#1 St. Paris Graham vs. #2 Pemberville Eastwood
Top Division II Schools battle for who’s #1
Dan Ransick

     Out in the cornfields Champaign County, off State Route 36, lies one of the premier wrestling programs in the country- St. Paris Graham.  Graham’s tradition of excellence goes back to the early 1980’s, when Jim and Jeff Jordan became Ohio’s 2nd and 3rd wrestlers to win four state titles.  Today, Jeff Jordan is head coach at Graham- the finest public school wrestling program in Ohio over the past decade.  All Graham has done under Jordan’s leadership is won the past five straight Division II state championships.  They are consistently in the Top 10 of the entire country.
     However, a serious challenger has emerged to Graham’s dominance of Division II.  Never has a program risen from obscurity into a powerhouse more quickly than Pemberville Eastwood- but they have emerged as a challenger to unseat St. Paris Graham this year.  Hailing from Northwest Ohio, Coach Ralph Cubberly has truly built his program from the ground up.  Barring a tremendous upset, these two teams meet come 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 9th at Hilliard Darby High School in the finals of the State Duals- to settle issue (at least for now) of who is the top Division II team in the state of Ohio. This one will have many key match-ups that could easily become the state finals match come March. A detailed breakdown of this epic battle:

103: David Taylor Graham 9th vs. Bryan Smith Eastwood 10th
David Taylor has more than lived up to his huge billing, and is one of the top 103’s in the nation despite being far undersized for the weight and just turning 15. , if you take into the fact that he only weighs 100 lbs and just turned 15.  Best-case scenario for Eastwood would be a tech rather a pin.

Ohio Wrestling Prediction: Taylor pin Smith (6-0 Graham)

112: Jake Rowe Graham vs. Adam Tinnel Eastwood
Big edge to Eastwood here, and state runner-up Tinnel should be good for bonus points here against the younger and less accomplished Rowe. Tinnel is coming off a runner-up performance at Brecksville and an impressive 5th at Beast.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Tinnel pin Rowe (6-6 Tie)

119: Aaron Hart Graham vs. Ben Llanas Eastwood
A rematch of last year’s state dual and state finals!  Llanas surprised many by winning both matches.  However, since then Hart has been spectacular, finishing 2nd over the summer at junior nationals, winning the Ironman, and finishing 3rd in the rugged Beast of the East.  Meanwhile, Llanas has stumbled, failing to place top eight at three major tournaments- the NHSCA Juniors, the Beast of the East, and most recently, Brecksville.  Simply put, it would be a huge surprise for Llanas to beat Hart at this point.  Look for Hart to come out hungry and dominate. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Hart dec. Llanas (9-6 Graham)

125: Ben Jordan Graham vs. Bryn Toney Eastwood
This one could get ugly, as St. Paris Graham has state champion Ben Jordan (nephew of head coach Jeff Jordan, son of now Ohio State Representative Jim Jordan) while Eastwood will field a backup, Bryn Toney, subbing for the injured Ullinski.  Jordan is known for his takedowns- especially the killer single leg that no one can seem to stop- but he will be hungry for the fall in this match. This one should be over quickly.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Jordan pins Toney (15-6 Graham)

130: Coby Boyd Graham  vs. Kyle Taylor Eastwood
Along with Jordan, Coby Boyd is one of the top two sophomores in Ohio.  Boyd finished 6th as a freshman despite wrestling a weight class higher than he should have been (Graham had 3x state champion Cameron Doggett at his weight).  Along the way he upset one of Ohio’s top seniors- Jordan Lipp.  This year Boyd has been a force- pinning Skonieczny of Walsh at Ironman.  Kyle Taylor a quality wrestler for Eastwood, but if he holds Boyd to a decision that will be a victory for Eastwood- in fact a fall is likely here. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Boyd major decisions Taylor (19-6 Graham)

135: Joe Newland Graham  vs. Ryan Cubberly Eastwood
 After losing to Graham’s Cameron Doggett in the state finals the last two years, Ryan Cubberly will be looking to take it out on Newland.  Newland is a tough wrestler who is simply outmatched in this one- his job will be to avoid the pin. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction:  Cubberly md. Newland (19-10 Graham)

