2018 OHSAA State Wrestling Dual Team Tournament Preview
By Josh Lowe, InterMat
The OHSAA state wrestling dual team tournament is in its sixth year as an event, and it is an ever evolving one. This year saw teams being able to move up to the Division I classification, even though enrollment would otherwise place them in a lower division. Five-time Division II dual team state champion St. Paris Graham Local chose to take that option.
As a result, there will be a new champion in Division II. There will also be a new champion in Division III. The 2013-2016 state champion Delta Panthers were eliminated in the regional quarterfinal round, while defending state champion Milan Edison was eliminated in the regional semifinal round. The Div. I state tournament features four schools that have won team state titles: Graham, three-time Div. I state champion Lakewood St. Edward, 2014 state champion Massillon Perry, and 2015 state champion Brecksville-Broadview Heights. Those four teams are also the only four to have participated in the dual team state tournament for all six years of its existence.
With only five of the 24 teams qualifying for this year’s dual team state tournament making their debut, there is a certain degree of the “usual suspects” present in the field. However, that does not preclude many programs from being able to achieve significant milestones. As always, there will be competitive dual meets and dynamic wrestling throughout the day in St. John Arena. It also provides a platform for all wrestlers in a team’s lineup to make their impact felt on the state tournament stage.
The five teams making their dual team state tournament debut are Canfield and Lancaster Fairfield Union in Div. II, while Galion Northmor, Genoa Area and Nelsonville-York will be making their first dual team state tournament appearances from among the Div. III field.
Earning the top seed in the Div. III field is Genoa Area, which was the state runners-up in the individual event last year. The Comets qualified for this event most notably with a 42-27 victory over returning state champion Milan Edison in the regional semifinal round. Leading the way for Genoa are two-time state champion Dylan D’Emilio (132), state champions Oscar Sanchez (113) and James Limongi (160), two-time state placer Julian Sanchez (126), state placer Kevin Contos (152), state qualifier Dustin Morgillo (138), and state alternate Xavier Beach (182). Their quarterfinal opponent is Bethel-Tate, who qualified for the team state tournament as the eight-seed for a second-consecutive season. The Tigers do not return an individual state tournament qualifier, but feature four that made the district tournament, including district placer Owen Holtke (182).
Returning dual team state runners-up Massillon Tuslaw, which was also runner-up in 2013, is the second seed. The Mustangs are led by a pair of returning state placers, Jacob “Boots” Kuhlins (106) and Brayden Phillips (285). Three additional wrestlers qualified for state last year: Connor Brennan (132), Brier Marthey (138) and Kyle Ryder (152); while Crawford Hamrick (220) was a state alternate. Their quarterfinal opponent is seventh seed Galion Northmor, which is making its dual team state tournament debut after finishing as regional runner-up in three of the previous four seasons. The Golden Knights are led by two-time state placer Conan Becker (145), returning state qualifiers Aaron Kitts (132) and Conor Becker (152), as well as district placer Gavin Ramos (126).
Seeded third is Swanton, which returns to the dual team state tournament for a second time after falling to eventual state champion Milan Edison 44-22 in the quarterfinal last year. The Bulldogs are led by returning state placer Chase Moore (152), while four others possess state experience: Trevor Schaller (126), Gage Pachlhofer (145), Crew Oberheim (195) and Thomas Lytle (285). Earning the sixth seed is another state tournament debutant, Nelsonville-York, a team that had lost in the regional semifinal round each of the previous three years. The Buckeyes are led by two-time state placer Colt Yinger (160); while featuring three additional state placers in Collin Yinger (106), Noah Inboden (132) and Tyler Speelman (170); along with returning state qualifiers Brian Heller (138/145) and Donovan McCollister (220).
