
JUSTPHOTOS.BIZ
CVCA junior Nathan Tomasello (113) is aiming for his third straight state championship this weekend, competing in Division II for the first time. The Royals have seven wrestlers competing at the state meet in Columbus.
CUYAHOGA FALLS, Ohio – The match of the morning from a SportsInk.com perspective will pit two-time state placer Matt Meadows of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy against returning state placer Garrett Linton of Rootstown.
But the Ironman Tournament at Walsh Jesuit is all about matches like that.
Meadows rolled Friday’s competition with technical fall wins over Stefano Millin of Massillon Perry and Connor Eakes of Broomfield (Colo.) at 220 pounds.
Linton pinned the Keystone state on his way to the round of eight with wins over Reynoldsburg’s Logan Rickert and Germantown’s Nick Grossi.
The most impressive showing, however, might have come from the home school as Cory Stainbrook (120), Mike Kostanderas (126) and Nate Skonieczny (138) made their way to the quarterfinals for the Warriors.
Skonieczny is seeking his second Ironman crown after finishing third to eventual four-time state champion Hunter Stieber of Monroeville in the semifinals.
But Walsh was more than Skonieczny as Kostanderas beat three-time state champion David Jeffrey of Parkersburg 3-2 in the second round.
“It would mean a lot to him to place here,” Walsh coach Fred Daugherty said. “Mikey had a good day. He’s wrestling well and winning matches and getting in better condition.”
The condition of wrestlers like Nathan Tomasello of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy is outstanding.
The 113-pound junior has two state titles and is now looking for his second Ironman crown after winning one last year.
He joined Meadows and teammate David Gray (170) in the quarterfinals with some impressive wins.
But he won’t look past a quarterfinal match with Tanner Shoap of Chambersburg (Pa.).
And despite being ranked No. 2 in the country by intermatwrestle.com’s Josh Lowe, Tomasello refuses to look past anyone on his way to his second title.
“It’s the best tournament in the nation,” Tomasello said. “To win it for a second time would be unbelievable.
“The Ironman is what I’ve been training for since last year. On Monday, when I realized it was Ironman week I got pumped. I knew it was here. It’s the biggest meet of the season.”
The biggest meet of the season could be the biggest splash of the year for Wadsworth’s Kagan Squire.
The only Wadsworth wrestler left on the top half of the bracket – state champion Nick Tavanello, state qualifier Brandon Jones and state alternate C.J. Edwards didn’t wrestle for various reasons – Squire could become the first four-time Ironman placer at the school.
To make matters even better, Squire could join one of just 32 four-timers in the 18-year history of the tournament.
“He’s outstanding, but he’s one of the quietest kids around,” Wadsworth coach John Gramuglia said. “He’s probably one of the best kids I’ve ever coached. He and Nick Tavanello.
“He knows the weight of the team is on his shoulders. He’s already a two-time national champion (Cadet and Flo Nationals), he’ll be ready.”
He’ll have returning state runner-up Edgar Bright of Lakewood St. Edward in the quarterfinals.
A win there and the 132-pounder will get Alex Cisneros of Selma (Calif.). Cisneros beat Squire twice last year to push the then Wadsworth junior to a fourth-place finish.
St. Vincent-St. Mary’s Ray Stone (220) is the only other wrestler in the SportsInk.com coverage area left in the top half of the bracket.
Quarterfinal action kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday.
WALSH IRONMAN RESULTS - DAY 1
CUYAHOGA FALLS – Results Friday from the 18th annual Walsh Ironman Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School.
