Clearview coach John Szalay said he has formed a close bond with Tony Williams, Anthony Hitchens and Kyle Baughman during their tenure at Clearview.

Szalay said he's been impressed with how each has developed into a successful player.

About Tony Williams:
“Tony does the things I can’t teach,” Szalay said. “He jumps out of the gym, and he’s lighting quick in the passing lanes. He’s had to work on his left hand and some other parts of his game, but he brings an athletic facet to the game, he’ll make you open your eyes a lot of times of some the things he can do.”

About Anthony Hitchens:
“He’s probably the most humble athlete I have ever coached,” Szalay said. “He’s the hardest working kid we have, and with all the things he’s accomplished he could easily have coasted.
“He provides the physical presence for us, not to mention he can play all five positions.”

About Kyle Baughman:
“He wants to win really bad. He’s kind of a throwback kid, like the ones I used to coach in the late 80’s, early 90’s,” Szalay said. “He doesn’t care about his stats, he just wants the team to be successful and I’ve developed a real close relationship with him.”

So Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy had to drive past the Beachwood sectional to get to the Brooklyn sectional CVCA, Chanel and Cuyahoga Heights ranked second through fourth in the final Ohio D-III wrestling poll all were a part of the Brooklyn sectional. Keystone and Fairview moved down from D-II. Wellington, Brooklyn, Independence, Columbia, Elyria Catholic, Oberlin and Lutheran West all had quality wrestlers. Not everyone was going to be able to get out.

It seems that several district quality wrestlers had their seasons end early because of how the sectionals were formed.

Oberlin had one champion in Mason Bremke at 189 pounds. Bremke is a junior and determined to pave the way for more of his teammates to join him in districts next year.

“I really like my coaches and my team is really good but leadership comes from pulling them with you,” Bremke said. “If you are the only one then you pull three or four guys coming with you next year. We have a young team with all juniors so someone has to be the leader. It means a lot to me. “

Keystone heavyweight Anthony Chizmadia was upset and pinned in the first round by Wellington’s Sam Rodgers.

Chizmadia rebounded by pinning Cuyahoga Heights’ Devin Prater and pinning Rodgers in rematch to finish third.

“I had to wake up a little bit,’ Chizmadia said. “Time to go right here and right now.

I just reversed him. I am not one those guys who like it slow. I like it fast and long. I don’t like to dance out there with those big guys.”

Chizmadia believes his team will bounce back and have a strong districts.

“A fourth placer here could easily go on and win state,” he said. “One bad day so what, you keep going and trucking on through. I am always proud of these guys. There are my best friends right now. I love each and every one of them to death. Look for us next week, I bet you will find even better results.”

Keystone 103-pounder Brian Spangler is ranked the second best in his in D-III. The number one ranked wrestler Nathan Tomasello just happens to be in the same district. Spangler lost 8-2 in the semifinals.

“We knew Brian would have a tough kid in the semis,” Keystone coach Jim Pycraft Sr. said. “Hopefully we will be on opposite sides of the bracket and if we see again next week then we know we are where we want to be.”

Elyria Catholic coach John McNulty was ecstatic about his team’s performance.

“It is great,” he said. “We have been down the last few years. I am proud of all the team and moving up the ladder as a team. They didn’t quit and they want to get the tradition back at Elyria Catholic of a tough wrestling team. And they are the ones doing it. I am extremely happy.”

The Elyria Pioneers (9-10, 2-7) came close to pulling an upset against Northeast Ohio Conference opponent Medina (16-2, 8-1) Friday night in Elyria.
The Pioneers led 35-34 after three quarters, but managed just six points in the fourth quarter and lost 46-41. Cody Bender hit two 3-pointers and led the Pioneers with 10 points.

Eric Stuczynski scored a game-high 17 points to help Avon Lake pick up a 64-58 road victory against Brecksville in Southwestern Conference play. Dom Whitfield also scored in double figures with 11 for the Shoremen who improved to 12-6 overall, and 8-5 in the SWC.

Amherst (5-13, 1-11) and North Olmsted (7-12, 5-8) were tied at 20 after two quarters, but North Olmsted outscored the Comets 31-22 in the second half to pull out a 51-42 Southwestern Conference victory. Conor Weir led the Comets with 14 points, while Alex Kneisel added 11.

Friday night's matchup between Clearview and Open Door Christian was as good as a high basketball game gets.

Lead changes, up-and-down scoring, tough defense and, of course, high drama and emotion. Despite being consistently short-handed throughout the entire season, Open Door's valiant effort was admirable against a more athletic and deeper Clearview squad. Open Door came out firing in the first quarter, with Abe Valentine spearheading the attack. By the end of the first quarter, Open Door led 19-15, but the way they were playing, it seemed they were ahead by much more.

