The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Elyria dominates Division I sectional
Elyria captures 11 sectional championships
The Elyria Pioneers tossed their weight around at the Division I sectional, advancing all 14 wrestlers.
In the time in between the semifinal and final rounds of the Division I sectional tournament at Midview on Feb. 29, Elyria seniors Mick Burnett and Dylan Shawver made sure that the Elyria team stayed loose.
As the gym cleared out so spectators could be readmitted, the duo stood in a circle with their team where they tossed around a piece of tape, each wrestler taking turns laughing and celebrating when they threw it off a teammate.
While some teams anxiously awaited the final round, the Pioneers were relaxed, as all 14 of their wrestlers were guaranteed at least a fourth-place finish to go along with a spot in the district tournament.
Once the final round came, the previously relaxed Elyria team turned on another gear, as the Pioneers won the first 11 sectional final matches.
“It’s great to have everyone going,” Elyria coach Erik Burnett said. “A sectional isn’t necessarily about the championship as much as it’s about everyone advancing. I’m happy everyone’s taking the trip.”
Collin Noel (106 pounds), Peyton Fenton (113), Bryce Allison (120), Shawver (126), Nate Burnett (132), Mick Burnett (138), Izzak Pedraza (145), Enrique Munguia (152), Brandy Crawford (160), Jojo Norwood (170) and Jake Evans (180) all finished in first place for Elyria.
Of those wins, Shawver, Nate Burnett, Munguia and Evans won by pin. The Pioneers finished with a team score of 304 points, a school record.
Crawford’s win might stand out as the most impressive. After winning his first two matches by pin, Crawford faced Fremont Ross’ Jackson Weissinger in the final. After falling behind early, Crawford used his speed to take control, winning 10-7. After the final whistle, Crawford jumped up and pointed to his wrist saying, “this is my time.”
Last year Crawford made it to the district tournament as a member of Lorain’s wrestling team. This year he’s headed back to the district as a Pioneer. After his win over Weissinger, Crawford shared a high-five with Lorain coach Dan Findley.
“Coach Burnett and telling me to go out and focus on the offense we’d focused on this past week,” Crawford said. “He’s a quick guy, so I didn’t let my feet stop moving.”
While Noel might not have transferred schools like Crawford, the win was also his first sectional title for Elyria. For the past two years, Noel had always been behind someone on the depth chart at 106 pounds. This year he got his chance to shine in the postseason and made sure to make the most of it.
“It’s a great experience,” Noel said. “I was a little nervous coming in since it was my first time being here, but I ended up doing really well.”
Elyria’s run of consecutive first-place finishes was stopped by Avon’s Jordan Greer, who defeated Ben Doehr, 5-0, in the 195 pound first-place match. Greer and the Eagles finished second with a team score of 161.5 points while also sending eight wrestlers to the District Tournament.
“The past two years I’ve underperformed at sectionals, so it was nice to come out with confidence this year,” Greer said.
After winning his semifinal with a first period pin, Greer was excited for the change of pace in wrestling against Doehr.
“I haven’t been to the third period much this year. So it was nice to get pushed,” Greer said. “It’s always nice to get some grudge matches this time of year.”
At 220 pounds, Amherst’s Lavell Gibson pinned Avon Lake’s Hunter Mchugh in the second period to finish in first place. Gibson — who missed all of last wrestling season with an injury — is one of eight Amherst wrestlers to qualify for districts.
“I got back in the room this year and my coaches pushed me a lot,” Gibson said. “The team really motivated me to my best, and I think I really did that today.”
The tournament closed out with Daniel Bucknavich doing what he’s done all season — winning via pin. Bucknavich pinned Fremont Ross’ Ethan Green at the 1:37 mark to secure the sectional win, the first such win of his storied career. Of Bucknavich 36 wins this year, 34 have come by pin.
“It’s my first sectional championship so it feels nice to get that under the belt,” Bucknavich said. “Hopefully the next thing is a state championship.”