ROMM PHOTOGRAPHY

Firestone senior Aaron Carter (160) outlasted Norton sophomore Mike Dyer 15-13 in a first-round match Friday afternoon at the 25th annual Dies Memorial. Carter said he wears pink socks to honor cancer victims.

AKRON, Ohio – Akron City Series wrestlers have had the 25th annual Dies Memorial circled on their calendars in red ink.

From wide-eyed freshmen to cagey senior veterans, emotions run high at the Dies. Hosted by Firestone High School, this essentially is a home meet for City Series wrestlers and a chance to prove what you can do in the glare of the spotlight.

The Dies championship bouts are scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m. Thirty-eight high schools are represented at this year's event.

For many wrestlers from Ellet, Firestone, Kenmore and North, this is the biggest tournament of their season. And for many seniors, it is potentially the last big tournament of their careers.

“Last year, I was disappointed with the way it turned out and my attitude after I lost,” said Firestone senior 160-pounder Aaron Carter.  “I’ve come back this year with a better attitude.”

Carter won a topsy-turvy 15-13 first-round match over Norton sophomore Mike Dyer.  The pink socks he wore were to honor his aunt who died of breast cancer.

“I’ve wanted to show my respect for cancer victims in every single match,” Carter said.

The atmosphere and tradition are especially meaningful for Firestone senior Stewart Lindgren (126).

“I just love wrestling at home,” he said. “This is pretty awesome.

“It makes you a little bit nervous because it’s a huge tournament and you want to do well at home and everything.”

Lindgren, who underwent knee surgery and missed all of last season, pinned Tallmadge opponent Joe Siesel in his first match.

“It would be nice to place in a big tournament like this,” Lindgren said.

Ellet freshman Brandon Casalinuovo (106) was among the first winners at this year’s event when matches began on Friday at 3 p.m.

“I was pumped,” Casalinuovo said.  “Oh yeah, it’s a pretty big deal starting out (the 25th Dies) at 106."

What would it mean to string together a few wins?

"It would help me a lot.”

His major decision victory over Hoban freshman Terrell Grant got City Series wrestlers off to a fast start.

Asked if he could make a name for himself by advancing well into this traditional tournament, Casalinuovo replied, “Yes, it would be big (for me personally) and for Ellet, too.”

North senior Darian Veal won his 100th career match when he topped Chippewa senior Hanna Hall 9-2 in the first round at 138 pounds.

“She’s tough,” Veal said. “I can give her that.”

Veal, having started wrestling in eighth grade, is trying to follow in the footsteps of his cousin Dezmen Bass – a 2009 state qualifier out of Akron North.

“My goal is to work like a champion and get to states and to take North somewhere,” he said.

The City Series wrestler with the best chance to bring home a Dies title in 2012 is Kenmore senior Steve Vinson (220).  Seeded No. 1, with a record of 13-1, Vinson is happy to just be competing, after a football injury in Week 3 messed up the pinky finger on his left hand.

He wore a cast for the majority of the football season and thought he might be sidelined for wrestling season.

“My dad got me a hand (squeeze) ball and I worked it back out – skipped surgery,” he said. “It seems like my pinky works again. It doesn’t hurt.”

Vinson is hoping to become Kenmore’s first Dies champion since Cody Lamberg won it in back-to-back years in 2008 and 2009.

He was second a year ago and finished the season 45-5.