Seeded fourth is Versailles, which returns to the dual team state tournament for the third time, including a semifinal berth in 2013. The Tigers were regional runners-up last year after qualifying for state in 2016. They do not feature a wrestler with experience in the individual state tournament, but return four district tournament participants led by state alternates Cael Bey (126) and Preston Platfoot (132). Their opponent is fifth-seeded Apple Creek Waynedale, which is in its second appearance at this tournament. In that 2016 appearance, the Golden Bears upended Versailles 36-28 in the opening round. This year’s team is led by returning state placer Logan Stanley (182), along with four other wrestlers that won multiple matches at the district tournament last year; two of those being Ty Straits (195/220) and Ben Farrar (285), which gives Waynedale a formidable back end of the lineup.
After finishing as runner-up to Graham the previous two years in Div. II, Wauseon is now the top seed in Div. II since Graham opted to move up to Div. I this season. The Indians are led by a pair of returning state runners-up, Gage Grunden (145) and Sandro Ramirez (152). Also earning state placement finishes last year were Hunter Yackee (132) and Jarrett Bischoff (138). Additional wrestlers with state tournament experience include Gavin Ritter (113), Mauricio Barajas (138) and Xavier Torres (160), while Alex Sosa (285) is a returning state alternate. Their quarterfinal opponent is Washington Court House Miami Trace, which qualified for the team state tournament as the eight-seed for a second consecutive season. The Panthers do not return an individual state tournament qualifier, but are led by returning state alternate Colin Wolffe (285), along with four other wrestlers who qualified for district last year.
Seeded second is Mentor Lake Catholic, a team that bowed out to Graham each of the previous two years in the state semifinal round. The Cougars are led by two-time state champion Kevon Freeman (160), along with two-time state placers Hunter Ryan (120) and Connor McCrone (126). They also feature two-time state qualifier Luke McKeon (152) and freshman Cole Hivnor (170), a junior high state champion last year. State dual team tournament debutant Lancaster Fairfield Union is the seventh seed and the opponent for Lake Catholic. The Falcons were regional runners-up last year, but do not feature a returning state tournament qualifier. They are led by five returning district qualifiers, including Nathan Welsh (138), who went 2-2 in that competition.
In their third appearance at the dual team state tournament, Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary is the third seed. The Irish qualified in 2015 and 2016, but lost in the quarterfinal round both years. This year’s team is led by two-time state placer David Heath (182). They also feature five others with state tournament experience: returning placers Edward Suber (132) and Luke Wymer (138), Hunter Olson (126), Jake Potok (145) and Jared Musci (152); senior David Johnson (160) rounds out an excellent middle-weight core. Earning the sixth seed is Hamilton Ross, which is in its fourth appearance at the dual team state tournament. The Rams were semifinalists in 2013 before losing in the quarterfinal stage in 2015 and 2016; last year and in 2014, they were regional runners-up. In terms of individuals, they are led by two-time state placer Jake Gentry (120), 2016 state qualifier Brayden Ploehs (138) and four additional returning district qualifiers.
The runners-up in the individual state tournament in Div. II each of the last two years, Canfield makes its debut in the dual team event as the fourth seed. The Cardinals lost regional finals in 2015 and 2017 by a combined seven points to teams that would make it to the state semifinal round. Their strength lies in the back end of the lineup: state champion David Crawford (170), state placer Anthony D’Alesio (170) and state qualifier Tyler Stein (220); along with Nick Crawford (195) and Daniel Kapalko (285), who each were closed out of last year’s lineup by wrestlers that ended up placing at the state tournament. Making its fourth dual team state tournament and seeded fifth is Urichsville Claymont, who was runner-up in 2013 and 2014 as well as semifinalists in 2015. The Mustangs advanced to this round with a 42-27 win over 2016 dual team semifinalist Steubenville and a 51-15 winner over two-time state quarterfinalist New Lexington. This year’s squad is led by two-time state placer Ashton Eyler (170), state placer Dakota Bunting (145), two-time state qualifier Maxx Peters (138) and state qualifier Jarrett Warrington (113).
