Rising Stock: Ohio Wrestlers Make Names for Themselves in Fargo:

The ultimate glory that all Ohio high school wrestlers seek is won or lost in March.  However, it is over the summer months, in “Fargo” that the wrestlers can make a name for themselves on the national stage and set the tone for next season.  State champions are a dime a dozen at “The Fargodome”- and unsung wrestlers upsetting the big names is commonplace.  The following, in order, are the Ohio Wrestlers who made a name for themselves at the Junior and Cadet Nationals in 2006:
 
Logan Stieber- Stieber has become a sensation before he wrestles his first high school match.  Yet, the “hype” surrounding this wrestler does not match just how good he is.  In Fargo, no freestyle champion in either the Cadet or Junior Division even approached his level of dominance.  Stieber outscored the competition at 105 lbs. by a mind-boggling 101-1.  In 16 periods of wrestling, Stieber scored technical falls (six point advantages) in all but one period, or 94% of his periods.  The next best percentage belonged to Joey Sheridan of Oklahoma (Cadet 152 champ) who scored pins or technical falls in 76% of his periods wrestled, with four points allowed.

It’s interesting to compare the dominance of Stieber to that of the nation’s two best 103 lb. wrestlers from this past season, David Taylor (98 lb. champ) and Jordan Oliver (112 lb. champ). Taylor and Oliver won the weight classes immediately below and above Stieber.  

David Taylor  (98)-   64% of periods decided by fall or technical fall, 3 points allowed.
Logan Stieber (105)- 94% of periods decided by fall or technical falls, 1 point allowed.
Jordan Oliver (112)-  50% of periods decided by fall or technical fall,  6 points allowed.

In the finals, Stieber met Chris Villalonga of New Jersey, who had handled all opposition easily, including highly-regarded Greco-Roman champ Mac Bailey in his pool.   Villalonga will be wrestling at Blair Academy next year.  The result was more of the same, with Stieber prevailing 7-0,7-0.  To put this result in perspective, Stieber scored 14 unanswered points in 2:50 of wrestling in the national finals against a wrestler who had dominated his bracket.  Over a six minute match, Stieber would win 30-0 at this pace!

Should you think this was simply one “hot” tournament for Stieber, he was just as dominant at FILA Cadet Nationals in April.  At that tournament he went unscored-upon and never went the distance in ANY period.  This included a match with Junior National Runner-up Jon Morrison of Illinois, which Stieber won by a margin of- you guessed it- 6-0, 6-0.  Simply put, every national-caliber opponent that has stepped on the mat with this Stieber has been destroyed.  Bob Preusse of Amateur Wrestling News- a man who has seen a few outstanding wrestlers in his day, who is not easily impressed- described Stieber as “out of this world”.

Historical Perspective

Such a dominating performance gives rise to the question of where Stieber ranks among the best incoming freshman in Ohio wrestling history.  In my view, the best freshmen to date have been Dustin and CP Schlatter.  Like Stieber, both Schlatter brothers won Cadet Freestyle titles in the summer before their freshman seasons. 

While Logan Stieber outscored his competition 101-1, with his closest match decided by a  combined margin of 11-1, both Schlatter brothers had much more difficulty in winning their first Cadet titles.  Dustin Schlatter had to rally from a 4-1 deficit on his way to a 6-4 victory against Tony Pretto.  His next match, against Brendon Hardy, ended 3-0. At least one other match went the distance.  CP was actually defeated by Chris Lape, but reached the finals when Lape lost to Cooperman whom Schlatter went on to defeat.  In the finals, CP trailed 7-0 before rallying for a one point win.  In my view Stieber is unquestionably better heading into his freshman year than either Schlatter brother was- at any rate, it cannot be disputed that he was much more dominating in winning his first Cadet National title.

Stieber will be competing for Monroeville High School.  It’s my understanding that an invitation has been extended to Stieber to attend the Walsh Ironman, where he would likely meet David Taylor in a battle of two young wrestlers who appear destined to join the all-time greats.

