Cougars advance seven to CIT semifinals

The Lake Catholic wrestling team remains in the running for a tournament championship at the annual Catholic Invitational Tournament after Day 1 of action at St. Ignatius High School.

The Cougars are in second place in the team ranks with 100.5 points, trailing only tournament leader Cincinnati Elder (120.5).

Seven Cougars advanced to the semifinal round, which is slated to begin at 10 a.m. on Jan. 14. The group includes Nick Coreno (106 pounds), Anthony Trivisonno (113), Hunter Ryan (120), Conor McCrone (126), Tommy Frasier (132), Matt Valentino (160) and Cole Hivnor (170).

Dakota Ryan (145) remains alive in the consolation bracket.

“It was a good day,” Coach Eric Lakia said. “We won some close matches. We have seven in the semis. A good day overall.”

Two-time state champion Kevon Freeman is sitting out the CIT. Having wrestled in both the Ironman and Beast of the East tournaments, Freeman needed to sit out a match because of the limit of matches a wrestler can take part in during the season.

Coreno won a match by decision and one by pin. He will face Elder’s Willie Doepker in the semis.

Trivisonno won his only match by pin and faces Jackson Geiser of Elder in the semis.

“Both Coreno and Trivisonno had a great week of practice,” Lakia said. “They drill together. I think they feed off each other a little bit. Both of them are doing all the right things.”

Two-time state placer Hunter Ryan won by pin and by technical fall in his two matches. He will see Toledo Central Catholic’s Cresenci Soto in the semifinal round.

With a pair of pins on Day 1, McCrone is the semis against Benedictine’s Ben Stauffer.

Frasier got a pin in his first match, then got a 7-5 sudden victory over Benedictine’s Derek Berdysz. Next is a semifinal bout against St. Ignatius’ Ian Noonan.

“Tommy’s battling,” Lakia said. “He’s up a couple weight classes, but he’s lifting and working hard. That win (against Berdysz) was a big one for us today.”

With Freeman out, Valentino slotted in at 160 this week and pinned both of his opponents. He will face. St. Ignatius’ Najee Lockett in the semis.

“I’m happy for Matt,” Lakia said. “He’s a senior and he’s fighting for a spot in the finals at the CIT.”

Freshman Hivnor continues to impress in his first year on varsity. He earned a 3-2 decision over Walsh Jesuit’s Dominic DiPetro to set up a semifinal bout against Dayton Carroll’s Blake Coy.

“DiPietro beat Cole at Solon,” Lakia said. “I’m happy Cole got that one back. He’s worked hard, and he’s earned it.”

Benedictine is in 13th place, VASJ is in 16th and NDCL is in 22nd in the 24team tournament.

VASJ heavyweight Pat Sheridan pinned both of his Day 1 opponents and will face St. Ignatius’ Jack Heyob in the semifinal round.

Maumee Bay Classic

Perry sophomore Kyle Rowan settled for second place at the 106-pound weight class at the rugged Maumee Bay Classic.

Rowan (28-2) lost a 9-4 decision to Oregon Clay’s Jacob Moon in the championship match. Perry finished 26th as a team.

Mayfield finished 29th. The Wildcats got a sixthplace finish from 152-pound Billy Fleming

Top Gun

Riverside’s Alex Farenchak was the top area finisher in the Top Gun Tournament, held at Alliance High School.

Farenchak placed third at 160 pounds with a 7-4 decision over Huntington (W.Va.)’s Clayton Stewart. Farenchak lost a tight 3-2 decision in the semifinal round to deny him a spot in the finals.

Other area finishers were Riverside’s Tyler Wittreich (sixth at 106), Chardon’s Jake Hamulak (seventh at 113) and Chardon’s Sam Eldridge (seventh at 182).