2023 high school wrestling all-stars

Mar. 24—Wrestler of the Year

Brock Christian

Perry, Senior, 132 pounds

The inaugural Lee Kemp Award winner — which goes to The News-Herald's wrestler of the year — is Christian. He finished the season with a 48-9 record as the Division III 132-pound champion, the only state champion in The News-Herald coverage area. Christian was a CVC champion, sectional and district champion heading into the state tournament. After winning his tournament opener by a 15-5 major decision, he never allowed an offensive point the rest of the tournament, winning 5-2, 3-2 and then 2-1 in the state title match against Southington's Landen Duncan. Christian leaves Perry a a three-time state-placer, one who climbed the podium each year. He capped his high school career with the fifth state title in program history following Billy Miller (twice), Kyle Kremiller and Kyle Rowan.

Coach of the Year

Ray LaManna, Mentor

The Cardinals were arguably the best team in the area this past season, with a strong top-to-bottom lineup that saw four Cardinals qualify for the Division I state tournament. How the Cardinals wrestled at the state tournament set LaManna aside in the coach-of-the-year running. Jack DeBoe and Nick Blackburn entered the tournament as No. 4 seeds out of the Hoover district and placed fourth and third, respectively. Additionally, Antonio Shelley battled back from a first-round loss to place fourth. For Lamanna, it was a top-rate coaching job this year.

First Team

106, Parker Pikor, Lake Catholic, Jr.

He went 44-7 and was the Division III state runner-up.

120, Jack DeBoe, Mentor, Jr.

He went 51-7 and placed fourth at the D-I state tournament.

120, Joey Romano, Lake Catholic, Jr.

He went 46-7 and placed fourth at the D-III state tournament.

120, Sal Palmisano, Mayfield, Jr.

He finished 45-9 and placed sixth at the D-I state tournament.

132, Nick Blackburn, Mentor, Jr.

He finished 53-5 and placed third at the D-I state tournament.

132, Vinnie D'Alessandro, Mayfield, Sr.

He finished 45-6 and placed fourth in the D1 state tournament.

138, Antonio Shelley, Mentor, Jr.

He finished 47-10 and placed fourth at the D-I state tournament.

150 Josh Greenwood, Beachwood, Sr.

He went 43-9 and was state runner-up at the D-III state tournament.

157, Noah Blough, Madison, Jr.

He went 27-8 and went 1-2 at the D-II state tournament.

165, Ryan Brubaker, Perry Sr.

He went 36-15 and placed seventh at the D-III state tournament.

165, Bear Horgan, Mentor, Sr.

He finished 44-10 and went 1-2 at the D-I state tournament.

190, Bryce Wheatley, NDCL, Jr.

He finished 46-7 and placed sixth at the D-II state tournament.

215, Antonio Bottiggi, Riverside, Jr.

He finished 42-6 and went 1-2 at the D-I state tournament.

215, Uzonna Nzekwe, Beachwood, Sr.

He went 48-9 and placed third at the D-III state tournament.

Second Team

113, Colin Hering, Berkshire, Jr.: He went 34-10 and went 1-2 at the D-III state tournament.

120, Jamie Harrison, Madison, Sr.: He went 32-9 and was a D-II state qualifier.

120, Riley Rowan, Perry, Jr.: He went 17-4 and went 1-2 at the D-III state tournament.

126, Diego Stropko, Mentor, Jr.: He finished 48-5 and was a D-I state alternate.

138, Jacob Dolan, Benedictine, Sr.: He went 39-10 and was a D-II state qualifier.

138, Johnny Heiden, Berkshire, Sr.: He went 38-12 and went 1-2 at the D-III state tournament.

144, Brian Denamen, West Geauga, Fr.: He went 37-11 and was a D-II state qualifier.

150, Braeden Beck, Mayfield, Sr: He finished 42-9 and was a D-I state qualifier.

150, Josh Brown, Berkshire, Sr.: He went 25-4 and was a D-III state qualifier.

165, Will Vucetic, Chardon, Sr.: He finished 38-11 and was a D-I state qualifier.

175, Louka Babic, Kirtland, Sr.: He went 35-6 and was a D-III state qualifier.

190, Ben DiMarco, Kenston, Sr.: He went 18-7 and was a D-II state qualifier.

285, Sean Doyle, Kenston, Jr.: He went 43-7 was a D-II state qualifier.

285, Will Greenberg, Hawken, So.; He went 36-6 and was a D-II state alternate.

Third Team

106, Becan Hahn, Mentor, Sr.: He finished 42-7 and was a D-I sectional champion.

113, David Rocha, Riverside Jr.: He finished 34-10 and placed sixth at the D-I district tournament.

126, Jack Harrison, Madison, Jr.: He finished 34-12 and placed sixth at the D-II district tournament.

132, Antonio Hobbs, Benedictine, So.: He finished 33-9 and was a D-II state alternate.

138, Chris Bezzeg, Perry, So.: He finished 32-12 and placed sixth in the D3 district tournament.

144, Addison Trisket, Madison, Jr.: He finished 28-14 and was a D-II district qualifier.

150, Joey Fumic, Mentor, Sr.: He finished 45-9 and placed sixth at the D-I district tournament.

157, Domenick LaMacchia, Perry, Sr.: He finished 32-15 and placed sixth at the D-II district tournament.

165, Ethan Bartlett, West Geauga, Jr.: He finished 36-6 and was a D-II district qualifier.

165, Gaetano Savelli, Kirtland, Sr: He finished 41-8 and placed sixth at the D-III district tournament.

165, Johnathan Sims, Brush, Sr.: He finished 27-17 and went 2-2 at the D-I district tournament.

175. Collin Fairbanks, Riverside, Sr.: He finished 34-12 and went 2-2 at the D-I district tournament.

215, Michael Hupertz, Geneva, Sr: He finished 27-8 and was a D-II state alternate.

285, Kenny Walker, Perry, Sr.: He finished 35-11 and placed sixth at the D-III district tournament.

Honor roll

Beachwood: Caleb Greenwood, Eric Steckner; Benedictine: John Jones, Christopher Maloney; Berkshire: Amadeus Kosova, Alex Munn; Brush: David Williams; Cardinal: Josh Ripley, Andrew Tucholski; Chagrin Falls: Jonathan McGinness, Hunter Blair; Chardon: Aidan Croyle, Caden Foley; Euclid: Shafiq Smith; Geneva: Dominic Palmisano, Daniel Riddell; Harvey: Marvin Guerra, Alvaro Serrano; Kenston: Leo DiPadova, Carmen Fratoe, A.J. Pemberton; Kirtland: Ian Borthwick, Eddy Podojil-Schlesinger; Lake Catholic: Ryan Sharp, Jayson Cummins; Madison: Sonny Salasjak, Izaiah Siler; Mayfield: Dwight Fritz, Frankie Palmisano, Nico Traczyk; Mentor: Liam Lloyd, Ben McWilliams; NDCL: Tucker Pason; North: Shamus Brady, Drake Martinez, Derick Martinez; Perry: Drew Smith, Chance Schlauch; Riverside: Nathan Collado; South: player; University: Chris Fioritto; VASJ: Darian Davis, Corey Smith: West Geauga: Zander Joltin, Justin Artino, Nasir Levy