SPORTSINK.COM PHOTO

Junior Dylan Kager is one of five Crestwood wrestlers to qualify for the semifinals of the Kenston Invitational Tournament. Kager will meet Streetsboro senior Zack Baratko in a 132-pound semi on Thursday.

CHAGRIN FALLS, Ohio – The Crestwood Red Devils are supposed to be rebuilding their wrestling team this season.

Having graduated five of seven state qualifiers, including state champion Cody Ryba, from last season when the Red Devils ranked sixth in Division II in Ohio, most figured coach Dave Wrobel’s squad would be retooling in 2011-12.

Not so.

Yeah, Crestwood has dipped, but the plummet is not going to occur.

On the first day of the 47th annual Kenston Invitational Tournament, five Red Devils (106- Jake Zemaitis, 113- Connor Nemec, 132-Dylan Kager, 138- Nick Fejedelem, 220- Justin Goss) have advanced to Thursday’s semifinal round and the team sits in third place (74.5 points), nipping at second-place Fairfield (77.0), with everyone chasing front runner Perry (121.0) out of Lake County.

“It’s been nice that we’ve been able to maintain,” said Wrobel, in the midst of his 11th season at the helm. “We’re building it.  Kids that have stepped into the starting lineup are doing a nice job.  As the year progresses, they’ll start making a name for themselves.”

For example, take senior 160-pounder Sean Keefe.

Currently 9-7, Keefe began wrestling in ninth grade.

“I didn’t know a thing about anything,” admitted Keefe. “It wasn’t until last year that everything I had learned started to click together.”

After opening with a 1-0 loss to Perry junior Ryan Sill, Keefe rebounded with a 12-5 win over Lakeside senior Rex Dickey.

Sill has made it to the semifinal round.

“I’ve been stuck behind state placers and getting beat up in the room (the last couple of seasons),” Keefe said. “But it’s paying off this year.”

His effort and improvement are not lost on Wrobel.

“He’s stayed with it and never quit,” the Crestwood coach said. “I respect him so much.”

Developmental wrestlers like Keefe are keeping the Red Devils in contention. He may not win championships, but he is scoring valuable points.

“All I know is that I’ve lost seven times,” Keefe said. “I really don’t pay attention to wins. I just know the losses – they stick with me the most.

“I’m really enjoying it and I’m hoping to go as far as I possibly can.”

IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD: The Red Devils also picked up a valuable transfer in sophomore Jake Zemaitis.

Zemaitis lives about a mile from Crestwood High School, but as a freshman he was making the trek to Mentor Lake Catholic High School each weekday morning.

Often out the door by 5:30 a.m., so, he could be at Lake Catholic by 6:30 a.m., Zemaitis is pleased to trade the long commute for a 2-minute hop to his hometown high school.

Red Devils’ coach Dave Wrobel has said Zemaitis at 106 and sophomore Connor Nemec at 113 give Crestwood a terrific 1-2 punch.

SUBURBAN SPLASH: Nordonia surprised Highland on the opening night of Suburban League competition earlier this month and the Knights (56.0 points) are sixth after one day at the KIT.

Two Nordonia wrestlers – sophomores Mike Decesare (132) and Alex Woicehovich (220) – have made it to the semifinal round.

“Obviously, we’re happy to have beaten a great opponent in Highland,” second-year Nordonia coach Audie Atienza said. “We want to try and stay healthy and keep getting better every day.”

The Knights were thrilled to receive a transfer from Bedford St. Peter Chanel in Decesare, who is a Sagamore Hills resident.

Despite a 2-2 mark at last season’s Garfield Heights Division III District as a freshman (125), Decesare had to win three matches on Wednesday to reach the KIT semifinal round.

“We’re a young team right now,” the Knights' 132-pounder said. “Most of our kids are sophomores and freshmen, so if we’re doing this well now I can’t imagine what it will be like when we’re juniors and seniors.”

His personal goal for 2012?

“Making it to states and placing,” Decesare said.

HAPPY NEW YEAR?: It didn’t take long for Nordonia and Cloverleaf to get a Suburban League rivalry brewing.

Thirteen days ago, Cloverleaf 220-pounder Kyle Jenkin posted a 12-8 decision in topping Nordonia sophomore Alex Woicehovich.

Woicehovich said he learned some counter moves the next day in practice.

Guess which two Suburban League grapplers met again on Wednesday in the KIT quarterfinals?

This time, Woicehovich won 15-7 and sparks were flying when an irate Cloverleaf supporter voiced displeasure with the officiating and was asked to leave the competition area.

SportsInk.com KIT Semifinalists

(including Northeast Ohio Conference wrestlers)

106: Jake Zemaitis (Crestwood)

113: Connor Nemec (Crestwood)

120: None

126: Nicholas Bishop (Mayfield), T.J. Levitsky (Parma)

132: Mike Decesare (Nordonia), Dylan Kager (Crestwood), Zack Baratko (Streetsboro)

138: Nick Fejedelem (Crestwood)

145: None

152: None

160: None

170: Josh Zeck (Parma)

182: Chris Ashburn (Streetsboro), Connor Murray (Mayfield)

195: None

220: Alex Woicehovich (Nordonia), Justin Goss (Crestwood)

285: Cody Hawkins (Ravenna)

Team Scores (after Day One)

121.0 / Perry

77.0 / Fairfield

74.5 / Crestwood

67.5 / North Olmsted

66.0 / Beachwood

56.0 / Nordonia

54.0 / Parma

54.0 / Kenston

53.5 / Norwalk

53.0 / Chardon

52.0 / Boardman

50.5 / Reynoldsburg

37.0 / Eastlake North

35.0 / Poland Seminary

34.5 / Shaker Heights

34.5 / Orange

32,.5 / Pymatuning Valley

32.0 / Ravenna

32.0 / Mayfield

31.0 / Streetsboro

31.0 / Willoughby South

28.5 / Cloverleaf

27.5 / Berkshire

27.0 / Lakeside

27.0 / University School

15.5 / Geneva

13.5 / Milford

13.0 / West Geauga

8.0 / Cleveland Glenville