Boys wrestling preview: County stars out to regain state titles

Coming off the first season in nearly a decade without producing a state champion, Medina County wrestling teams are reloaded with athletes' eyes on climbing to the top of the podium at Value City Arena in March. Gazette MVP and 2024 state champion Blake Bartos, a finalist last season and three-time placer, leads Buckeye. The Bucks are seeking a third Division II state duals championship in four years. Highland juniors Brandon Bickerton and Austin Bickerton, along with Wadsworth senior Kolt Mellon, also are returning placers. Medina's Dominic DiFilippo and Cliff Nicholson, Highland's Niko Giatis and Brennan Kicker, Wadsworth's Kyle Jardine and Blake Frantz — the latter is a 2024 state placer — and Buckeye's Collin Bartos are returning qualifiers looking to make a bigger mark. Additionally, Brunswick and Black River are returning experienced teams that should take the next steps. Cloverleaf is healthier and looking to rebound with a young squad that gained valuable experience a year ago. Here's a closer look at Medina County's seven teams: Black River Coach: Blake Owen (6th season) Last season: 6-1 Lorain County League, 4th LCL tournament (3rd overall), 4th of 11 Beachwood Division III Sectional, 16th of 44 Independence District, 74 of 93 state tournament, Kayden Hendershot state qualifier. Key letterwinners lost: None Letterwinners: Mason Koberna (HM All-Gazette, 175/190, sr.), Kayden Hendershot (HM All-Gazette, 165/175, jr.), Maddox Mitchell (132, sr.), Tristyn Herrick (138, sr.), Will Shearer (157, sr.), Jeremiah Otto (215, sr.), Austin Monteleone (285, sr.), Dozier Hendershot (285, sr.), Lincoln Szojka (126, jr.), Samuel Dilley (150, jr.), Jack VanCooney (175/190, jr.), Kohl Henry (106/113, so.), Brayten DuRell (113/120, so.), Cayden Farr (144, so.). Newcomers: None. Noteworthy: Black River brings back all 11 sectional competitors, including state qualifier Kayden Hendershot. l Dozier Hendershot and Shearer return after not wrestling last season. Brunswick Coach: Greg Seigler (5th season) Last season: 6-3 overall, 4-2 Greater Cleveland Conference (T-2nd), 4th of 10 Massillon Perry Division I Sectional, 13th of 41 North Canton Hoover District. Key letterwinners lost: None. Letterwinners: Carter Wickes (HM All-Gazette, 165, so.), Jacob Kash (132, sr.), Nick Petrakos (138, sr.), Sean Gamer (138, sr.), Spencer Burger (144, sr.), Brayden Miles (150, sr.),Nate Friedl (126, jr.), Travis Latta (157, jr.), Gavin Devich (175, jr.), Michael Dunlevy (215, jr.), Logan Matousek (190, so.), Andy Dalgleish (285, so.). Newcomers: Maxwell Tibayan (106, fr.), Lucas Burger (106/113, fr.), J.J. Williams (113, fr.), Danny Gamer (120, fr.), Lucas Remendowski (144, fr.), Andreas Mikaelian (215, fr.). Noteworthy: After finishing runner-up in the GCC the past two seasons, Brunswick is eying a jump to the top spot with a deep and experienced lineup. l Miles is a 100-match winner and Wickes was one match from earning All-American status in Fargo this summer. Buckeye Coach: Mike Tecco (4th season, 5th overall at Buckeye) Last season: 7-0 Cleveland West Conference, 7th CWC Tournament (4th overall), Division II Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association State Duals champion, 1st of 16 Kenston Sectional, 1st of 54 Kenston District, 10th of 81 state tournament, Blake Bartos (2nd), Austin McKee (3rd) state placers, Collin Bartos, Danny Beckett state qualifiers. Key letterwinners lost: Austin McKee (All-Gazette), Danny Beckett (HM All-Gazette, Liam Neitenbach (HM All-Gazette), Maven Reid (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Blake Bartos (All-Gazette, 138, sr.), Collin Bartos (All-Gazette, 113, so.), Brendan McKee (HM All-Gazette, 126, jr.), Daniel Leonard (132, sr.), Ryan Wilhelm (190, sr.), Justin Augustine (215, sr.), Brody Zoul (165, jr.), Zach Simmons (120, so.), Carter Hershkowitz (150, so.), Kayden Locker (157, so.), Ryan Lino (285, so.). Newcomers: Logan Letner (HM All-Gazette, 144, sr.), Ayden Mangan (150, jr.), Chris Nameth (106, so.), Chase Dangelo (150, so.), Preston Ware (175, so.), Carter Hoffman (285, fr.). Noteworthy: Blake Bartos (140 career wins) is eager to get back atop the state podium and is in reach of the Buckeye (Eddie Neitenbach, 175) and Medina County (Jaxon Joy, 179) career win records. l Buckeye has a strong core that will lead a still talented but younger group than recent years with strong freshman and sophomore classes. Cloverleaf Coach: Mark Mole (8th season) Last season: 3-8 overall, 3-4 Metro Athletic