The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Honors handed out at LCWCOA All-Star meet
The Lorain County Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association All-Star Meet’s 42nd annual edition was held March 14 at Elyria, with a few area wrestlers taking home some wellearned hardware.
The hardware included the LCWCOA wrestlers of the year for all three boys divisions and the girls division. The Morning Journal coverage area’s winners for wrestler of the year awards were Elyria’s Connor Holm (Division I), Keystone’s Tristin Greene (Division III) and Vermilion’s Lauren Ficker (girls).
Greene, who is preparing for a tournament in Virginia Beach for senior nationals and another run at a national later this summer at Fargo, finished his career with 175 career wins — the most in Wildcats’ history, with a state title in 2023, a runner-up finish in 2024 and a fourth-place medal in 2022. The last two years combined, he’s only lost five total matches, with four of them coming at the Walsh Ironman.
“Before that final match, I had almost the exact same year as I did last year,” Greene said as he briefly smiled and laughed under his breath while reflecting on his career and the Division III honor. “Though I did make it a lot farther in Iron Man than I did last year. To do that and not make it as far in states, it hurts.
“But other than that, almost the same exact year (as 2023) and I thought I was going to cap it off the same way but I didn’t. I know where I messed up, where I need to improve and I’ll keep working in the room.”
Greene is still looking at college spots, while focusing on the road ahead — that is, following a wellearned rest.
“I’m taking this week off and I’m going to start working really hard in the room next week,” the one-time state champion said. “A few aches and pains from the state tournament. My left hand was basically a boxer glove for most of the state tournament. I plan to have
that healed up and recuperated before Virginia Beach.”
The hosts had their own wrestler to celebrate, with Connor Holm getting on the podium and left with “a good feeling” instead of a sour one following his first three trips.
Elyria may not have had the typical number of state qualifiers to which it’s accustomed,
but Holm has served as a bridge for the current group coming back next year and the past.
“Connor Holm is a guy that’s going to be — down the road — super important for this program,” Elyria coach Armando Torres said, touching on the legacy the senior leaves behind.
“He’s somebody in years prior when we were sending six, seven, eight — whatever amount of guys to the state tournament, he was a part of that group. He’s kind of a bridge group for those younger guys who were a couple of matches away from getting down here.”
As Holm looks toward the college ranks himself while finishing out his high school days (he has not made a commitment), Holm noted he’s hoping for the best for the new group who watched his consistent work ethic to qualify for Columbus for times and lead to several state qualifiers for 2025.
“I’m hoping they realize that no matter the circumstance, they can still get the job done,” Holm explained. “Even if you’re in a doubtful situation, they can still get the job done. It’s possible. I hope that rubbed off on them from me. I think they’ll be good for the future.”
Last but not least was Ficker, who finished her career tied for the second most wins by a Lorain County girls wrestler with 105 victories, multiple state placements and a runner-up finish March 10.
“It feels nice (to get the recognition) because last year it was Riley Banyas and I saw the trophy and was like, ‘I really wanted that’,” Ficker said. “I didn’t even know I was getting any awards today. Coach (Brandon) Gilbert said ‘Yeah, you’re getting an award today,’ and I was like ‘Oh! OK.’ It’s a pretty nice feeling like I’m one of the best wrestlers in Lorain County.”
Coaches of the year included Greene’s coach Chris Vondruska for Division III, with Avon Lake’s Scott Sedlick and Vermilion’s Brandon Gilbert taking the Division I and Girls Coach of the Year awards, respectively. Bay’s Anthony Rocco took home the boys pin leader award with 39 pinfalls in 2023-24 out of his 50 career wins. A 2023 state placer, Rocco earned his 158th varsity win in the Kenston District’s fifthplace match March 2.
Among non-area winners, Buckeye’s Eddie Neitenbach and Buckeye Coach Mike Tecco won the Division II Wrestler and Coach of the Year awards.