Wadsworth and STVM wrestling qualify for State Duals in Division I and II, respectively
The Wadsworth wrestling team loves when it gets to be a little bit extra.
The Grizzlies proved it Saturday in a battle of nationally ranked teams and earned the right to go to their fifth consecutive State Duals quarterfinal with a 32-25 win over Perry and 64-12 victory over Solon.
The Panthers beat Walsh Jesuit 41-27 for the right to face Wadsworth in the qualifier.
Because of the win, that’s an extra week of wrestling that only eight teams in Division I will get. It’s extra matches against topflight competition and it’s extra time on the mat that will only help in March.
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“We get another opportunity to compete against guys that we’re going to see again in the district and state that will maybe have to beat in a go-to [for the individual state tournament],” Wadsworth coach Clay Wenger said. “Any opportunity to wrestle the best guys and best teams will help. It’s a good thing for us.”
What's next for the Wadsworth wrestling team
Next week it’ll be the State Duals at St. Edward, where the Eagles and Grizzlies (6-1) join Olentangy Liberty, Dublin Coffman, Brecksville, Avon Lake, Springboro and LaSalle.
St. Edward has won the last four State Duals and is ranked 13th nationally. Brecksville is 19th and Wadsworth is 28th, so to beat No. 38 Perry (9-3) heading in is gigantic.
“Even getting into that extra tournament after beating Perry, it shows how tough it is,” 190-pounder Coen Grimm said. “It’s just going to be tougher. Having this extra weekend is huge for the end goal.”
The Grizzlies picked up wins from Kaden Mellon (132 pounds), Jaxon Joy (138), Chris Earnest (157), Brenden Barlett (165), Louie Schaefer (175), Grimm and Maverick Blackburn (215).
The Panthers had wins by Liston Siebert (106), Emeric McBurney (113), Mason Rohr (120), Austin McBurney (126), Charles Curtis (144), Christian Giltz (157) and Aidan Fockler (285).
How Wadsworth got it done matters for the State Duals next week
There were come-from-behind wins for the Panthers by Emeric Burney and Giltz. The Grizzlies got swing match wins from Barlett and Grimm.
“This is huge because the majority of us are seniors,” Barlett said. “Not everyone is going to get to individual states, so in the grand scheme of things we all get to go to state with the duals. State Duals is tough. Everyone there is an incredible team.”
It’s also about teachable moments for Wadsworth, which dug itself holes of 13-0 and 19-8.
“I don’t think we really won that dual,” said Joy, who broke the single school record with 235 takedowns. “We won in the end, but we got outwrestled. A lot of those matches to start were very winnable. You have to find a way. Our goal isn’t to beat Perry. It’s to beat Ed’s and Perrysburg. This won’t cut it. We have to get a little tougher this week.”
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The Panthers can point to the fact that they won six of the 10 matches wrestled on the mat and the fact they could have won had Marshall Geckler (144), Landen Johnson (150), Landon Ristoff (175) and Mike Millin (215) been heathy.
“I think it was great how we competed,” Perry coach Brent McBurney said. “We focused on individual matchups and kids overcoming barriers. It was good to see us win matches late or tying it up and then winning in overtime. We’re going to see those matchups again.”
St. Vincent-St. Mary rolls in Division II qualifier
The Fighting Irish beat Edgewood 48-24 and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy stopped Firelands 58-9 in the semis to set up a final of two Akron schools. STVM beat the Royals 59-24 to advance.
It’s the first time since 2018 the Irish qualified.
Christian Osborne (113), Bryce Skinner (132), Rylan Hurley (144), Rylan Taylor (157), Calvin Gwinn (165), Bryson Getz (215) and Andy Vanscoy (285) all won two matches for STVM.
The Irish will join Buckeye, Louisville, St. Paris Graham, Vandalia Butler, West Holmes and Indian Valley next week at New Lexington.
"I think getting back to the State Duals after all these years is about bringing the family environment together," STVM coach Dan Rooney said. "Wrestling is an individual sport but it always helps when teammates have each other's back. We have always had good individual wrestlers but when the whole team is clicking on all cylinders we can cause havoc. It was great to see these guys rally together to advance to the State Duals."
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: No. 28 Wadsworth beats No. 38 Perry, reaches Division I State Duals
