The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Perry’s Rowan starts with a victory
COLUMBUS » Among the many positive traits of Perry wrestler Kyle Rowan is this — he’s good at listening and following directions.
As the Pirates’ sophomore 106-pounder readied to exit the tunnel at the Jerome Schottenstein Center and enter the hoopla known as the Division II state wrestling tournament, his father had one last word of advice for his son.
“He told me to take three deep breaths before I go out there,” Rowan said.
Apparently the number “3” stuck in Rowan’s mind.
He took down opponent Rico Cunningham of Sandusky three times, then pinned him in the third minute of the match.
Rowan (47-4) advanced to the quarterfinal round on March 9 to face Chase Huff of Goshen.
“Getting the takedowns, snapping him and moving him helped a lot,” said Rowan, who is a state qualifier for the first time.
A year ago, Rowan said, he was a different and lesser wrestler. Weighing in at 98 pounds, he was often giving up 10 or more pounds to the opposition.
He’s heavier this year — a legit 106 pounds. That extra weight and his experience from last year makes a difference.
“Last year I was like 98, and that was with eating ice cream and full dinners,” he said. “This year it’s not even a cut.”
Rowan is one of seven Division II wrestlers still alive for places on the awards podium.
Lake Catholic has a trio still alive in the championship bracket — Luke McKeon (152), Kevon Freeman (160) and Cole Hivnor (170). Two-time state-placer Conor McCrone (126) lost
his opener, but came back to win his first consolation match and can still finish as high as third.
Both of Chardon’s qualifiers — 113-pound Jake Hamulak and 182-pound Sam Eldridge — lost their openers, but came back for wins in the first round of the consolation bracket.
McKeon (25-8) was in a tight match with Thornville Sheridan’s Jarrett Munyan, but got a late takedown to cement a 6-3 win in his opener. He will face St. Paris Graham’s Joey Sanchez in a quarterfinal on March 9.
“I knew I was in great shape and could go a full six minutes without a problem,” McKeon said. “I was just wearing him down the whole time.”
Freeman, a two-time state champion, had no trouble with Bowling Green’s Nick Jackson, wrapping Jackson in a tight cradle three times before finally finishing him with a
pin via cradle in the second period.
Afterward, Jackson told Lake Catholic coaches it’s the first time he’s been pinned since he was a freshman.
“I could see he was good on the bottom and staying off his back,” Freeman (455) said. “I guess it’s pretty cool to (be the first to pin him in four years).”
Freeman will face McConnelsville Morgan’s Wesley Pauley in the quarterfinal round.
Hivnor improved to 40-7 with a convincing 5-0 win in his opener. He will face Sandusky Perkins’ Lucas Salmon in the quarterfinal.
“I was just trying to score as many points as I can,” Hivnor said. “Of course it feels good to win and do it in that fashion. But now it’s on to the next one.”
The tournament’s first big upset was likely McCrone’s 8-2 loss to Dayton Chaminade-Julienne’s Isaiah
Wortham. McCrone defeated Wortham in the Catholic Invitational Tournament earlier this year, but Wortham cast McCrone into the consolation bracket this time.
McCrone (36-8) battled back for a pin of Benedictine’s Matthew Stauffer in the consolation bracket.
Impressively battling back for consolation wins were Chardon’s Hamulak and Eldridge.
Hamulak (42-9) lost his opener, 2-0, but came back for a second-period pin of Port Clinton’s Jameson Mullens.
Eldridge (38-10) needed three third-period takedowns to post a 9-8 win over Bexley’s Eliot Clark in the consolation bracket.
“Right now, it’s just getting on the podium,” said Eldridge, who needs one more win to achieve that goal. “Then it’s just a matter of how high I can climb up it.”