2. Sean Nemec- Nemec settled who the #1 Senior in Ohio heading into the 2006-2007 season with a superb performance in Fargo.  Already a former Cadet National Champion in 2004 and Junior National All-American in 2005, this was without question the performance which vaulted Nemec from an Ohio to a national superstar.  Nemec faced three superb competitors from New Jersey in this tournament.  First, Ironman/Beast of the East/Cadet National Champion Eric Medina of Blair Academy.  Medina had beaten Nemec previously at Junior Duals.  Medina also defeated Ohio state finalists Josh Rohler (9-6) and Kyle Bertin (fall) this season.  On this day it was all Nemec, however, as the St. Edward Eagle rolled to a 7-1, 2-2 victory.  Next, Nemec faced 3x New Jersey state champion Darion Caldwell.  3x state champions are extremely rare in New Jersey, which features a single-division state tournament.  Caldwell was also a returning Junior National All-American.  However, Like Medina, Caldwell was little match for Nemec, as Nemec won 3-1, 4-0.   After dropping a three period bout to perhaps the tournament’s best overall wrestler in Adam Hall of Idaho, Nemec completed his New Jersey hatrick with a 4-1, 1-0 win over Scott Winston- a wrestler widely considered to be the best rising junior in the nation (and who had defeated Dave Rella at Junior Duals at 160 lbs.).  All told, Nemec outscored the three elite New Jersey middlweights by a combined 21-5 margin- making a case for himself as the nation’s best middleweight.

Ohio fans can look forward to Nemec matching up with a number of elite middleweights this season.  He will likely face Medina again both at the Walsh Ironman and in the St. Eds-Blair dual.  In what would be perhaps the biggest Ohio matchup of all-time, Nemec should face 2x state champion /NHSCA Juniors National Champion Colt Sponseller at Medina.  Finally, Nemec could face 3x Missouri state champion Shane Nay of Oak Park at the Super Eight Duals.

3. Cameron Wade-  Ohio Wrestling Site rated Wade as the #4 heavyweight in the state in their post-season all-division rankings.  Many complained that the 2x Division III state champion was rated too high, as there were three lower-rated heavyweights who defeated him this year.  However, Wade was a leg clich away from winning junior national freestyle.  Along the way he took out the #3 rated heavyweight in the nation, Nathan Fernandez of Oklahoma, 3-0, 2-0.  In the finals he faced Dom Bradley of Missouri.  Very little was settled, as each wrestler won one period with a takedown, the scoreless third period was settled with a “leg clinch”.  Wade was the defensive wrestler- heavyweights starting in the defensive position in the leg clinch position almost always lose.

Ohio returns more great heavyweights than ever before next season.  All three state champions are back (Wade, Brendon Barlow, and Nathan Sharp), plus three state runner-ups (Ben Kuhar- 2005, Jesse Campbell, and Andy Hartshorn).  Wade is a Cadet and Junior National Freestyle Runnerup while Kuhar was a 2x Cadet National Champion, and both Barlow and John Hiles were both All-Americans in the Junior National Greco tournament.  However, clearly, Wade now begins 2006 as the man to beat at heavyweight.

4. Adam Koballa- Wade’s teammate and fellow 2x Division III state champion may have been the biggest surprise of all for team Ohio. Like Wade, Koballa was rated by Ohio Wrestling Site as the #4 wrestler in the state in his weight class yet is now a Junior National Runner-up.  However, perhaps we shouldn’t have been two surprised given that Koballa opened Fargo in 2005 with five straight falls or technical falls only to fall to the very tough Steve Mytich and Mike Grey.  Koballa knocked off two returning junior national All-Americans along his way to the finals.  Look for great things from Koballa as he continues his career at Old Dominion University.

5.  Samuel White-  It was common knowledge that Danny Genetin had a great backup this year.  After all, Samuel White was a former junior high state runner-up who defeated 2x state placewinner Alex Weaver at the Mayfield Big 8.  However, few would have predicted White to open Cadet Nationals 7-0, including a win over returning All-American David Klingsheim of California and Greco Champion Mac Bailey of Missouri. 