Conference, 4th MAC Tournament (4th overall), 11th of 14 West Branch Division II Sectional, 34th of 54 Kenston District. Key letterwinners lost: Logan Letner (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Caleb Burke (157, sr.), Justice Ridenour (126, jr.), Lorn Mahoney (138, jr.), Isaac Montgomery (144, jr.), Mason Rhoads (144, jr.), Liam Burke (150, jr.), Xavier Lyons (165, jr.), Cayden Cook (190, jr.), Alex Cunningham (120, so.), Lincoln Baltic (165, so.), Anthony Busson (175, so.), Jamere Johnson (285, so.). Newcomers: Jakob Workman (113, fr.), Chris Gilliland (120, fr.), Coltan Phillips (132, fr.), Jack Winget (132, fr.), Dayton Clutter (215, fr.). Noteworthy: Burke is the Colts' lone senior and will lead the team. l With as much youth as Cloverleaf has, expect the Colts to get stronger as the season continues. Highland Coach: Lazar Vilimonovic (1st season) Last season: 1-0 overall, 1st Suburban League American Conference, 1st of 10 Euclid Division I Sectional, 4th of 41 North Canton Hoover District, 12th of 65 state tournament, Brandon Bickerton (3rd), Austin Bickerton (4th) state placers, Brennan Kicker, Niko Giatis state qualifiers. Key letterwinners lost: Brady Bendau (HM All-Gazette), Conner Haney (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Niko Giatis (All-Gazette, 165, sr.), Brandon Bickerton (All-Gazette, 120, jr.), Austin Bickerton (All-Gazette, 126, jr.), Brennan Kicker (All-Gazette, 150, jr.), Kallen Whitling (175, sr.), Ryan Zahir (215, sr.), Cody Bendau (285, sr.), Hoyt Pylypiak (138, jr.), Artha Rogers (157, jr.), Riley Pylypiak (106, so.), Kyle Scavuzzo (132, so.), Lukas Grillis (190, so.). Newcomers: Joey Sesock (113, fr.), Leonidas Giatis (144, fr.). Noteworthy: Coming off a regional final appearance in football, Highland is starting to see some of its key two-sport athletes from the gridiron get into mat shape ahead of the North Coast Classic this weekend. l The Hornets return all four state qualifiers, led by two-time placers Brandon Bickerton and Austin Bickerton. Medina Coach: Chad Gilmore (25th season) Last season: 6-2 overall, 4-2 Greater Cleveland Conference (T-2nd), 3rd of 10 Avon Lake Division I Sectional, 7th of 42 Perrysburg District, 53rd of 65 state tournament, Dominic DiFilippo, Cliff Nicholson state qualifiers. Key letterwinner lost: Nick Kaplack (HM All-Gazette) Letterwinners: Dominic DiFilippo (All-Gazette, 113, so.), Cliff Nicholson (All-Gazette, 285, sr.), Taegan Gilmore (HM All-Gazette, 126, sr.), Tyler Bradshaw (HM All-Gazette, 132, sr.), Michael Kessler (144, sr.), Carson Merrill (190, sr.), Caleb Hennen (215, sr.), Jackson Herman (120, jr.), Cooper Kaplack (132, jr.), Cooper Lavender (138, jr.), Kingston McDowell (150, jr.), Jack Storm (157, jr.), Lazar Kovacevic (165, jr.), Chase McCurdy (138, jr.), Tyler Wilson (175, so.). Newcomers: Landon Stoltz (106, fr.), Colton March (175/190, fr.). Notworthy: In addition to returning DiFilippo and Nicholson, Taegan Gilmore and Tyler Bradshaw are state alternates looking to knock down the door to the state tournament. l With this being the Bees' final season in the GCC, competing for the conference title means a little extra this season before moving to the Suburban League National Conference. Wadsworth Coach: Louden Gordon (2nd season) Last season: 1-0 overall, 8th Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association state duals, 1st Wadsworth Division I Sectional, 3rd of 41 North Canton District, 15th of 65 state tournament, Kolt Mellon (6th), Jack Dinwiddie (7th), Brody Grimm (7th) state placers, Kyle Jardine, Troy Myers, Blake Frantz state qualifiers. Key letterwinners lost: Jack Dinwiddie (All-Gazette), Brody Grimm (All-Gazette), Troy Myers (HM All-Gazette). Letterwinners: Blake Frantz (All-Gazette, 138, sr.), Kolten Mellon (All-Gazette, 150, sr.), Kyle Jardine (All-Gazette, 157, sr.), Ryan Schlauch (113, sr.), Matt Anderson (132, sr.), Jacob Earnest (285, sr.), Noah Crowley (132, jr.), Dom Leguillon (165, jr.), Boden Ballinger (190, jr.), Carter Raymond (215, jr.), Noah Wiles (106, so.), Tyler Brugh (126, so.), Owen Mamich (144, so.), Max McFarland (144, so.). Newcomers: Leo Smith (106, fr.), Cameron Shreiver (120, fr.), Everett Gerengher (120, fr.), Carter Martin (157, fr.), Blake Hoover (175, fr.) Noteworthy: The Grizzlies are getting back Earnest, who missed last season due to injury, but will need to wait for Jardine and Ballinger to return later this season. l Mellon and Frantz have state podium appearances on their résumés. Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com.