The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Avon, Elyria wrestlers headed to finals
Elyria capped off a massive second day at the OHSAA state tournament on March 8 at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, placing a program record nine wrestlers and sending through three state finalists. After two days, the Pioneers sit in third place (105) behind St. Edward (176) and Cincinnati LaSalle (151.5). The trio of finalists are Peyton Fenton (106), Mick Burnett (132) and Enrique Munguia (152). Joining the local contingent in the state final will be Avon senior Jack Roesch (285). The freshman Fenton pulled off an upset in the semifinal, knocking off No. 1 state-ranked Cincinnati LaSalle’s Cole Skinner in a 3-2 decision. Skinner is also ranked No. 9 nationally and Fenton beat him with an escape, locking hands penalty and a second stalling warning. “I got the revenge from state duals that I wanted,” Fenton said. “I put everything I had on the mat. He didn’t like going bottom on me until I went neutral and I just did stuff that got him hit with stalling. I don’t care about any rankings, I’m just focused on one match at a time.” Munguia joined in on the upset special, beating No. 2-ranked and returning state champion Victor Voinovich (Brecksville) in a 4-3 semifinal decision. Voinovich is also nationally ranked at No. 14. Munguia split the first two matches with Voinovich — winning at the Walsh Ironman Tournament and losing at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament. “I just knew I had to keep pushing the pace,” he said. “Any position I get in I feel confident and that’s how I think. Our team’s momentum keeps me going and all of my teammates have helped me all year long.” Burnett has a chance to follow in his father’s footsteps in becoming a state champion after beating No. 4-ranked Cincinnati LaSalle’s Casey Wiles in a 6-3 semifinal decision.
Burnett is a two-time state finalist. “I’m trying to get that first one this year,” Burnett said. “I’ve got the job done so far and I’m ready to go in the final.” Junior Dylan Shawver (126), No. 1-ranked in the state, dropped his semifinal match to No. 5-ranked Logan Heil (Brunswick) in a 10-9 decision and will wrestle in the consolation semifinal against Toledo Whitmer’s Jack Haskin. Bryce Allison (113), Nate Burnett (120), Matt Zuckerman (138), Jake Evans (170), Drew Levis (220) conclude the guaranteed Pioneers state placers, to be determined on the final day. Roesch (285) won, 6-5, over No. 3-ranked Uniontown Lake’s Michael Mather in the quarterfinal before winning 5-3 over Cincinnati Anderson’s Kevin Stone in the semifinal. He becomes the third state finalist in program history and could become the first state champion with a win over No. 1-ranked Huber Hts. Wayne’s Jacob Padilla in the final. He didn’t place last season. “This is my second time down and I couldn’t be more excited with how things have turned out,” Roesch said. “I’ve been working all year with Coach Johnson and Jordan Greer. I’ve wanted a spot on the podium and I’m glad it’s worked out. I was not aware of making program history and it’s more exciting now I get to write my own story.” His teammate, Jordan Greer (195), won 8-2 over Canton McKinley’s Micha Clemson in the quarterfinal before losing in the semifinal, 11-1, to Cincinnati LaSalle’s Michael Baker. He will wrestle in the consolation semifinal. Avon’s Cael Saxton (106) lost a 15-0 tech fall to Cincinnati LaSalle’s Cole Skinner before winning his consolation, 4-2, over Dresden Tri-Valley’s Sky Wisecarver. He will wrestle for seventh place. Midview junior Daniel Bucknavich (285) lost, 7-3, to Massillon Perry’s Max Millin in quarterfinal match before pinning Columbus Franklin Heights’ Day’Myrin Jones in 2:36. He will wrestle in the consolation semifinal. North Olmsted senior Dalton Diaz (170) lost his consolation match in a 12-4 major decision to Wadsworth’s Jon List and was eliminated. He was one match away from placing, but Diaz has nothing to hang his head about, capping off a senior season with his first state qualification. “I know I’m one of the best wrestlers in the state,” Diaz said. “I have no regrets and I’m glad I’m just down here competing. It feels great representing North Olmsted because it used to be a big wrestling school and you always get that one kid like Kevin Kelly (assistant coach and 2017 state qualifier) and I followed in his footsteps. I got to give all the credit to him and I’m so glad I could wrestle with him. I wouldn’t want this season any other way.” North Ridgeville senior Jacob Dunstan (126) was pinned (1:29) by Olentangy Liberty’s Lucas Uliano, who is ranked No. 11 in the state, in the consolation and was eliminated. He was the first Rangers state qualifier since 2013. Avon senior Tommy Sear (145) lost his consolation, 6-4, to Clayton Northmont’s Andrew Knick and was eliminated. Sear finishes his career as a threetime SWC champion and first-time state qualifier.
Division II
Bay senior Matt Cover (195), ranked No. 1 in the state, fell in the semifinal, 4-3, on an escape with one second left in the ultimate tiebreaker to No. 2-ranked Nick Crawford (Canfield). He can still finish as high as third. Firelands junior Payton Burgdorf (120) lost his quarterfinal, 8-5, to Louisville’s Garett Lautzenheiser before pinning Williamsport Westfall’s Chanston Moll in 2:28. He then won, 7-0, over Padua’s Jimmy Balazy and is a guaranteed state placer for the third year in a row, the only Firelands wrestler ever to do so and can finish as high as third. “After losing in the quarters, I had to keep my head up,” Burgdorf said. “I was able to go out there and compete my match. I know how to cope with losses better this year and I’m not devastated for days after a loss. I’ve been trying to achieve my dream of reaching the top the last three years and I’ve come up short, but I have to keep on going.” Fairview junior Matt Kaufmann ended his state tournament run losing to CVCA’s Matt Williams by a 12-0 major decision. He is the first two-time Fairview state qualifier since 2008 and finished 37-7 overall. “It’s cool and I’m hoping to get here a third time next year,” Kaufmann said. “I was less nervous this year. It’s kind of cool doing this for the program and I keep thinking about next year. Our whole team is coming together.”
Division III
Lutheran West senior Parker Watson (138) lost a quarterfinal match to New Paris National Trail’s Peyton Lane, 8-3. Lane is ranked No. 6 in the state to Watson 5th ranking, but he bounced back in the consolation, 4-2, over Archbold’s Brennan Short. He then injury defaulted to Troy Christian’s Austin Awan and will wrestle (if healthy) for seventh place. “I had much higher expectations than this and it got crushed in a matter of minutes,” Watson said. “But I had to focus back on the next match.”