While the wheels came off against the outstanding Chris Villalonga of New Jersey and Nicky Gorden of Pennsylvania, White’s 4th place finish established him as a bona-fide state title contender for 2007 at 103 lbs.  Look for a final between White and Jamie Clark of St. Edward’s.

6. Neil Birt-  In a weight class where multiple national champions Mike Grey and Anthony Valles failed to place, Neil Birt achieved All-American status with an 8th place finish.  This is the first time since Rick Hepp in 1990 that I can recall a wrestler who did not place at state placing at junior national freestyle (other than at the “fringe: weight classes: 98,105, 215, 275 lbs).  Birt picked up great wins over Dan Mandara of New York and Jason Lara of California along the way.  After two years of being a question mark in the St. Edward’s lineup, Birt now looks to be one of the guys that other teams will fear heading into his junior year.

7. Brian Roddy- Roddy parlayed his “throw caution to the wind” style to a 5th place finish in a loaded weight class.  Along the way he took out AJ Brentzel of Pennsylvania via a fall in :17  and avenged a Disney Dual loss to Chris Heinrich of PA in a spectacular match that saw the wrestlers put up a combined 27 points. 

In his 5th place match, it was more of the same, as Roddy lost the first period 8-7, won the second period 5-2, and scored a fall in :08 the third period.  To put it in perspective, that wrestler (Arand of Oregon) had earlier defeated 3x state placewinner David Thompson of Graham 8-2, 5-0.  All told, Roddy had five falls in his eight wins.  The 5th place finish in a weight dominated by upperclassmen clearly staked Roddy’s claim to being the best junior in Ohio for 2006-2007.

8. Shawn Harris- After state champion and state runner-up finishes his first two years, Harris fell into obscurity in 2005-2006, a season which saw him lose twelve matches and finish fourth at the state tournament.  However, Harris turned that around in a big way in Fargo.  After opening with a 4-0 record, Harris faced Vince Varela of New Mexico, rated as the #1 130 lb. wrestler in the junior class this season. Harris had actually outscored Varela through two periods before Varela broke the match open in the third.  Harris followed that up with a very impressive 3-1, 4-1 upset of Beast of the East Runner-up Luke Silver.  Needing just one win to place, Harris fell to eventual champ Jamal Parks 2-0, 2-1.  Varela would go on to place 3rd, while ironically, Silver (defeated by Harris) also placed 8th.

Harris looks to return to the 135 lb. slot in the St. Ed’s lineup next season.  With old rivals Straughn, Hardy, and Lindsey likely moving into the 140-145 range, Harris will very likely be embroiled in a two-man battle with Richie Spicel.

9. Ryan Cubberly-  Only a great wrestler like four-time state placewinner Ryan Cubberly could consider such a great senior year as ending on a down note.  Yet, Cubberly had to regard his 3rd place finish at the state tournament in 2006 as exactly that, after two runner-up finishes to Cameron Doggett.  However, rather than focus on the negative, Cubberly’s last hurrah in Fargo was his finest hour, as he finished fourth place in Junior Freestyle.  Along the way he defeated returning Cadet Freestyle Champion Mario Mason of Blair Academy 1-0, 1-0.  The only blemish on his record in his pool was a tough loss to Jake Deitchler of Minnesota.

It was in defeat, ironically, that Cubberly perhaps wrestled the best match of his career.  Pitted against Ohio’s best wrestler, 4x state champion Lance Palmer, Cubberly actually outscored Palmer 7-4, but lost under the existing rules as Palmer won two of three periods.  Look for great things from Cubberly as he heads to Central Michigan University in the fall.

10. Jamie Clark- The fact that Clark only rates 10th in the “rising stock” category is not so much a slight on his achievements but rather a sign of how huge his reputation was entering the tournament- frankly I would have been very surprised if he did not win.  However, the extent of Clark’s domination was not anticipated: Clark scored two falls, and outscored the opposition in his remaining five matches by a mere 55-0.  Simply put, he was never touched.

Clark enters the 2006-2007 season in a very similar situation to David Taylor a year ago:  a dominant Cadet Freestyle National Champion at 91 lbs. with a big “question mark” as to whether he will be big enough for 103.  The bet here is that the outstanding Clark will be able to overcome the size disadvantage and be successful from the get-go, and an outright force by season’s end as he grows into the weight.

