berthold in 2017. Olmsted Falls’ Caiden Fetterman (182) and Justin Jaeckin (195) follow the pair of Michael Shaw and Josh Jaeckin for state qualifiers. Jacob Dunstan (126) is North Ridgeville’s first state qualifier since 2013. North Olmsted’s pair of Dalton Diaz (170) and Tyler Jones (285) are the Eagles’ first qualifiers since 2017 and Westlake’s Liam Kruger (160) is the Demons’ first qualifier since 2017. Area Division II qualifiers: Bay (1 qualifier) — Matt Cover (195)...Firelands (1 qualifier) — Payton Burgdorf (120)...Fairview (1 qualifier) — Matt Kaufmann (126) Breakdown: Only three individual qualifiers in Division II, but all are good. Bay’s Matt Cover (195) is the No. 1-ranked wrestler in Ohio and placed third last season. The two-time National Freestyle All-American will attempt to become Bay’s first state champion since 1976. Firelands junior Payton Burgdorf (126) is ranked No. 5 in the state and placed sixth last season at 106 pounds. He placed fourth at 106 pounds in 2017 and is the program’s only two-time state placer. He will attempt to become the program’s first state finalist. Fairview junior Matt Kaufmann (126) qualifies for the secondstraight year after not placing last season. He is ranked No. 13 in the state. Area Division III qualifiers: Lutheran West (1 qualifier) — Parker Watson (138)...Elyria Catholic (1 qualifier) — Steven Ferguson (152)...Wellington (1 qualifier) — Mike Casella (220) Breakdown: Lutheran West senior Parker Watson finished second in the Garfield Heights District last week and enters the tournament ranked No. 5 in the state. He placed fourth in the state last season at 132 pounds and will attempt to become Lutheran West’s first state finalist since James Handwerk in 2017. Elyria Catholic’s Steven Ferguson (152) is a two-time state alternate, missed state last season and finally qualified this year after placing fourth at district. Wellington’s Mike Casella (220) took fourth at district and is a first-time qualifier.