CLEVELAND, Ohio – The State Duals Championship tournament headlined a very busy week of wrestling in Northeast Ohio. St. Edward won the Division I State Duals title for the fourth consecutive year, while Brecksville and Wadsworth finished second and third.
Aurora was the runner-up at the Division II State Duals tournament. Mayfield moved up a spot after taking the Western Reserve conference title, and Buckeye got a bump after retaining the Great Lakes Conference crown.
This weekend is the last opportunity for teams to tune up before next week’s sectionals. All Northeast District tournaments will be March 4 and 5. The State Tournament will be March 11-13 in Ohio State’s Schottenstein Center.
Bradley Eaton, of St. Edward wrestles David Zambounis, of Brecksville, in the 138 pound class during the championship round of the division I OHSWCA Dual Meet State Championships. Eaton won the match.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
1. St. Edward
Previous rank: 1
St. Edward’s ranking was on the line last weekend and the Eagles answered in a big way. They took home their fourth consecutive title with wins over Lebanon, Perrysburg and Brecksville. St. Edward dominated Lebanon 59-15. Perrysburg gave the Eagles their biggest test, but wins in the finals four matches, including pins from Luke Geog (175), Zach Deslanter (215) and Michael Kilbane (285), helped the Eagles to a 36-24 win. In the finals against Brecksville, St. Edward showed it remains the region’s gold standard with a 54-9 victory.
(Left) Manny Scordos, of Brecksville ties up Lucan O'Brien, of St. Edward, in the 144 pound class during the championship round of the division I OHSWCA Dual Meet State Championships. Scrods won the match. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
2. Brecksville
Previous rank: 2
Brecksville was second at Division I State Duals, running away with their first dual against Marysville, only losing three matches en route to a 48-15 win. The semifinal dual against Wadsworth came down to the final match. Luke Vanadia, who typically wrestles at 215 pounds, denied Wadsworth heavyweight Aaron Ries a pin, sending Brecksville to the championship dual after a 25-24 win.
(Bottom) Aaron Ries, of Wadsworth runs out the clock as Max Vanadia, Brecksville, tries for the pin in the 285 pound class during the semifinal round of the division I OHSWCA Dual Meet State Championships. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
3. Wadsworth
Previous rank: 3
Wadsworth finished third at the Duals, only conceding four matches to Moeller as they easily won 52-16. Their semifinal match against Brecksville came down to the final match. Wadsworth split the wins evenly with the Bees, each side winning seven matches, but Brecksville eventually won 25-24. With three matches to go in the semifinal Perrysburg had a 26-22 lead over the Grizzlies. Wadsworth won the final three matches, picking up pins from Maverick Blackburn (215) and Aaron Ries (285) to win 37-26 and take third.
Highland wrestler James Scavuzzo (L) throws opponent Kael Voinovich of Brecksville in their 145lb. match during division I district state qualifying, March 6, 2021, at North Canton Hoover High School. Voinovich won the championship match, 8-0.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
4. Highland
Previous rank: 4
Highland went 2-0 in a tri-meet with Revere and Walsh. The Hornets easily beat Revere 58-19. They were challenged by a talented Walsh team, but still came away with a 36-31 win.
Aurora’s Dylan Fishback (R) is moments away from pinning Brecksville Broadview Heights’ Shawn Earle in their 190lb championship match during the Suburban League Championships at Cuyahoga Falls High School.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
5. Aurora
Previous rank: 5
Aurora finished as the runner-up of the DIvision II State Duals. The Greenmen had a tune up against Beaver Local, giving up just four matches as they won 54-21. Aurora took care of business against Louisville in the semifinal as nine Greenmen won their matches in a 43-29 triumph. Aurora faced defending Duals and state champion Graham Local in the title dual. Graham showed why it is one of Ohio’s premier programs as it beat Aurora 48-22.
Buckeye wrestler Eddie Neitenbach takes Perry wrestler Calvin Rowan to the mat in their 138lb. match during the first round of the division II state wrestling tournament, March 13, 2021, at Marengo Highland High School.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
6. Buckeye
Previous rank: 7
Buckeye ran away with the Great Lakes Conference title. The Bucks scored 252 points compared to second place Westlake’s 189.5 and third place North Olmsted’s 130.5. Eddie Neitenbach at 150 showed out for the Bucks. He won his first match of the day with a nine-second pin. Including Neitenbach, Buckeye had five individual champions at the GLC tournament.
Walsh Jesuit wrestler Dyvaire VanDyke shoots on the leg of opponent Chris Earnest of Wadsworth in their 132lb. match during division I district state qualifying, March 6, 2021, at North Canton Hoover High School. VanDyke won the match, 8-5.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
7. Walsh Jesuit
Previous rank: 6
The Warriors went 1-1 in a tri-meet with Highland and Revere. The Warriors lost a close one to Highland 36-31 before beating Revere. 120-pound sophomore Jonathon Campbell starred for the Warriors by going 2-0.
8. Elyria
Previous rank: 8
Elyria traveled to Midview last Thursday for its final Southwestern Conference dual of the season. The Pioneers came out with a 58-15 win to complete an undefeated season (7-0) in the SWC.
Nordonia wrestler Matthew Hamad (bottom) grapples with Detroit Central Catholic wrestler Clayton Jones in the 132 pound semifinal match. Jones won with a fall to advance. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
9. Nordonia
Previous rank: 9
Nordonia hosted a six-team super duals on Saturday and protected its home turf by going 5-0. The Knights beat Massillon Jackson 41-33, Massillon Washington 41-30, Medina 55-15, Sandusky Perkins 52-18 and Rootstown 55-24.
