Mentor’s DeBoe wins North Coast Classic title

The mission starts now. That was the mindset of Mentor senior wrestler Conner DeBoe on Dec. 8 when he and his Cardinals teammates embarked on Day 2 of the North Coast Classic at Independence High School.

A sixth-place finisher at the Division I district tournament last season, DeBoe said he is bent on making up for any shortcomings he has had in wrestling over the past year.

With a 5-4 decision over Solon’s Mitch Collica for the 138-point title, DeBoe is well on his way to doing that.

DeBoe took down Collica — Most Valuable Wrestler of last year’s North Coast Classic — with 11 seconds remaining to turn what was a one-point deficit into a onepoint win.

The victory was part of Mentor’s fourth-place finish as a team. The Cardinals (318 points) trailed Berea-Midpark (390), Nordonia (389) and Sandusky Perkins (371) in the team race, though they were missing Nate DeBoe (Saturday class) and Christian Marinozzi (knee injury).

“I’m so hyped. So excited,” DeBoe said after his late takedown. “I’m ready to come back strong. I’m a man on a mission this year.”

DeBoe was already stoked heading into his senior year. When he went 2-2 last week in a tournament at Marysville, which fell short of his expectations, he came into the North Coast Classic eager.

“I had to redeem myself for what I did last week,” he said.

Collica got a takedown, which DeBoe admitted made him a little nervous. But after escaping, DeBoe said he was confident in his footwork to get a takedown.

“I knew if I got up I was going to take him down,” DeBoe said. “I saw his openings and knew I could take him down.

“I just love being on my feet. A takedown is like a touchdown for a running back. That’s what it feels like to me.”

DeBoe was one of a handful of wrestlers who placed high on the podium at the 30-team North Coast Classic, but he was the only champion.

Benedictine’s Matthew Stauffer was pinned in the 145-pound championship match and placed second.

Perry’s Colin Koenig got a reversal late in his 126-pound consolation final for a 6-3 win over St. Ignatius’ Matthew Whipkey.

Mentor’s Nick Sabin executed a five-point move in the third period and took a 7-3 decision over Berea-Midparks’ Shane Heil.

“I took a bigger step (today) than last week,” said Sabin, who went 3-0 at Marysville. “There’s more competition here this week. It’s not where I wanted to be - first - but I’m glad I got third.”

Padua’s Jimmy Balazy defeated Sabin, 12-6, in the semifinals. Sabin was disappointed with the number of takedowns he gave up in that match.

In the consolation finals, Sabin fought off a late takedown attempt by Heil for the win.

“I’d rather have (a loss) happen early than later in the season,” said Sabin, a seventh-place finisher in the state tournament last year. “My coaches and I will watch film and improve on my positions.”

Koenig, who finished sixth at the Division II district last year, came back this year more confident as a sophomore. Instead of giving up a late takedown and losing at North Coast Classic, he was the wrestler who got the two-point move.

“I felt good the whole match,” he said. “I was confident. I wrestled my style and got the job done.”

Stauffer, a state qualifier last year for Benedictine, was pinned in the second period by Padua’s Sam LoFaso.

A pair of Mayfield wrestlers placed third: freshman Carlo Santoro at 106 and sophomore Anthony White at 113.