140: Jake Kyle Graham vs.  ??
With Hoffman of Eastwood out with a broken collarbone Eastwood again could be giving up some big points in the match!. Kyle is already a 2x state placer and former finalist and will be good for a “guaranteed six” against whatever victim Eastwood sends out.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction:  Kyle pin ??? (25-10 Graham)

145: James Mannier Graham vs. Eric Cubberly Eastwood 1
Mannier is a tough freshman middleweight, but simply not ready for Cubberly, a bona fide state title contender.  Cubberly is coming off a one-point loss to state champion Shane Friery in the finals of Brecksville. This is another weight where going the distance will be a victory for the losing team.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Cubberly major decisions Mannier (25-14 Graham)

152: Josh Luster Graham  vs. Kurt Shroyer Eastwood
In one of the key bouts of the night, Josh Luster takes on returning state placer Shroyer Up from 130, Shroyer seems a bit undersized for this weight and will be challenged by the tough Luster. Luster was a match away from placing at Ironman earlier this year.  It’s really a tossup. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Shroyer decisions Luster (25-17 Graham)

160: Ivan Vest Graham vs. Dustin Kervin Eastwood
In another match-up that is a swing match, Kervin the senior gets the nod over the relatively unknown Vest. Vest can keep it close as both have about the same talent wise; Kervin can do his best to get Eastwood back in this dual by winning this match.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Kervin decisions Vest (25-20 Graham)

171: David Thompson Graham vs. Jeremy Foster Eastwood
After 119, this is the marquee match-up of the nite- and likely will be a preview of the state finals. Thompson is coming back from an injurythat he suffered before Ironman and has been on a roll- taking 4th at Beast and winning GMVWA last weekend. Foster, who wrestled both Dave Rella and Josh Rohler tough last year at state on his way to a 4th place finish, has just moved up from 160.  Foster is only a sophomore! However,Thompson looks like the bigger and better wrestler right now.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Thompson over Foster (28-20 Graham)

189: Cody Smith Graham  vs. Will Clark Eastwood
Smith of Graham has had an impressive year thus far for a freshman upperweight-  while Clark had a somewhat rocky Brecksville in which he failed to place.  Smith has had impressive showings at Beast and Ironman, and placed at GMVWA last weekend. Look for the freshman Smith to clinch the dual here with a decision over Clark.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Smith dec. Clark (31-20 Graham)

215: Ryan Nachtrab Eastwood winner by Forfeit
Graham doesn’t have a 215- if they find a body to throw out against the fabulous Nachtrab that is what will happen- it will get thrown (and pinned). 

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Nachtrab winner by Forfeit or Pin  (31-26 Graham)

275: Adam Walls Graham vs. Colt Schulte Eastwood
This will be an interesting match-up as you have the very tough freshman Walls going against a seasoned heavyweight who was 4th at Brecksville and a match away from placing at Beast. Look for Walls to keep it close, but Schulte has the experience and size to win over Walls.

Ohio Wrestling Site Prediction: Schulte dec. Walls (31-29 Graham)

        On paper, Graham appears to have the slightest of edges.  An Eastwood win in either of the marquee matchups- 119 and 171- would be huge.  However, dual matches in particular are not decided on paper- often, emotion and momentum can cause unfathomable results to happen.  For those who can make it, the trip to Hilliard Darby should be well worth it!

The Lakewood St. Edward’s Show Returns-

With all due respect to the other seven teams, there really is no team race here.  No one will challenge St. Ed’s. When all is said and done, St. Ed’s will have run away with it as they usually do.  For what it’s worth, Cincinnati Moeller is the best of the rest.  In Division III, Sandusky St. Mary’s Central Catholic is a prohibitive favorite, with Chanel being the top challenger.  The better focus will be on potential individual matchups. 

Division I Individual Matchups

103: Touris (Lakota) vs. Genetin (Massillon Perry): Arguably the two finest 103’s in Division I square off in the first round of the state duals.  Touris has been on fire, beating returning state placer Alex Weaver 16-4, Cadet National Runner-up Ben Sergent, and Danny Mitcheff.  Genetin was 3rd at Ironman, scoring a late fall against Sergent (though he trailed the entire match) and losing by only a single point to double cadet and junior national champion Boris Novachkov.  Both competitors are among the best in the nation in this weight.  This matchup will take place in the first round.