Moving up to Div. I, Graham earns the top seed in what is a very deep and talented field. The Falcons are led by three-time state champion Mitch Moore (145) and two-time state champion Rocky Jordan (170) as well as state champions J.D. Stickley (138) and Ryan Thomas (160). There are also a trio of two-time state placers in Joey Sanchez (152), Gage Braun (195) and Johnny Shafer (220); Tanner Jordan (113) is a returning state placer; while freshman Alek Martin (120) and Nick Moore (126) won junior high state titles last year. In their fourth dual team state tournament appearance, Marysville returns to the event after losing regional finals matches the last two years by a combined 10 points. The Monarchs are led by 2016 state placer and three-time state qualifier Jake Marsh (152); three others are returning individual state tournament participants: state placers Walker Heard (145) and Tyler Bates (160/170), along with Tyler Connolly (285).
Seeded second is the two-time defending champions in Div. I, Lakewood St. Edward, which also won the title in 2013. The Eagles feature a pair of state runners-up in Bryce Hepner (126) and Cody Howard (195), along with a pair of two-time state placers in Bryce Andonian (138) and Sam Dover (145); Andonian also won an individual state title in 2016. Angelo Rini (120) and Matt Kazimir (132) are returning state placers, Omar Fattah (220) is a returning state alternate, while freshman Padraic Gallagher (152) was a junior high state champion last year. Four-time dual team state participant Mason is the seventh seed, and the Comets advanced to the state semis last year after losing in the quarterfinal round in 2014 and 2015. In that semifinal match, they lost 35-24 to St. Edward. Leading Mason’s team this year are four wrestlers with individual state tournament experience: Pacey Nasdusak (106/113), Sam Glassco (132), Chris Donathan (145/152) and Eric Vermillion (170).
2015 dual team state champion Brecksville-Broadview Heights is the third seed and seeks to bounce back from last year’s 39-21 quarterfinal defeat to Mason. The Bees had advanced to the semifinals or farther in their four previous appearances at this event. State champion Julian Tagg (120) and two-time state placer Gabe Tagg (132) anchor this team, which also features returning state placers Macro Regalbuto (138) and Zach D’Anna (220), returning state qualifiers Jimmy Carmany (126) and Ethan Hatcher (170), state alternate Andrew Perelka (113) and freshman Victor Voinovich (145), who was a junior high state champion last year. Seeded sixth is Massillon Perry, the 2014 dual team state champion and runner-up in both 2013 and 2017. The Panthers also advanced to the semifinal round in 2015, where they lost 27-21 to Brecksville, and in 2016. This year’s team is led by three-time state champion David Carr (152) and returning state champion Emil Soehnlen (170), while also featuring two-time state placer Zach Blackiston (182) along with state qualifiers Kyle Gruber (126/132) and Adam Luster (220).
Seeded fourth is Elyria, which has finished as runner-up in the individual state tournament each of the last two years, and is in its fourth-consecutive dual team state tournament appearance. The Pioneers were runners-up in 2016, while losing in the semifinal round in 2015 and 2017. This year’s team is led by two-time state champion Brendon Fenton (120); returning state placers Dylan Shawver (113), Mick Burnett (126) and Josh Breeding (132); 2016 state placer Farouq Muhammed (152); two-time state qualifier Matt Zuckerman (138); and freshman Jake Evans (160/170), a junior high state champion last year. Cincinnati La Salle is a most excellent fifth seed in this year’s event featuring six wrestlers with individual state tournament experience. The Lancers are in their second appearance at the dual team state tournament, losing 40-21 to Massillon Perry in the quarterfinals last year. This year’s team is led by two-time state placer Lucas Byrd (113); while also featuring state placers Blake Wilson (182) and Garrett Bledsoe (220), two-time state qualifier Michael Baker (195), state qualifiers Antoine Allen (120) and Trey Sizemore (160/170), Walsh Ironman placer Elan Heard (138) and freshman Dustin Norris (106) who was a junior high state champion last year.