Palmer Captures Fourth State Title:  But Sponseller Steals the Show!
- Part I of a Two-Part State Tournament Coverage Series

In the 1986 cult-classic Highlander the “Immortals” gather in a single place for a tournament, all seeking “the prize”. 

The Ohio state wrestling tournament is much the same, with 672 wrestlers making the trip to Columbus in pursuit of wrestling immortality.  In the end 42 seized the golden chalice.  One of them, Lance Palmer, did so by crushing all opposition for the fourth year in a row, becoming the fourteenth 4x State Champion in Ohio Wrestling history.  His 10-0 finals victory over talented sophomore Jedd Moore was his first match to go the distance at Sectionals, Districts or State in the last two years.   Palmer has become so dominate that his matches are anti-climatic.  Much like the Schlatter brothers and Jeff Jaggers before him, you knew there was no possibility he could lose.

Probably as a result of Palmer’s greatness being long established, the day truly belonged to Colt Sponseller of West Holmes.  Sponseller captured his 2nd state title with a win over the outstanding Josh Rohler.  The final score of the match was 5-4, this being an example of a match which was not as close as the score.  The incredibly aggressive Sponseller seemed to have Rohler on his heels every second of the match.  I’m not sure I have ever seen a high school wrestler that attacks so constantly, with the exception of Alan Fried.  Sitting in press row, the majority of the talk was of Sponseller’s performance.  “He’s a throwback to Mollica and Leemaster from the old Walsh teams. He’s got a real engine in him”, quipped wrestling analyst Brian Brakeman. 

What is ironic is that few gave Sponseller a chance to beat Rohler at the start of the year.  Rohler, although he had never captured a state title, has won the NHSCA Junior Nationals last spring, and owned previous wins over not only Dave Rella (twice in two matches going into this year), but also 3x Pennsylvania State Champion Joey Eckloff and outstanding 2x Ohio State Champion Dave Erwin, who was ranked as high as #12 in the nation as a true freshman at Penn State this year.  In fairness to Rohler, he has been slowed by a knee injury, but Sponseller truly had him on the run the entire match, particularly in the last two periods.  

With all apologies to Sean Nemec, John Weakley, Erique Robertson, Thomas Straughn, and Dustin Kilgore, the best junior this state has to offer is Colt Sponseller.  The outstanding Rohler concludes his career as one of the finest wrestlers who did not capture a state title.

Highlights of the Finals Matches

All in all, in was one of the best state finals (and indeed, perhaps the best tournament overall) that I have seen.  I followed one match closely per weight.

103- David Taylor versus Kyle Gilchrest:

It is entirely possible that the freshman Taylor is the best 103 this state has ever seen.  Constantly attacking with highly sophisticated and creative technique, Taylor is outstanding on his feet, but it is in the top position that he is truly phenomenal.  In the finals, he faced a tough opponent in the unbeaten Kyle Gilchrest, yet made it look easy.  Taylor struck immediately with a “shuck” for a takedown.  He quickly cut Gilchrest loose and scored another takedown for a 4-1 lead with just 38 seconds gone.  Cutting him again, Taylor then scored with a daring maneuver that I just don’t have a name for- but it was breathtaking.  Taylor added takedowns in the second and third periods and rode Gilchrest easily for a 10-2 final score.

Taylor faced an unbelievably tough draw just to get to the finals with Dominic Cribari in the quarters and Johnny Papesh in the semifinals, yet scored a technical fall over Cribari (in a little over three minutes) and fall over Papesh in a match he was leading by a big margin.  It will be a treat to watch him in the years to come, particularly when he is no longer giving up weight to his opponents.

112- Collin Palmer versus Ryan Fields

This was one of the mostly highly anticipated bouts of the finals (#10 in the list of “Biggest State matchups”), featuring super frosh Collin Palmer against returning state runnerup, 46-0 Ryan Fields.  However, the outcome was a bit different than anyone expected.  The match was tied zero-to-zero late in the first period.  And then, disaster struck for Fields, in the form of a superb lateral drop by Collin Palmer.  Those who have seen Palmer wrestle know that once he starts to get it rolling on even a top kid, it can quickly get ugly.  After Fields fought off his back (though he appeared to be pinned from my seat) Palmer immediately tilted him for two more as the first period ended 7-0. 

