No. 28 Brecksville at No. 35 Wadsworth (Thursday)
This is the second year that the teams have met each other in dual meet competition as part of the Suburban League National Division. In previous years, Wadsworth was part of a Suburban League that featured just eight teams, while Brecksville was in a completely different conference.
Last year, Wadsworth beat Brecksville 28-22 as part of a double dual meet; the Grizzlies won eight bouts. Further, Wadsworth also won the individual bracket event between all eight teams in the division the next month (this year the individual bracket event next month will be combined between the two divisions). Last year's dual meet victory for the Grizzlies extended a length conference dual meet streak, while it was a first loss for Brecksville in a conference dual meet since 2005.
Below are the projected matchups for the battle of nationally ranked teams.
106: No. 5 Julian Tagg (Brecksville) vs. Hunter Griffin (Wadsworth)
This is a battle of freshmen, with Tagg being the clear favorite; he was a Cadet National freestyle champion this past summer.
113: No. 9 Gabe Tagg (B) vs. Jimmy Carmany (W)
Ironman champion Tagg finished state runner-up last season as a freshman, while the freshman Carmany was a junior high state champion last year.
120: Andrew Perelka (B) vs. Matt McMillen (W)
When the pair met in last year's dual meet it was a 2-0 win for Perelka. This season, Perelka was one match from placing at both the Ironman and the Beast of the East. Last season, McMillen missed the state tournament by two matches (went 2-2 at the district tournament).
126: Nolan Wochna (B) vs. Michael North (W)
Wochna missed the state tournament by two matches last year at 145, while North was a state alternate in this weight class, losing a pair of matches at the district tournament to eventual state medalists (including 8-6 in the consolation semifinal).
132: Marco Regalbuto (B) vs. Luke Baughman (W)
Each wrestler made the state tournament last year as freshmen, Regalbuto went 1-2 while Baughman went 0-2. However, Regalbuto lost two matches to Wadsworth opposition (North) last season.
138: Jack Brocco (B) vs. Zain Tittle (W)
This is a battle of sophomores, one in which Tittle is favored having been a junior high state placer two years ago.
145: Jason Bronstrup (B) vs. Conner Clark/Ryan Orr (W)
Both wrestlers in this match are seniors, Bronstrup is favored as a two-time state alternate.
152: Ethan Hatcher (B) vs. Mason McMillen (W)
This is one of three toss-up matches in the dual meet, Hatcher is a freshman while McMillen is a senior.
160: Soren Osicka/Wilson Sternad (B) vs. Cody Surratt (W)
Surratt placed at the state tournament last year, finishing seventh.
170: Isaac Sell (B) vs. No. 18 Joey Baughman (W)
Baughman is a two-time state placer, including his runner-up finish last year.
182: Nick Franks (B) vs. Alex Jones (W)
Jones placed at the state tournament last year, finishing fifth.
195: Luke Strnad (B) vs. Chris Suarez (W)
Strnad qualified for state two years ago as a sophomore, but missed the entirety of last season due to a football injury. In addition, a different football injury kept him off the mats this season until last week.
220: Ryan Hatcher (B) vs. Clay McComas (W)
McComas qualified for the state tournament last season.
285: Zach D'Anna (B) vs. Jordan Earnest (W)
Both wrestlers in this match are juniors, who have placed seventh at a major national tournament this season; D'Anna at the Beast of the East, Earnest at the Ironman. It is the third of the toss-up matches in this dual meet.
No. 3 St. Edward and No. 5 St. Paris Graham (Saturday)
This match features the perennial top two programs in the Buckeye State. St. Edward has won 30 state titles in the big-school (Division I) individual bracket tournament, including 18 of the last 20; they also have two of the four titles in the dual meet state tournament (2013, 2016). St. Paris Graham has won sixteen straight titles in the Division II individual bracket state tournament, along with all four dual meet championships. Each is favored to extend those streaks yet another season.
The Graham Falcons have won four straight years in this rivalry dual meet with the Eagles. St. Edward has been sternly tested this season in dual meet competition, already knocking off six nationally ranked teams against just the loss to No. 2 Buchanan (Calif.); however, they've had to done it overcoming a mish-mash of missing personnel, so it will be interesting to see how close to full strength they are come Saturday.