SVSM’s Andy Vanscoy (R) drops Liberty’s Luke Fleet to the mat in their 285lb match during Walsh’s annual Ironman Wrestling Tournament. John Kuntz, cleveland.com
10. St. Vincent-St. Mary
Previous rank: 12
STVM went 2-0 in a tri-meet with Copley and Hoban last Thursday. The Irish beat Hoban 57-12 before taking down Copley 48-14. At 144 pounds, senior Elliot Alessia won both of his matches, giving him 100 career wins. Bryce Skinner (126), Anthony John Paul (138), Mason Gruic (150), Ryan Price (165), Bryson Getz (215) and Andy Vanscoy (285) all won both of their matches.
11. Solon
Previous rank: 10
Solon lost a Greater Cleveland Conference dual to Mentor 33-31 after each side won seven weight classes. The Comets went to North Royalton on Saturday where they beat the Bears 56-20. Nick Gerome (132) was named Solon’s GCC athlete of the month for January, and helped the Comets capture a share of the GCC title.
12. Stow
Previous rank: 13
Stow went 1-1 in duals last week against Hudson and Medina. They traveled to Hudson on Thursday where they took a 34-31 loss to the Explorers. On Friday the Bulldogs hosted Medina and claimed a 34-32 win over the Bees.
Perry wrestler Logan Shephard (top) grapples with Cuyahoga Christian AcademyÕs Kyle Snider in the 215 pound semifinal match. Shephard won 9-7 to advance. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
13. CVCA
Previous rank: 14
CVCA was idle after missing the cut for the State Duals. The Royals will be back in action Wednesday as they travel to Rootsown for a tri-meet with the Rovers and Hoban.
14. Mayfield
Previous rank: 15
Mayfield won the Western Reserve Conference tournament by 11.5 points over second place Madison. Sal Palmisano (120), Vinnie D’Alessandro (126) and Greg Siambo (157) won individual titles while Carlo Santoro (113), Dwight Fritz (138) and Braeden Beck (144) finished as runners-up. Thirteen Wildcat wrestlers placed at the tournament.
15. Lake Catholic
Previous rank: 11
Lake Catholic lost a dual to St. Ignatius 64-15. The Cougars won the first three matches, but could not get back on the board after that. They will travel to Mayfield on Thursday before the Crown Conference Championships on Saturday.
16. Mentor
Previous rank: 19
Mentor squeaked by Solon 33-31 in a GCC dual on Thursday. In their last action before the Sectionals the Cardinals went 5-0 to win the Indy Duals.
Perry wrestler Calvin Rowan throws Eddie Neitenbach of Buckeye to the mat in their 138lb. match during the first round of the division II state wrestling tournament, March 13, 2021, at Marengo Highland High School.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
17. Perry
Previous rank: 17
Perry went 1-1 at the Division II State Duals. They lost their first dual of the tournament 44-21 to Ashland which immediately dispelled any title hopes the Pirates had. In their consolation dual Perry bounced back with a big 56-22 win over Wilmington.
18. North Royalton
Previous rank: 16
North Royalton hosted Solon in a dual on Saturday. The Bears lost 56-20 at home. They will host Twinsburg this Thursday in their final action of the regular season.
Brecksville wrestler Brock Herman throws opponent Andrew Supers of Medina in their 126lb. match during division I district state qualifying, March 6, 2021, at North Canton Hoover High School. Herman won the match on a tech fall in the second period.John Kuntz, cleveland.com
19. Medina
Previous rank: 18
Medina won a GCC dual 39-29 over Brunswick on Thursday. The win also gave the Bees a share of the GCC title. Medina went to Stow on Friday where they lost a close dual to the Bulldogs 34-32. The Bees wrapped up last week with a 2-3 outing at the Nordonia Super Duals.
20. Avon
Previous rank: 20
Avon beat Amherst 56-12 in an SWC dual to improve to 4-3 in conference duals this season. The Eagles won all but two weight classes against Amherst.
21. Barberton
Previous rank: 22
Barberton went 2-0 at a tri-meet with Cloverleaf and Mapleton Thursday. The Magics beat Cloverleaf 43-28 before taking down Mapleton 52-29. The Magics went to Cuyahoga Falls on Saturday and left as champions of the Doug Dix tournament after going 5-0. Barberton finishes the season 12-0 in duals.
Brunswick wrestler Edward Skiba (left) and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy wrestler Owen Nelson tangle in the 106 pound semifinal match. Nelson won 6-2 to move on to the championship.Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
22. Brunswick
Previous rank: 21
Brunswick lost a GCC duals 39-29 to Medina on Thursday before going 3-2 in duals this weekend. Despite being down two starters the Blue Devils picked up wins against Lutheran West, Orange and Cuyahoga Heights. They suffered a one-point loss to Cleveland Central Catholic and fell to Hudson.
23. Madison
Previous rank: Unranked
Madison took second at the WRC tournament after finishing 29 points ahead of third place Eastlake North. Nate Montgomery (106), James Harrison (113) and Addison Trisket (138) each won titles. Jack Harrison (120) and Charlie Wade (126) both finished as runners-up.
24. Ravenna Southeast
Previous rank: 25
Ravenna Southeast went 0-2 at the Division III State Duals. The Pirates lost 53-27 to eventual runner-up Milan Edison. In the consolation match Southeast lost to Brookville 54-24.
25. St. Ignatius
Previous rank: unranked
St. Ignatius cracks the top 25 for the first time this season after a 64-15 drubbing of Lake Catholic. The Wildcats dropped the first three matches, but won the final 11 weight classes.
In the mix
Hudson, Garrettsville Garfield, Eastlake North, Westlake, West Geauga.