Midview splits with Wadsworth, Shoremen at state dual tourney

Midview had a mixed day at the Division I, Region 1 OHSAA team dual tournament at Wadsworth High School on Jan. 25, beating Avon Lake, 58-17, and losing to Wadsworth, 60-15.

No. 2-seeded Wadsworth (10-1) advances to the regional semifinals for the fifth straight season and faces reigning team and individual runner-up Elyria (12-0), which will be held on Feb. 1 at a site to be determined. As for the No. 3-seeded Middies, they have been hit with the injury bug, most notably to state qualifier Alec Forrer (170). Forrer is day to day. But even with that, coach Shawn Bristow was pleased with how his wrestlers battled.

“Wadsworth has a heck of a team,” he said. “They got a nice lineup and we knew it was going to be tough coming in. We’re a little banged up, but still no excuses. We had a couple good matches against those guys tonight and we have to move forward. We knew we weren’t going to win as a team, so we told our guys just focus on your one match. Don’t worry about the team score.”

In the opening round against No. 6 Avon Lake, Midview got wins from Zak Anderson (106), Jameson Shenberger (113), Andrew Philion (126), Pablo Cruz (132), Noah Gusky (138), Cameron Honis (145), Trever Begin (152), Seth Frambach (182), Austin MacMillan (195), Spencer Berthold (220) and Evan Keyse (285).

The Shoremen got wins from Alec Negron (120), Chris Stepak (160) and Tristian Olivencia (170).

It was a mismatch in terms of experience, and Avon Lake coach Scott Peepers acknowledged that.

“Midview is a good team and we knew that coming in,” Peepers said. “We have mostly freshmen and sophomores. I think we were a little intimidated and we weren’t doing the things we normally teach them to do. I think overall it came down to them being more confident, but I still think our kids did all right. In the big picture, they were a little bigger, stronger and faster. And I think when they look back and look at film, we weren’t that far off in those matches. Once they see that, hopefully we can come back and wrestle them again.”

Against Wadsworth, Midview got wins from Anderson, Begin and Berthold to cap off a perfect day for that trio. Begin had the most nerve-wracking performance, picking up a tough 2-0 win over Mason McMillen.

“Our coaches told us this was going to be a good measuring stick as far as end of the season goes,” Begin said. “We knew they (Wadsworth) were a tough team but we just wanted to see how we compared. In my last match, I like to try and get top-bottom where I’m comfortable and control the match on my feet.”

Begin is 24-4 overall and is the No. 11-ranked wrestler in the state in Division I. With the postseason nearing, he’s ready for the challenge.

“I’m feeling good and the team is looking a lot better,” he added. “We’re all taking strides and heading into the right direction.”

Bristow added that he would take a 2-0 win from Begin, but wants to see more points on the board from him.

“Trever works really hard, his diet is right and trains like a mad man,” he said. “Winning his last match 2-0, a win is a win, but we’d like to see him even create even more offense from his feet and from the top. We always preach to the guys to score points.”

Berthold is the No. 4-ranked in the state in Division I, and is now 21-2 overall. Berthold pinned Wadsworth’s Clay Mccomas at 2:43, who he also beat at the sectional finals last year. “I felt like I was going to do well against him,” Berthold said. “I try to work with my heavy hands and I’m always looking to get on top looking for that cradle.

“I’m just continuing to work hard, putting in late nights and believing in myself knowing I can do it.”

Midview competes on Jan. 26 at home on senior night where it will host Garfield Heights and Lakewood.

D-I roundup

• Top-seeded Olmsted Falls made quick work of Parma in the final of the D-I, Region 2 quarterfinal tournament at Olmsted Falls, topping the Redmen, 58-18, to advance to the D-I, Region 2 semifinals, which will take place on Feb. 1. After receiving a bye into the finals, the Bulldogs received wins against Parma from David McEwen (106), Michael Shaw (113), Jihad Salti (126), Brady Stang (138), Josh Jaeckin (145), Nick Dailey (152), Connor Atkins (170), Jaden Mendeluk (182), Justin Jaeckin (195) and John McCabe (285).

• Westlake steamrolled through John Marshall, 783, in its first match of the D-I, Region 2 quarterfinal tournament before a tight loss to host Berea-Midpark, 36-35, in the final. The Demons received wins in all but the final match against John Marshall, with seven of those wins coming by pin.

Against Berea-Midpark, Westlake trailed, 36-26, heading into the final two bouts, but a 15-8 decision by Mo Mustafa at 220 and a 4:57 pin by Chris Choi at 285 were not enough to propel the Demons to victory.