At this point, Palmer was just in the zone.  He added another “go behind” takedown quickly to start the second period.  When Fields sat out, Palmer pulled him to his back and scored the fall in 3:08.  

All in all, Palmer and Taylor are the best freshman this state has seen since Dustin Schlatter.  They are considered not only the best freshman in Ohio by far, but also are considered be national experts to be easily the best freshman in the country.

At this point, I switched to watching the Dennis Roche of University School versus Adam Tinnel of Eastwood Division II match.  Trailing 1-0 early in the third, Roche locked up a cradle, which he turned into a takedown, backpoints, and then the fall.  Roche had earlier knocked off the very tough Jeff Penny in the semifinals 9-5.  Roche is one of the most underrated competitors in the state, and I would look for him to do quite well at high school nationals.

119- Division I: Tony Jameson versus Dante Rini

The best words to describe Tony Jameson’s style are “dangerous” and “creative.”  Incredible in flurries, he has a wide arsenal of moves which are designed to take his opponent to his back.  In this match, he met long-time rival Dante Rini of Massillon Jackson.  Jameson and Rini split four bouts last season, but Jameson won both of their prior bouts this season, one of them being very close and the other,12-4.  Rini opened the match with a single-leg takedown near the edge of the mat.  Jameson frankly seemed unconcerned, and after escaping, converted an outside fireman’s into a takedown, backpoints, and then the pin.  Jameson is so fun to watch that I found myself disappointed that his match was over.  There is only one wrestler who could stand in his way in my view- if he ended up in the same weight as Collin Palmer.  That would truly be one for the ages.

125: Division II: Ben Jordan versus Quentin Keyes

This match showed why you can’t rely on the so-called “transitive property.”
Keyes had beaten Jeremy Espinoza in the semis 12-3, Jordan defeated Travis Salyer 9-8 in his semifinal.  And then Espinoza beat Salyer 10-3 in the 3rd place bout.  So to recap, the kid Keyes dominated, dominated the kid Jordan barely beat.  Couple that with the fact that late in the season Keyes beat Division I state champion Keith Sulzer, and Sulzer handled Jordan shortly thereafter, and the “transitive property” would have pointed to an easy win for Keyes.  As the saying goes, “that’s why they wrestle the matches”.

In this match, Jordan shot a lot less than he normally does, but demonstrated great defense.  In the first period, Keyes shot in out a nice head-outside single, only to have Jordan counter and go behind for a 2-0 lead.  Keyes chose top in the second, and proceeded to really work Jordan over with the legs and almost score with a tilt, but came away with no points.  I was thinking that the two minutes of punishment might have taken some steam out of Jordan, but that didn’t happen.  In the third period, Keyes took a shot that was a carbon-copy of his first period shot, and Jordan hit the exact same counter for the takedown which clinched the match. The final was 5-1.

Like Tony Jameson, Ben Jordan is now halfway to being a 4x state champion.  It may be that he has already overcome his most significant obstacles, with Keyes and Adam Kriwinsky graduating.  However, there are two wrestlers who could prove to be a threat to Jordan the next two years.  First, sophomore Chase Skonieczny of Walsh Jesuit.  While he finished only 5th this weekend in the loaded 130 lb. weight class, Skonieczny twice defeated now- 2x Division I state champion Kevin Hardy of Solon this season, as well as splitting with Adam Kriwinsky, and beating 2x Division III state champ Adam Koballa as well.  The 2nd wrestler is one who was much less well known going into this weekend, 3rd place finisher Jeremy Espinoza.  While I did not get as much of a chance to watch Espinoza compete as I might have liked to, the junior from Rossford proved that his 39-0 record was not just due to weak scheduling.  Other than his lopsided loss to Keyes, he was brilliant, beating defending state champion Ben Llanas 14-1 and as mentioned, Salyer 10-3.  His other wins were a pin and a technical fall.  In short, this competitor is much better than anyone realized.