Below are the projected matchups for this top five in the nation showdown.
106: Angelo Rini (St. Edward) vs. Tanner Jordan (St. Paris Graham)
Both wrestlers in this match are sophomores. Rini is a Cadet National freestyle All-American from this past summer, while Jordan advanced one round farther at the Walsh Ironman.
113: Scott Richter/Bryce Hepner (SE) vs. Dawson Show (SPG)
Both potential starters for St. Edward are freshmen, while Show is a sophomore. Richter was one match away from placing at the Ironman.
120: No. 19 Bryce Andonian (SE) vs. Jordan Crace (SPG)
In last year's dual meet, this pair of sophomores met in a barn-burner at 106 pounds, a match won 15-9 by Andonian. At year's end, Andonian won a state title in Division I, while Crace was third in Division II.
126: No. 14 Matt Kazimir (SE) vs. Jeff Thomas (SPG)
Kazimir pinned Thomas when the pair met at the Ironman earlier this season. In last year's state tournament, Kazimir placed third, while Thomas was an unexpected runner-up in Division II.
132: No. 10 Allan Hart (SE) vs. No. 3 Mitch Moore (SPG)
Moore was runner-up at the Ironman, while Hart finished fourth. In last year's dual meet match, Moore made a five-point move from the first period stand in a 5-3 victory.
138: Sam Dover/Michael Garcar (SE) vs. J.D. Stickley (SPG)
Returning state placer Dover was a quarterfinalist at the Walsh Ironman, but has not competed since suffering an injury in that bout, while the junior Stickley capitalized upon an upset over a nationally ranked wrestler to place seventh at the Ironman. Should Dover be available this is a tossup, if not, Stickley wins easily.
145: Nico Russo/Cade Hepner (SE) vs. Joey Sanchez (SPG)
Both St. Edward possible starters are seniors, with Hepner being more able to pinch an upset, though he's been out of the lineup for a while. Sanchez finished fifth at state in the 152 pound weight class last season, after being the hero of Graham's dual meet upset over Blair.
152: Larry Grapo (SE) vs. No. 12 Rocky Jordan (SPG)
The junior Jordan is a two-time state finalist, winning state last year, but missed this year's Ironman due to injury.
160: Michael Carpenter (SE) vs. Ryan Thomas (SPG)
Carpenter placed sixth at state last year, while Ironman fourth place finisher Thomas is a two-time state placer.
170: Vittorio Santillo (SE) vs. Hunter Hyden (SPG)
This represents a relatively weak link within each team's lineup and could serve as a pivotal swing bout.
182: Tyler Stepic (SE) vs. Gage Braun (SPG)
Both wrestlers placed at the state tournament last year, Stepic sixth and Braun fifth. Stepic did win the head-to-head match in last year's dual meet, and advanced one round further at the Ironman.
Cody Howard of St. Edward finishes a takedown at The Clash (Photo/Jeff Beshey, The Guillotine)195: Cody Howard (SE) vs. Kavan Sarver (SPG)
The junior Howard qualified for state last year, while Sarver placed third at state. Sarver out-placed Howard at this year's Ironman, and pinned him in last year's dual meet.
220: No. 5 Jared Campbell (SE) vs. Johnny Shafer (SPG)
This match represents a potential inflection point in the dual meet, not for the match itself, but for the strategy around it. In last year's dual meet, St. Paris Graham won the coin toss and chose to bump Shafer away from Campbell. Look for a similar strategy to be in force this year. Expect both teams to weigh-in multiple wrestlers at this weight class. St. Edward will want to match the two-time state runner-up Campbell on sophomore state placer Shafer, while Graham wants Shafer off of Campbell.
285: Luca Santillo (SE) vs. Khrizdon VanHoose (SPG)
Like 170 this is a relative weak link within each team. However, the match as presently constituted is one that St. Edward should win, which is why the Falcons will want to bump Shafer here is possible, so they can steal a match.
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