Ohio Wrestling Site pick:  Touris

112: Collin Palmer vs.Ryan Fields:  If it occurs, this would the marquee match of the duals.  Lakota (the #3 seed) will have to unseat 2nd seeded Moeller for this match to happen.  Beast of the East champ Palmer looks better each week.  Fields has dominated all comers this season after finishing 2nd at state to Tony Jameson last year. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick:  Even

130:  Alex Flake (Lakota) vs. Zach Mizer (Perry):  the state’s best 130’s meet in the first round in Alex Flake of Lakota and Zach Mizer of Massillon Perry.  Mizer is the returning runner-up at this weight and beat Flake last year.  Flake is a two-time state qualifier and tremendous scrambler. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick:  Mizer

135: Thomas Straughn (Massillon Perry) vs. Germaine Lindsey(Cincinnati Moeller):   Lindsey has been exceptional this year, but Straughn has looked amazing since cutting from 145 to 135.   Highlighting his season is pinning Division II state runner-up Chris Andrews and winning by a quick technical fall over Division I state champion Richie Spicel.  If Straughn handles the cut ok he should prevail- however, should the cut sap his energy look for Lindsey to win.  This matchup will only happen if Perry upsets Lakota, a big “if.”

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick:  Straughn

135:  Germaine Lindsey (Moeller) versus Shawn Harris: Lindsay is a slight favorite over former state champ and returning state runner-up Harris given that he placed 4th at Ironman while Harris failed to place.  Harris will be looking to regain his form from the Beast where he upset Ryan Cubberly of Eastwood.  Again, this matchup is contingent upon Moeller and St. Edward’s reaching the finals- which is very likely.

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick: Lindsey

145:  Sean Nemec (Lakewood St. Edward’s) versus Derek Foore (Wadsworth):  Should Wadsworth beat Miamisburg, Foore and Nemec would meet in a rematch of last year’s state finals, which Nemec won by a major decision.  Foore looked outstanding in dismantling the competition at the Grizzly Invitational, whereas Nemec has looked a big sluggish since his extremely impressive Ironman triumph.  Expect a closer bout this time with the same winner. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick:  Sean Nemec

160:  Tony Bradberry (Lakota) versus Dean Gaier (Moeller):  In a battle of two of the best 160’s in Ohio, Dean Gaier scored a seemingly decisive 10-4 win over Bradberry at the SWOWCA.  However, in that match, five of Gaier’s points came in one big scramble.  Since then, Bradberry has beaten Division I state-runner-up Travis Popham.  Look for an upset in what should be one of the most exciting matchups of the day.  This matchup would occur in the semifinals.

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick:  Bradberry

Division II Individual Matchups-

119- Aaron Hart (Graham) versus Ben Llanas (Eastwood) – see above

125- Ben Jordan (Graham) versus Quentin Keyes (Walsh Jesuit):  Keyes will be hoping the third time is a charm against Jordan after suffering losses to him in last year’s state semifinals and at the Ironman.  At the Ironman, Jordan seemed to get in on Keyes’ legs at will, while Keyes was unable to mount any offense.  They would meet in the semifinals provided Walsh defeats Clyde- which is far from certain.

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick:  Jordan

130: Coby Boyd versus Chase Skonieczny:  Two of Ohio’s best sophomores battle here in a rematch from the Ironman.  There, Boyd scored a quick first period fall over Skonieczny; however, Skonieczny placed higher (3rd) than Boyd (5th) defeating state champions Adam Kriwinsky and Adam Koballa along the way; and just added a Powerade Crown, defeating two more state champions, Ohio Div I State Champ Brandon Hardy and Virginia State Champ Colin Dozier.  Skonieczny has now beaten champs from all three divisions this year!  This match is almost a tossup- again, should Walsh beat Clyde in the first round. 

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick:  Boyd

III Individual Matchups

112:  Troy Opfer (Sandusky St. Mary’s) versus Bryce Freeman (Berkshire):  Should 3rd seeded Berkshire upset Chanel, this rematch of last year’s state semis will take place.  Opfer is very tough, as evidenced by his two state wins over Sergent.

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick: Opfer

119: Darren Boing of Chanel versus Brett Freeman: Boing will be looking to avenge last year’s state loss to Brett Freeman (Berkshire) when the meet in the semis.  Freeman won that match 3-2.  Look for a similar match but with Boing on the winning side.

Ohio Wrestling Site Pick: Boing

Hope to see you there!

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