130- Adam Kriwinsky versus Willie Saxton

After winning a nail-biter over Coby Boyd in the semis (see installment II) Kriwinsky fought hard but was simply outmatched on his feet by Saxton of Buckeye Local.  Trailing 4-3 in the third (Saxton having scored two takedowns versus three escapes for Kriwinsky), Kriwinsky cut him and tied the match at 5-5 with “throw-by” type move with a little over a minute to go.  Saxton quickly escaped and answered back with another explosive double leg.  Kriwinsky escaped quickly to the lead to 8-6.  Desparately seeking a takedown, he attempted an ill-fated headlock with about 20 seconds to go.  Saxton easily countered for a 10-6 lead which was the final.

Saxton captured his first state title to go along with his considerable national accomplishments.  Krwinsky finished his brilliant career as a three-time state finalist and one-time champ.  Look for both to do very well at Senior Nationals.

135- Division I: Thomas Straughn versus Marcel Clopton:

Thomas Straughn entered this bout with the unheralded Clopton as one of the most prohibitive favorites of the finals.  There were to be no surprises here, as Straughn hit two of his patented “knee taps” for a 4-1 lead early in the second, at which time Clopton defaulted.   I was unsure was his injury was but he was limping pretty badly.  Both Straughn and Clopton are juniors.  Straughn is one of the most exciting and dangerous wrestlers in the state.

Division II: Pat McLemore versus Chris Andrews:

At this point I switched to the Division II final, Pat McLemore versus Chris Andrews. This weight was supposed to be one of the biggest showdowns of the tournament between McLemore and 2x state runnerup Ryan Cubberly.  However, returning Division III state runner-up Andrews had other ideas, knocking off Cubberly 4-1 in the first round.  Cubberly would come back to take 3rd.  In the McLemore/Andrews final, a first period McLemore takedown was key, but perhaps just as crucial was the escape McLemore scored at the buzzer at the end of the 2nd after being ridden out the whole period.  That point was awarded in a bizarre position where Andrews was clinging to McLemore (who was standing up) in mid-air, in front of McLemore.  The officials called it a loss of control and I would tend to agree.  That point gave McLemore a 3-1 lead, and gave him more latitude to ride Andrews out in the 3rd without having to worry about a stall point that would tie the match.  The tough-on-top McLemore did ride out Andrews to prevail 3-1.

140: Division III:  Kevin Lipp versus Josh Falk:

Like so many big matches, the 2nd most highly anticipated match of the state tournament came down to one big flurry.  The match pitted former state champion Kevin Lipp, recognized as one of the nation’s best at this weight, against Josh Falk of Bluffton, a returning state champion who had not tasted defeat in two years.  The first period was scoreless as neither wrestler mounted much of an attack.  Lipp escaped early in the 2nd period to take a 1-0 lead.  Late in the 2nd period, Falk made his move.  It looked like a good shot, but Lipp countered, and a fantastic flurry ensued in which it looked like both wrestler appeared about to gain the takedown several occasions.  In the end, Lipp “stepped over his own whizzer” as he put it, and landed Falk on his back for a takedown and near fall.  The damage was done, and Lipp went into cruise control for a 6-2 win.  Regarding the match, Lipp stated, I knew that I had wrestled tougher kids, not trying to say that he wasn’t a tough kid.  I saw he was such a technical wrestler, that he was almost robotic…….I knew I could take advantage of that if I got him in a flurry.”

145: Division II: Andy Lamancusa versus Robby Michaels

In one of the most exciting bouts of the tournament, Lamancusa won  a battle of unbeaten takedown artists by a score of 11-9. Michaels struck almost immediately with a beautiful low single for a takedown.  Quickly escaping, Lamancusa answered with an outside firemans carry for a takedown and two point near fall.  The first period ended with Lamancusa leading 5-2.  Another great low singe by Michaels cut the lead to 5-4.  Lamancusa quickly escapes and hit another outside fireman’s, for an 8-4 lead.  A Michaels reversal got him back in the match at 8-6.  Lamancusa escaped and added another single leg takedown in the third to basically clinch the match at 11-6. However, Michaels wasn’t throwing in the towel just yet, with an escape and a late takedown to close to within 11-9.  It may have been the most entertaining bout of the night.  Lamancusa has such a wide arsenal of takedowns- at Districts he was dominant with the beautiful double, in the state finals he was lethal with an outside fireman’s.  Looking to Senior Nationals, the 145 lb. weight class lacks a dominant “superstar” nationally, presuming Lamancusa competes he could be a dark horse contender- he is that good.  Michaels and Division III champ Marc Hoff are definite All-American candidates.

