The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
McCrone brothers each win openers
COLUMBUS >> Conor McCrone couldn’t help but to look.
A senior 126-pounder for Lake Catholic wrestling team, McCrone said he tried to resist the temptation of glancing out of the tunnel in which he stood to watch his freshman brother, Brendan wrestle in his first state-tournament match.
The roar of the crowd got the best of him, so the Ohio University commit had to peek.
Weaving his way through the wrestlers in front of him who were on deck, McCrone looked out and saw Brendan flexing his muscles and pointing to the Lake Catholic fans in the stands at the Jerome Schottenstein Center.
Brendan McCrone (40-8) had just pinned St. Paris Graham’s Nolan Gessler — a district champion — in a rematch of a bout earlier this year where Gessler took a 2-1 decision from McCrone.
“I ran up fast to see him flexing and pointing to our loge,” big brother Conor said.
“I’ve never been so happy.”
“Seeing my brother do that, I was so proud. I love that kid.”
Moments later, Conor decisioned Fairview’s Matt Kaufmann, 8-5, to make it a two-for-two day for the McCrone boys.
Brendan (40-8) will wrestle Wauseon’s Damon Molina in the quarterfinal round on March 8, while Conor (43-6) will face Dayton Chaminade-Julienne’s Isaiah Wortham in a quarterfinal.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for five or six yeras, waiting for the moment that
I get to wrestle down here with my brother when he’s a senior,” Brendan said. “It’s just a dream, honestly.”
Brendan was a fourthplace finisher at the Alliance District, but he noted that four of the top fiveranked 106-pounders are in that district.
He was unfazed against Gessler.
He wrapped Gessler in a cradle, and as soon as the official slapped the mat, the emotional ninthgrader jumped to his feet and screamed while flexing his muscles.
“I was ready for that match,” he said.
His big brother wasn’t excited about his 8-5 decision, but said the most important thing was surviving and advancing.
The McCrone brothers are two of the nine area wrestlers still alive in the Division II tournament.
Projected state champions Kyle Rowan of Perry (106) and Cole Hivnor (170) both won their openers and remain on track for their first state titles.
Also winning their first matches were Lake’s Dakota Ryan (152) and Dorian Gridiron (182).
Chardon’s Jake Hamulak (113), Benedictine’s Derek Berdysz (132) and Lake’s Sean O’Dwyer (160) all went 1-1 on Day 1 and can still place as high as third.
Lake’s Anthony Trivisonno (120) and Nick Coreno (132), as well as Geneva’s Charlie Taylor (220) went 0-2 on Day 1 and were eliminated.
Rowan (38-0) remained
undefeated with a 20-5 technical flal over Monroe’s Caleb Thomas in his opener. He will face Bellevue’s Gabe Aldo in the quarterfinals.
“I’m sticking to my game plan, which is to go out and win a state title,” Rowan said. “I’ve got to take it one match at a time and go from there.”
Rowan has not lost a match since falling to CVCA’s Jordan Decatur in the 106-pound championship match at last year’s state tournament.
“I want the state championship,” Rowan said. “I’ve been working my butt off every day. I’ll do whatever it takes to get there.”
Hivnor took a 6-2 decision over Urbana’s Trevor Stewart in the opener. He will face Carrollton’s Brandon Daniels in the quarterfinals.
“I think I definitely could have scored more points,” said Hivnor (35-9). “All in all, I won, but there’s definitely some things to clean up before tomorrow. (I want to) get a couple more (wins) tomorrow, then one on Saturday.”
Ryan (30-5) dominated Padua’s John McNulty, 126, for a third win this season against McNulty. He’ll face St. Paris Graham’s Jeff Thomas in a quarterfinal.
Gridiron (33-11) took a 4-2 decision over Carrollton’s Alex Carrothers and will face Norwalk’s Gabe Phillips in the quarterfinal round.
Carrothers shot in for a single at one point, but Gridiron fought it off and got two points of his own.
“Not a lot of guys have the tank I do,” he said of his conditioning.
Gridiron said his goal was just to get to the state tournament. With a win under his belt, now he has adjusted that goal.
“I got one under my belt,” he said. “Now it’s one match at a time. I’ve got to wrestle smart.”
After Berdysz and Coreno lost their first match of the day, they found each other squaring off in a consolation match. Berdysz (33-11) got a takedown for the sudden victory, ending the state-tourney run of Coreno (31-15).
Chardon’s Hamulak (307) lost a tough 3-2 decision in his opener on a stalling call, but then won his bounce-back match.
O’Dwyer (37-8) lost his first match, but then advanced with a forfeit win in the consolation bracket.