“Fantastic Foster” makes Huge Statement at Alliance Top Gun: Jameson defeats Kolodzik 9-3 in battle of state champions.

        We never should have doubted him. 
        Despite wins recent dominating wins over state 4th placer David Thompson, and state runner-up Travis Popham, few gave Jeremy Foster a chance in the Top Gun Finals.  His opponent, Dustin Kilgore, was a returning 3rd place state finisher who has been simply punishing all opponents this season.  Strong, fast, and technically sound, he looked like a solid favorite over Foster, who started the year at 160 where he failed to place at Beast of the East- and then moved to 171 and was beaten at Brecksville.
        Jeremy Foster saw it differently.
        Dustin Kilgore jumped out to a quick lead with an easy takedown.  After letting Foster up, he was in again quickly and appeared to be finishing his second takedown go to up 4-1- exactly what the pundits had predicted, Kilgore controlling the bout.
        That’s when Foster unleashed his “funk.”  Foster hit what appeared to be some sort of modified “Peterson Roll.”  A scramble ensued that saw Foster catch Kilgore flat on his back with a tight lock around his head.  Kilgore fought hard, but was in a world of trouble with too much time to hold it off, as the ref slapped the mat.  Coach Cubberly was understandably ecstatic over Foster’s third big win in the past week.
        Some will say that Foster was lucky and just “caught” Kilgore.  I would tend to disagree.  I will allow that the outstanding Kilgore probably wins a pure “takedown battle” of these two fine wrestlers.  However, this is was Foster does- look for the big move and put people on their backs.  Incredibly mobile for an upperweight, he is the master of the scramble situation.  He reminds this writer of past upperweight stars Mike Buddie and Joey O’Neill. 
        Going into his amazing week, Ohio Wrestling Site had Jeremy Foster rated as the #7 Sophomore in the state in the Power Rankings.  Clearly, Foster has made liars out of us!  When the rankings are updated next rest assured he will be moving up.  At this point, trying to pick the best sophomore out of the top five:  Foster, Ben Jordan, Coby Boyd, Brian Roddy, and Tony Jameson- is nearly impossible.  Kilgore is himself only a junior, ranked as the 8th best junior in the state by Ohio Wrestling Site.

Colt Sponseller over Nick Mills

          Defending state champion and junior national all-american Colt Sponseller continues to impress. After scoring a fall in the finals of the Medina Invitational Tournament, Sponseller won 25-10 in the finals of the Top Gun Invitational.  Sponseller put on a clinic of snap-downs, shucks, and sweep singles, racking up 12 takedowns while allowing ten escapes.  Sponseller won the rest of his bouts by fall.  Despite his credentials, there is a great deal of controversy as to whether Sponseller is a legitimate threat to Josh Rohler of Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary’s.  He is.  Simply put, Sponseller is for real.  While outclassed in the finals, Mills is only a freshman, so it was very impressive that he reached the Top Gun finals.  Expect big things from him in the future. 

Jedd Moore over Nick Bodnar

        This was truly a “tale of two matches.”  Returning state 6th place finisher Bodnar, a senior, took control of the bout by scoring the first two takedowns with relative ease.  His opponent, sophomore Jedd Moore, (rated as the #6 sophomore in the state by Ohio Wrestling Site) was seemingly outmatched by his older opponent.  However, Moore scored two solid single leg takedowns to send the bout into overtime.  Another single-leg takedown gave him the bout, 7-5 in overtime.  Despite being a sophomore, Moore stands a legitimate shot at making the finals against Lance Palmer of St. Ed’s.

Battle of State Champions:  Tony Jameson over Daniel Kolodzik

        Defending Division I state champion Tony Jameson continues to show why he is one of the most improved wrestlers in the state this year.  Following up his dominating win at Brecksville, Jameson handled all opposition at Top Gun as well.  Only one opponent, Sam Nighman, went the distance up to finals- falling 12-4.  In the finals, Jameson matched up with Division III state champion Daniel Kolodzik.  Jameson and Kolodzik have quite a history:  Kolodzik defeated Jameson at the junior high state championships in 2004, Jameson avenged that loss at the 2005 Top Gun with a 4-2 win.  This year, it was all Jameson in a 9-3 win.  Jameson is a strong favorite to win in Division I this year.   
Another impressive lightweight was University School’s Dennis Roche, who won the 112 lb. weight class with a 6-1 triumph over Adam Tinnel of Eastwood in what could be a state finals preview.

Cubberly Dominates

        Showing a vast arsenal of tilts, Ryan Cubberly was one of the most impressive wrestlers of the night, scoring a 17-1 technical fall in the finals.  Two-time state runner-up Cubberly against 2003 state champ Pat McLemore is shaping up to be one of the best matchups of the State Tournament.  In the team race, Eastwood added yet another feather in their cap by comfortably outdistancing University School. 

Blair dec. Lakewood St. Edward’s 37-19

        In other notes, St. Ed’s fell to the #1 team in the nation in Blair Academy.  Ohio Wrestling Site had projected that this would be the year for St. Ed’s to finally defeat Blair.  Simply put, it was not St. Ed’s day. Swing matches at 119, 145, and 135 went to Blair, and the Eagles lost unexpectedly at 160 and 171.  In addition, Blair scored three huge falls in matches they were favored in.  While I still believe that on a given day St. Ed’s could defeat Blair, it was not to be this year.   Below are the complete results:

103: Cobos (SE) d. Taylor 8-5.
112: C. Palmer (SE) m.d. Stanzone 14-2.
119: Fry (B) d. Birt 6-0.
125: Sulzer (SE) d. Counoyer 2-0.
130: Russel (B) m.d. Gonsor 13-4.
135: Shanaman (B) d. Harris 3-0.
140: L. Palmer (SE) m.d. Mason 12-4.
145: Blasco (B) d. Nemec 4-2.
152: Medina (B) pinned Bertin :35.
160: Mocco (B) d. Tomasone 7-3.
171: Geiger (B) d. Roddy 6-5.
189: Honeycut (SE) m.d. Flaihr 13-4.
215: Platt (B) pin Rios 3:56.
Hvy: Powers (B) pin Green 2:55.

College Notebook

       Dustin Schlatter was the shining star for Ohio at National Duals, winning a 6-0 decision over 3x NCAA All-American Jon Masa and defeating another former Ohio Star, Mark Disalvo of Dayton Carroll (also a Division I All-American), by a 4-1 count.  Not bad for a true freshman!  At press-time, Schlatter was about to match up with defending NCAA Champion Zack Esposito of Oklahoma State!  Stay tuned for a complete account of that matchup!

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