Eventually, Clearview's deep roster overwhelmed Open Door to the point where the Clippers led by 10. Open Door pulled within one point with 19.3 seconds remaining in the third quarter, and even led 56-54 with 2:46 remaining in the game. Clearview's Kyle Baughman clutch free-throw shooting down the stretch was eventually the difference in the game.

If the games around the area are like this one, I'm so glad to cover and report them.

Day one was a lot of fun at the Southview District and day two promises more of the same. It is no surprise that 13-time defending state champion St. Edward advanced every wrestler to the semi-finals.

Elyria was impressive advancing six wrestlers to the semifinals and Coach Erik Burnett expects some of his consolation wrestlers to step up tomorrow.

Freshman 125 pounder Eli Garcia lost to Southview senior Narcisco Inchaurregui 12-3. Inchaurregui is 31-1.

"Eli fought hard tonight but probaly not enough offense," Burnett said. "We need to get our offense going tomorrow. Eli is a tough kid. He showed some fight against Cisco."

Freshman Zach Woodings was pinned by undefeated St. Edward 160 pounder Nick Sulzer.

"He wrestled Sulzer, one of the best wrestlers in the country," Burnett said. "So we have to see how he will bounce and maybe there will be some good things for him. There are no rearview mirrors in sectionals or districts."

Avon Lake senior Kevin Brunner raised his record to 41-2 with two pins.

"It was nice to get in and get out of there on the first day," Brunner said. "It helps going into the semi with as much energy as you can especially going into a tough match against (Elyria's) Kodie Egnor."

Southview was a bit short handed on Friday night.

"We have a few injuries and some discipline problems so we didn't come in with all of our numbers," Southview head coach Billy Kopp said. "But the numbers we did have I think the kids wrestled really well. We had a couple kids wrestle some really smart matches."

Avon Lake head coach Vinnie Curiale was pleased with his squad's performance.
"I am pretty happy with how we wrestled and I thought things went well tonight and hopefully that will carry over tomorrow and hopefully we will get a few guys out."

Brecksville is a very good wrestling program. The Bees have won the SWC title all five years in the conference. The Bees had eight wrestlers in the championship matches and won six titles.

Amherst had a strong showing as well. The Comets only won one title, Alex Basinski at 171, but placed 11 wrestlers.

Taking second for Amherst were Mark Matos (112), CJ Basinki (135), Matt Zvosec

(140), Alex O’Dor (160) and Andrew Brumenschenkel (215). Finishing third were Alex Underberg (119), Deran Price (145) Kyle Jones (152) and taking fourth were Costas Kocan (125) and Jake Cumberledge (189).

“It shows how our team has improved throughout the season while some teams are on the downside and all the credit to coach Cesear and Walker for that,” Alex Basinski said.

It was Basinski’s first title. He has had a tough draw in previous years.

“I was second as a freshman by a point and the last two years I had Brecksville state champ Kyle Lang in my weight class and he was a heck of the wrestler.”

Amherst head coach Brian Cesear believes his team is peaking when they should.

“We have been doing extra running and extra lifting outside of practice trying to get ready to peak at the right time,” Cesear said. “I think we are at the right spot but we will find out.”

Avon Lake only brought 10 wrestlers to the meet and had six placers. Senior Kevin Brunner set a school record with his 133^rd win won the 130 pound title.

“He is having a great year,” head coach Vinnie Curiale said. “Hopefully over the next few weeks, we can keep advancing and make it down to the big tournament. If he keeps wrestling the way he has, I think we have a real good shot at that.”

Curiale was pleased with his whole team.

“Our kids came out and wrestled today,” he said. “Hopefully we will see the same thing in the next few weeks. This was a big step for us as a team. We are on our way to making a nice turn with the team.”

Evan Potts (119) and Cory Frank (HWT) finished second. Mike Troncosco (135) took second while Adam Graehling (103) and Matt Sokolow (171) were fourth.

“(Troncosco) has been wrestling well and he may be wrestling the best on our team and he took a third,” Curiale said. “He got hurt our first tournament last year and didn’t wrestle the whole year and he’s got almost 30 wins this year. He is wrestling well.”

Westlake had a champion in Connor Dempsey (140), a runner-up in Connor Dever (171), three third place finishers Steve Harmon (130), Brad Spreng (189) and Jacob Kutz (215) and a fourth place finisher in Mo Rabah (112).

“Overall I was pleased with the performance,” Mike Antonyzyn said. “It starts now and we have to keep on improving it is only going to get tougher. This conference was tough.

