The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Four earn state berths from ‘Meatgrinder’
The connotations for the “Meatgrinder” — the tried and true moniker of the Division I Mentor District tournament that added another chapter March 4 — can go a few ways.
Granted, it can take even the highest-caliber performers and halt access to the road to Columbus. And yes, it produces a premium-grade product — even moreso after the influx this year of powerhouses such as St. Edward and Elyria.
But the Meatgrinder also tests and toughens those who dare to take it on — and occasionally, that determination can lead through to state for the first time.
Four area standouts will gladly take the third meaning as a badge of honor after they conquered the beast.
Mentor’s Parker Brunkala and Brian Ross, Riverside’s Alex Farenchak and South’s Mike Farkas secured their first career state berths out of the D-I Mentor District.
Farenchak took third at 145 pounds with a 9-3 decision over St. Edward’s Cade Hepner. The Beavers’ junior, in his third district appearance, had a long road out, having to wrestle through the consolation bracket after being pinned in a championship semifinal.
He responded with a 7-2 decision over Perrysburg’s Drew Newton and the 9-3 decision over Hepner, good for his 35th win of the year.
“It feels amazing,” Farenchak said. “It’s something I’ve been working my whole life to do. This is a great feeling — it kind of feels unreal.
“Right away (after the loss by pin), I just forgot about it, cleared my mind. I kind of took that anger, too, and took it into that next match to seal the deal to go.”
Ross had last-match honors at heavyweight. The senior shook off a pin in 50 seconds in a championship semifinal to Amherst Steele’s Matt Lee and hit the consolation road as well.
He pinned twice to take third — first in a semifinal against Holland Springfield’s Mentor’s Parker Brunkala, right, wrestles Anthony Wayne’s Caleb Yates during a Mentor District semifinal bout on March 4. Brunkala won the match and finished second in the tournament.
Cade Chapetta, and then much to the delight of the home faithful with a pin with 16 seconds left in the third period to defeat Oregon Clay’s Nick Daly to improve to 39-12.
“It’s awesome,” Ross said. “I’ve never felt anything like this before. Six years, I’ve been working hard, and I’m finally able to get what I was working for.
“(The third-place match) was tied, and (Daly) almost got that two. But I was able to scramble and get him to the mat.”
Brunkala (41-8) was the lone area wrestler to participate in a championship final, dropping a 5-4 decision to St. Edward’s Bryce Hepner to take second at 113.
The senior, who was fifth at district a year ago and was making his fourth district
appearance, fell behind, 5-0, early against Hepner but rallied to within 5-4 late in the third.
“It feels special,” Brunkala said. “I didn’t get the outcome I intended to, but still coming out of here in a good place, looking good for state.
“I just stayed after (Hepner). I didn’t let the fivepoint lead get in my head. I just kept pushing.”
Farkas has kept pushing for a state trip, coming back for a third try at the Meatgrinder after not winning a match in it as a sophomore and junior.
The Rebels’ senior 126-pounder persevered after a championship second-round pin by Elyria’s Joshua Breeding to get a second crack at Breeding in the third-place match with a consolation run.
Farkas (33-13) got a major decision and tight decisions over Fremont Ross’ Keaton Jordan (3-2) and Perrysburg’s Chase Walczak (4-2) to earn a debut in Columbus as a top four at 126 before falling, 8-2, to Breeding in the thirdplace match.
“It’s something I’ve dreamed about for the past four years,” Farkas said. “I always knew I was going to be in the blood match — a do-or-die match — and it came for me.
“This year, I was on a mission. Knowing I hadn’t won a match here before, I just came in with a lot of confidence. I wasn’t as nervous as I used to be. I had a lot of self-confidence in myself in these matches. I went through it all and made it.”
Area D-I state alternates after winning their fifthplace matches March 4 at the Meatgrinder were Mentor’s Nick Sabin (106) and Nate DeBoe (126), Madison’s Jeff Brichford (120) and Chardon’s Sam Rocazella (160).