Team standings: 1. Blair Academy (NJ) 93.5; 2. St. Edward 92.5; 3. Moeller 71.5; 4. St. Paris Graham 69; 5. Broken Arrow (Okla.) 67.5; 6. Wyoming Seminary 66; 7. Christiansburg (Va) 65; 8. Collins Hill (Ga.) 64; 9. Massillon Perry 59.5; 10. Bethlehem Catholic (Pa.) 56; 11. Brecksville 48; 12. Cox (Va.) 47; 13. Reynolds (Pa.) 45; 14. Montini Catholic (Ill.) 44; 15. Elyria 39.5; 16. Fort Lebouf (Pa.) 38.5; 17. Robinson (Va.) 36.5; 18. Marmion (Ill.) 36; 19. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy 33.5; 20. Broomfield (Col.) 33; 21. Germantown (Pa.), Smyrna (Del.) 32; 23. Parkersburg (WV) 31; 24. St. John Bosco (Calif.) 30; 25. Chambersberg (Pa.), Wadsworth, Walsh Jesuit 29.5; 28. Washington (Ill.) 27.5; 29. McDonough (Md), Pittsburgh Central Catholic (Pa.) 27; 31. Lexington 26; 32. Kiski School (Pa.) 25; 33. Caesar Rodney (Del.), Padua, Park Hill (Mo.) 24; 36. St. Ignatius 21.5; 37. Strongsville 21; 38. Derry (Pa.) 19.5; 39. St. Vincent-St. Mary 19; 40. Clay, Lemoore (Calif.) 18; 42. Selma (Calif.) 17;5; 43. Troy Christian 17; 44. Oak Harbor 44; 45. Calvery Chapel (Calif.) 14; 46. Bishop Lynch 12.5; 47. Good Counsel (Md.) 12; 48. Centennial (Md.), Reno (Nev.) 10.5; 50. North Torrance (Calif.), St. Benedicts (NJ) 10; 42. Scottsbluff (Neb.) 9; 53. Newark Memorial (Calif), Pine Castle (Fla.) 8.5; 55. Miami Valley, Northside (N.C.), Foothill (Calif.), Rootstown 8; 49. Avon, Brashear (Pa.), Crestview, Goshen, Massillon, West Valley (Calif.); 65. Bella Vista (Calif.); 66. Burrell (Pa.), Holy Name, Swanton 6; 69. Hopewell (Va.), 70. Huron 4.
Quarterfinal pairings
106: Mei (N. Torrance) vs. Bavery (Per); Valencis (SJB) vs. Vincenzo (PCC); Fleetwood (Smy) vs. Kolodzik (MV); Ozias (Chr) vs. Cruz (BC).
113: Tomasello (CVCA) vs. Shoap (Cham); Moisey (BC) vs. Jimenez (Marm); McKenna (Bla) vs. Laster (MC); Assad (Bre) vs. Wert (Chris).
120: DiCamillo (SI) vs. Campbell (Lex); McClay (Mass) vs. Stainbrook (Wal); Nyama (Bras) vs. Lemaire (CR); Ferguson (CH) vs. Taylor (SPG).
126: Guilobon (Der) vs. Kostanderas (Wal); Kraisser (Cen) vs. Malone (WS); Jeske (Cox) vs. Hvolbek (Bla); Heil (SE) vs. Dance (Chris).
132: Grey (Bla) vs. Ward (Moe); Cruz (Beth) vs. Garcia (MC); Squire (Wad) vs. Bright (SE); Jablonski (FL) vs. Cisneros (Sel).
138: Skonieczny (Wal) vs. Amenta (Cla); Barber (SE) vs. Newhouse (Per); Preston (Bla) vs. Yankovich (Ger); Matthews (Reyn) vs. Ferman (BA).
145: Lavaellee (Ren) vs. Faust (Lex); Kastle (Gra) vs. Fulk (WS); Milonis (Bla) vs. Clark (McD); Zeman (Avo) vs. Dailey (Per).
152: Jordan (Gra) vs. Bergman (OH); Parsons (Bla) vs. VanCuren (SE); Hammond (Cham) vs. Klosz (HN); Forbes (SB) vs. Martinez (Lem).
160: Reel (Was vs. Davis (SE); Coover (Bla) vs. Speiler (PC); Jordan (Gra) vs. Pereira (NM); Epperly (Chr) vs. Arrendale (Per).
170: Morris (WS) vs. Coniker (PCC); Riddic (BC) vs. Miles (Christ); Knepshield (Bla) vs. Warren (BA); Gray (CVCA) vs. Martin (SE).
182: Evans (Gra) vs. Wasson (WS); Brogle (Par) vs. Toal (TC); Abounader (Se) vs. Krawulski (CH); Mocco (Bla) vs. Gresham (Gos).
195: Calvert (BA) vs. Alpha (BC); Tayse (Per) vs. Suvak (SE); Marvel (McD) vs. Lehner (Lex); Thornberry (Moe) vs. Mattiace (Bla).
220: Walz (Se) vs. Stone (STVM); Vizzcarondo (WS) vs. Lobsinger (WV); Snyder (GC) vs. Frueaf (Moe); Linton (Roo) vs. Meadows (CVCA).
285: Black (Bla) vs. Boddy (Ger); Majoy (Hur) vs. Gray (Clay); Lyttle (Swa) vs. Pinkston (Rob); Johnson (WS) vs. Kuhar (SE).