CVC wrestling: Perry in firm control after Day 1 of the league tournament
Jan. 27—The Perry wrestling team didn't necessarily NEED any extra motivation to perform well in the Chagrin Valley Conference tournament it is hosting this weekend, but the Pirates got it anyway.
Energized by the return of junior Riley Rowan, who just recently returned to the Pirates' lineup after battling a season-long injury, Perry advanced 10 of its 13 wrestlers to the semifinal round on Day 1 of the CVC tournament.
Rowan, who is only 6-0 this season, pinned both of his opponents on the first day of the tournament, recording a 54-second pin of Crestwood's Kade Rotter and a 19-second pin of Cuyahoga Heights' Jasmin Figard. He will face Harvey's Angel Soto when action resumes Jan. 28.
"He's like a spark plug here," Perry coach Dave Rowan said of his son, Riley. "He had a good day. He brings an intensity and dimension to our team — gets everyone fired up."
Rowan said it's been difficult to bring his son back slowly from injury, but now that he's back, well, holding him back proves impossible.
"He's like that lion that's been stuck in a cage, and everyone's been poking him," Rowan said. "He's ready. He doesn't even look winded to me."
Other Pirates to advance to the semifinals were Chance Schlauch (126), Chris Bezzeg (132), Brock Christian (138), Drew Smith (144), Domenick LaMacchia (157), Ryan Brubaker (165), Antonius Bertone (175), Trent Taylor (190) and Kenny Walker (285).
Also drawing praise from Rowan was Taylor, the Pirates' 190-pound freshman. He pinned West Geauga's Zach Metz in 1:18 and then pinned Cuyahoga Heights' Caleb Mahoney in 3:55. He will face Lakeside's Hassani Say in the semifinal round.
"He's having an unbelievable tournament," Rowan said. "He's a little green, but he's learning every week. He has talent and is a very nice and coachable kid."
The strong first day has Perry firmly in control of the tournament with 143 points, well ahead of second-place West Geauga (92) and the rest of the 20-team field.
The Wolverines have four wrestlers in the semifinal round — Zander Joltin at 113, Caden Kaleal at 120, Dan Donofrio at 132 and Brian Denamen at 144.
Semifinal pairings
106 pounds: Colin Hering, Berk, vs. Devon Sancez, Edge; Cooper Kucia, CH, vs. Sibley Hassaun, Trinity.
113: Lucas Eland, Lake, v. Jonathan McGinnis, Chagrin Falls; Zander Joltin, WG, vs. Zander Mooney, CH.
120: Riley Rowan, Perry, vs. Angel Soto, Harvey; D'Angelo Sanchez, Edge, vs. Caden Kaleal, WG.
126: JP Wrobel, Crest, vs. Chance Schlauch, Perry, Derek Briggs, Lake, vs. Charlie Meyer, Ind.
132: Dan Donofrio, WG, vs. Ian Borthwick, Kirt; Jacob Strailey, Lake, vs. Chris Bezzeg, Perry.
138: Brock Christian, Perry, vs. Nehemiah Sanderfer, LW; Drake Rennecker, Crest, vs. Johnny Heiden, Berk.
144: Drew Smith, Perry, vs. Nolan Huntington, Crest; Seth Kucia, CH, vs. Brian Denamen, WG.
150: Josh Brown, Berk, vs. Zacharia Zoladz, CH; Josh Greenwood, Beach, vs. Josh Biller, Edge.
157: Justin Artino, Edge, vs. Andrew Jackubczak, CH; Domenick LaMacchia, Perry, vs. Alex Munn, Berk.
165: Ryan Brubaker, Perry, vs. Ethan Bartlett, WG; Fred Berland, Orange, vs. Gaetano Savelli, Kirt.
175: Ezekiel Lucas, Edge, vs. Antonius Bertone, Perry; Josh Ripley, Card, vs. Eric Steckner, Beach.
190: Trent Taylor, Perry, vs. Hassani Sy, Lake; Kenny Pavlisin, Gen, vs. Drew Kellin, Beach.
215: Uzonna Nzekwe, Beach, vs. Michael Hupertz, Gen; Terrance Davis, Orange, vs. Andrew Tucholski, Card.
285: Will Breenberg, Hawk, vs. Donelle Taylor, Orange; Marvin Guerra, Harv, vs. Kenny Walker, Perry.