“Districts will be a bear. I have been around for a long time and I have not seen a district this tough for a long, long time. When you have St. Ed’s and Wadsworth, which beat St. Ed’s, and then you get all the other schools like Brecksville and those Toledo schools. It will be phenomenal.”

SWC Tournament
Team Standings
1. Brecksville (BR) 215, 2. Amherst (AM) 171.5, 3. Westlake (W) 106, 4. Olmsted Falls (OF) 102, 5. Midpark (M) 96. 6. Avon Lake (AL) 95, 7. North Olmsted (NO) 85, 8. Berea (BE) 57.5

First-Place Results
103 — Evan Krumheuer (M) dec. Nick Asadorian (OF) 7-1; 112 — Anthony D’Amico def. Mark Matos (AM) 10-4; 119 — Mitch Baran (BR) dec. Evan Potts 7-1; 125 — Dylan Good (BR) dec. Brian Brunner (NO) 3-2; 130 — Kevin Brunner (AL) dec. Quinton Hiles (BR) 6-0; 135 — Nolan Grame (BE) maj. Dec. CJ Basinski (AM) 12-1; 140 — Conner Dempsey (W) dec. Matt Zvosec (AM) 5-1; 145 — Kyle Roddy (BE) dec. Adam Binggeli (OF) 8-2; 152 — Chaz McGrain (OF) dec. Marshal Willet (BR) 7-3; 160 — Shane Gareau (OF) dec. Alex O‘Dor (AM) 7-5; 171 — Alex Basinski (AM) dec. Connor Dever (W) 4-2; 189 — Chriss Kelly (NO) pinned Conner Neu (M) 1:42; 215 — Spencer Willet (BR) maj. dec. Andrew Brumenschenkel (AM) 18-8; HVY — Billy Vaughan (BR) pinned Cory Frank (AL) 1:39.

Third-Place Results
103 — Tommy Pruchinski (BR) pinned Adam Graehling (AL); 112 — Zach Charbat (M) maj. dec. Mo Rabah (W) 12-4; 119 — Alex Underberg (AM) dec. Tommy DiMarino (NO) 11-4; 125 — John Debth (BE) def. Costas Kocan (AM) 4-3; 130 — Steve Harmon (W) def. Kevin Dietrich (BE) 6-5 Tie breaker; 135 — Mike Troncoso (AL)pinned Ricky Kelly (NO) 1:59; 140 — George Saridakis (BR) pinned Mark Mills (OF) 4:28; 145 — Devan Price (AM) dec. Brad Church (BE) 8-6; 152 — Kyle Jones (AM) Kyle Koncek (M) 4-0; 160 — Andrew Barr (BR) dec Garrett Darby (M) 6-5; 171 — Farris Aziz (M) maj. dec. Matt Sokolow (AL) 14-6 ; 189 — Brad Spreng (W) dec. Jake Cumberledge 6-4 (AM); 215 — Jacob Kutz (W) pinned Trevor Winston (NO) 1:48; HVY — Ty Bromund (M) dec. Chris Kozak (OF) 3-1 OT.

The Boys Division I swimming sectional took place at Lakewood High on Friday. In each individual event and relay, the top two in each event automatically qualify. In addition 34 at-large qualifiers from across all sectionals will also advance to districts. In relay events, 14 at-large teams will also advance.

Elyria's Ian Ward finished second in the 200 IM with a time of 2:01.36 to automatically qualify for districts. Westlake's Joe Craven finished second in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 52.69 to also automatically qualify.

Other top finishers from our area include Dominic Pecze who was third in the 100 Back with a time of 54.11, Westlake's Tyler McFarland was fourth in the 100 Butterfly with a time of 55.51. Westlake's relay team of Craven, Bobby Knurek, McFarland and Andrew Medoro finished third in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:43.47

Next Friday night will be huge in deciding the West Shore Conference boys basketball title. Even Joe Tait will be in the building calling the action on radio. Bay (12-4) leads the WSC with 9-1 record. Host North Ridgeville (11-5, 8-2) still has a bitter taste in their mouths from a 58-39 beatdown at Bay last month.
Either team could have been caught looking ahead but didn't on Friday night. Bay blasted Firelands 74-44. John Urwin led Bay with 15 points while Kyle Banal added 12. North Ridgeville whipped Fairview 58-39.
One team that might have been caught looking ahead was Avon. Last week Avon won road games at both Bay and North Ridgeville. However on Friday night, Avon lost at home to Rocky River. It was only the third win of the year for the Pirates. RJ Kaufmann had another big game for Avon scoring 24 points but it was not enough to offset Rocky River's Mike Stevens, who scored 27 points off the bench.