High school wrestling: Wadsworth, Highland combine for 13 state qualifiers

NORTH CANTON — Medina County wrestling put on a show Saturday at the Hoover Division I District. Grizzlies, Hornets and Bees were all over the podium, as Wadsworth, Highland and Medina accounted for 14 of the 56 wrestlers qualifying for the state tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in Columbus. The Grizzlies left the district with seven qualifiers, including junior Christopher Earnest, who won at 150 pounds. "It's crazy to look at it and say we're taking half of our team to the state tournament," he said. "Some schools can't even make district, and we're taking half of our team to the state tournament. It really shows how much work we put in the room and scrap hard every single day." Wadsworth finished runner-up with 192.5 points, slightly behind Massillon Perry (202). The Panthers qualified 10. Right behind the Grizzlies was Highland, which tied Brecksville for the third-most qualifiers with six. The Bees placed third 169 points, while Highland were fourth with 137. The Hornets learned tough lessons when six wrestlers fell one match shy of qualifying last season. This year, Highland had four reach the championship finals, led by 157-pound winner James Scavuzzo. "We have a plaque in our wrestling room with all of the fifth- and sixth-place medals (from last year)," he said. "Showing us that we don't want to feel that feeling ever again, which we didn't this weekend." Medina 175-pounder Matt Hamula qualified with a consolation semifinal victory over Hudson's Ben Romano, but the senior defaulted in the third-place match with an arm injury against GlenOak's Brandon Batson. Joining Scavuzzo and Earnest as a champion was Wadsworth 190-pounder Coen Grimm, who overcame the disappointment of not reaching the podium last year to earn a 5-2 decision over Highland's Dominic Konopka. Grimm credited a more aggressive style he has adopted for the postseason, which also has included a sectional championship. "You know it's even better (to be district champion) based on the fact that I didn't even place here last year," he said. "There's been a foul taste in the back of my mind ever since this date last year, when I did not place here. That's pushed me all season long. "All season I said I wanted to be a district champion, and that's what I am today." Scavuzzo earned his title with a 10-3 decision over a projected state placer Tyler Lintner of Austintown Fitch. "I'm one step closer to the big goal, so I'm excited," he said. "I have four more matches, four more kids I have to beat. That's what I'm looking forward to and what I've trained for all year." Earnest, the projected state champion by Intermat.com, agreed with Scavuzzo but believes his success Saturday will lay out important advantages at state. He toppled third-ranked Ethan Smith of Eastlake North in the district final. "It's been a dream to be a state champ, and I can see it all starting to come together," Earnest said. "I just have to stay calm and focused on what I'm doing. I know it's going to be a lot different going into the Schott and seeing thousands upon thousands of people watching you, but I just got to stay calm." Highland's Joey Vazsonyi and Creed Hill, along with Wadsworth's Mason Brugh, were runners-up to projected state placers. Rounding out the list of qualifiers were Wadsworth's Jack Dinwiddie, Jaxon Joy, Nick Humphrys and Aaron Ries, who finished third at 106, 120, 144 and 285, respectively, along with Highland's Chase Crutchley and Joey Scally, who finished fourth at 144 and 285. Highland's William Scavuzzo (165) and Wadsworth's Kade Mellon (132) and Louis Schaefer (175) achieved alternate status. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Results Standings: 1. Massillon Perry 202, 2. Wadsworth 192.5, 3. Brecksville 169, 4. Highland 137, 5. Solon 104, 6. Mentor 83.5, 7. Nordonia 80.5, 8. Barberton 72.5, 9. Austintown-Fitch 71, 10. Stow 60, 11. GlenOak 52, 12. Walsh 51.5, 13. Massillon Jackson 44, 14. Lake 43, 15. Medina 36.5, 16. Hoover 35, 17. Mayfield 34, 18. Hudson 27, 18. Brush 27, 20. Boardman 25.5, 21. Painesville Riverside 25, 22. Eastlake North 22.5, 23. Massillon 17.5, 24. Firestone 15, 25. Kenston 10, 25. Green 10, 27. Madison 7, 27. Kent Roosevelt 7, 29. Willoughby South 6, 30. Twinsburg 5, 30. Ashtabula Lakeside 5, 30. Ellet 5, 33. Wooster 3, 34. Canton McKinley 0, Akron North 0, Kenmore-Garfield 0. 106 — Brett Stanley (Bre) d. Emeric McBurney (Pe), 5-2. THIRD: Jack Dinwiddie (Wad) d. Becan Hahn (Men), 1-0. 113 — Kevin Grunzweig (Sol) d. Nate Dulcie (Pe), 3-1. 120 — Nick Molchak (Sol) d. Joey Vazsonyi (Hi), 9-2. THIRD: Jaxon Joy (Wad) m.d. Austin McBurney (Pe), 10-2. 126 — Kaden Jett (Bre) d. Mason Brugh (Wad), 2-1. FIFTH: Nick Blackburn (Men) fft. Corey Haney (Hi). 132 — Antonio Shelley (Men) d. Nick Gerome (Sol), 4-3. FIFTH: Kade Mellon (Wad) d. Thomas Cassetty (L), 6-4. 138 — Dyvaire VanDyke (Wal) d. Israel Petite (Nord), 9-3. THIRD: Landen Johnson (Pe) d. Chase Crutchley (Hi), 2-1. FIFTH: David Shannon (A-F) d. David Shue (Wad), 10-9. 144 — Manny Scordos (Bre) d. Creed Hill (Hi), 5-2. THIRD: Nick Humphrys (Wad) d. Christian Giltz (Pe), 8-4. FIFTH: Vince Randall (Sto) d. Andrew Supers, 3-1, 150 — Chris Earnest (Wad) d. Ethan Smith (EN), 5-3. 157 — James Scavuzzo (Hi) d. Tyler Lintner (A-F), 10-3. 165 — Jeremy Olszko (Nord) d. J.R. Reed (Sto), 2-1. FIFTH: William Scavuzzo (Hi) d. Blaine Chrisman (Med), 10-4. 175 — Luke Vanadia (Bre) p. Sean O'Horo (Bo), 2:34. THIRD: Brandon Batson (Gl) inj. def. Matt Hamula (Med). FIFTH: Louis Schaefer (Wad) d. Ben Romano (Hu), 1-0. 190 — Coen Grimm (Wad) d. Dominic Konopka (Hi), 5-2. 215 — Logan Shephard (Pe) fft. Roosevelt Andrews (Ba). 285 — Aidan Fockler (Pe) p. Maliek Williams (Bru), 4:37. THIRD: Aaron Ries (Wad) inj. def. Joey Scally (Hi).