160: Division II: Dave Rella versus Nick McMullen: 

I characterized Dave Rella’s wrestling as the “Dave Rella Show” after the Mayfield Big Eight, and that description was fitting throughout the tournament.  Simply put, Rella is on an entirely different level than McMullen or any other 160 in Ohio.  He is truly the total package: speed, power, intensity, technique, conditioning.  In this match the final was 18-6 with all of McMullen’s points coming via escapes.  This was Rella’s closest bout of the tourney.  By next year, he will be ready to be competitive in the Big Ten at 165 lbs. should Penn State choose not to redshirt him. 

171: Division I:  Dustin Kilgore versus Brian Roddy

One of the most anticipated bouts of the tournament turned out to be surprisingly one-sided.  Dustin Kilgore looked smooth and powerful, scoring five takedowns in a surprisingly easy 11-4 win.  Sophomore Roddy will live to fight another day….Roddy was very dominant in his bracket despite having wrestled the eventual 3rd and 4th place finishers.  There has been much debate as to who the best 171 in Ohio is this year.  Considering that Roddy handled Division II champ Cody Magrum at Ironman, there can be no doubt now that Kilgore is the answer to this question.  In press row, among the wrestling experts, Kilgore was one of the wrestlers that the most talk was about (along with Sponseller).

189: Division II: John Weakley versus Jamey Srock-

This bout was definitely symptomatic of a problem in Ohio High School wrestling- the excessive stalling calls being applied to wrestlers who have the lead (more on this in the 2nd installment).  Simply put, Weakley completely dominated this match, yet it was tied with about 15 seconds to go!  In this 10-9 bout, Weakley totaled four explosive takedowns and a reversal, Srock had five escapes and four stall points.  What is wrong with this picture?  How did Weakley have time to do that much stalling while scoring four offensive takedowns and a reversal?   Weakley versus Division I champ Erique Robertson would be a bout for the ages- and both are only juniors, as are the outstanding Chris Honeycutt and Srock.  Weakley was as excited to win as anyone I interviewed.  “I can’t describe the feeling of being a state champ!  You make your body a slave for this one moment, it feels so good, it’s so worth it!  If I had a dictionary I could not put it into words!” Weakley exclaimed.

 

215: I was interviewing Weakley, Robertson, and Jamie Milkovich during this bout- lesson learned that I need someone to help me next year.

275: Division III: Cameron Wade versus Jesse Campbell

Cameron Wade is a heavyweight with state-wide and national credentials (Cadet National freestyle runner-up to Ben Kuhar last summer), yet the heavyweight from Sulllivan Black River Jesse Campbell has been Kryptonite to him over the past two years, pinning him last year at Districts and winning by a point over him this year.  The third time proved a charm for Wade, however.  Campbell drew first blood when he countered Wade’s vaunted “boots” for a 2nd period reversal.  However, Wade then struck back with a Peterson Roll for a reversal and two backpoints.   Wade notched a 3rd period escape but was hit for stalling in the 3rd for a 5-3 final, his 2nd state title.  Both Wade and Campbell are juniors, as is Division II champ Nathan Sharp, both Division I finalists, and probably the best of all, the injured 2005 state runner-up Ben Kuhar. 

Switching to the Division II match, Nathan Sharp hit what appeared to be a shuck right at the buzzer to pull out a 5-4 win over Matt Guhn, snapping Guhn’s winning streak at 96 bouts.  Guhn seemingly had let his guard down and thought he had it in the bag so to speak- he appeared simply stunned that he had lost afterward.  Ironically, I had earlier heard Bob Preusse of Amateur Wrestling News predict that wrestling so many close bouts would be his undoing. 

Stay tuned for Part II of the State Coverage Series soon!  Covered will be key semifinal, quarterfinal, and consolation round matches, along with the team race and thoughts on the tournament in general. 

Please feel free to comment on this article on the message forum!

OhioWrestlingSite.com 2005