11. Brian Stephens- A loss like this would have broken most wrestlers in Fargo.  Opening as a heavy underdog against 2x Wisconsin state champion/cadet freestyle all-american Bobby Wunnicke, Stephens wrestled Wunnicke dead-even only to lose both periods on “last point scored”: 3-3, 4-4.  While most wrestlers in a 97-man bracket might have thrown in the towel after such a heartbreaking loss, Stephens got to work.  All he did from there was reel off seven straight wins, including a 7-1, 4-0 win over the wrestler who would go on to eliminate Wunnicke. 

The rich get richer as Stephens and his younger brother, fellow Cadet All-American Matt Stephens, have evidently transferred to St. Paris Graham from Piqua.  Stephens looks to be a strong title contender, if not outright favorite, at 119 lbs. next season. 

Notable Non-Mentions

Notably absent in the “rising stock” eleven are national champions David Taylor and Ben Sergent, and double Junior National All-American John Weakley.  Quite frankly, none saw their stock rise that much in my eyes because all did about what I expected.  

The Best of the Rest

Others who did merit consideration where Andrew Gasber, Eric Cubberly, Jedd Moore, JT Rice, Brad Squire, Zach Neibert, Zach Hancock, Matt Stephens, Jess Stevens, the D’Alessandro brothers, Jesse Dong, Chris Kline, Orlando Scales, Chris Canty, Jeff Liggitt, Nick Sulzer, Jacob Farber, Aaron Sulzer, Eric Meyer, Thomas Graszl, Michael Sadler, Bill Schindel, Dan Canfield.

Bad Karma????

So much of Fargo success depends on “the draw”.   Even an elite competitor may go “two and barbeque” with the wrong draw.  The following Ohio wrestlers had their hopes dashed in large part by “the luck of the draw”.  

Muhammad Abdur-Rahman:  Abdur-Rahman must have an enemy on the seeding committee.  How else to explain a draw that included returning Junior National All-American Jason Welch (considered the best rising junior in the nation by some) and Mike Benefiel (3x Illinois state champion/former Cadet National Champion) in rounds one and three?  To put it in perspective, both of these wrestlers have defeated Ohio’s top senior, Sean Nemec.  As expected, the tough Abdur-Rahman was sent to the showers after round three.

Brendon Barlow: Storm clouds must have been circling Ohio’s Division I State Heavyweight Champion.  Barlow had the misfortune to face the eventual national champion and 3rd place finisher by round six.  Barlow was otherwise easily a top eight wrestler here.

Bill Schindel:  Schindel had the tournament of his life through five rounds, opening 5-0, only to face Trevor Brandvold (dominating Senior National Champion), and, of all people, personal nemesis John Weakley back-to-back. Weakley dominated Schindel three times last season.  Schindel possibly could have snuck in for a place in the other bracket.
 
Brad Squire/Nick Sulzer:  The three best competitors in the Cadet 112 lb. weight class were Jordan Oliver, Ian Paddock, and Tony Ramos.  Unfortunately, all three were in the same bracket as incoming freshman Squire and Sulzer. It was a huge credit to Squire, then, that he finished 4th in this pool.  Sulzer faced both Paddock and Ramos by round six and was eliminated despite having a win over nationally ranked Cole Von Ohlen before that.  Squire put forth a superb effort to place, knocking off state champions Andrew Williams (fall) and Bart Reiter (5-0, 3-0).

Jesse Dong:  Dong may have been as “hexed” as any Ohio competitor in the tourney. There were three competitors in this weight that towered over the rest of the field: Don Vinson of NY, 2x state champion Seth Easter of WV, and state champ Conrad Polz of Illinois.  All three are among the best rising juniors in the nation.  Dong, an underrated rising junior from Westerville North, opened 4-0, with three domininating wins and an upset of Greco National Champion Cole Schmitt.  His reward?  Easter and Polz back to back in rounds five and six.  140 is likely to be by far the toughest weight in Division I next season- with Kevin Hardy, Germaine Lindsey, Dan Gonsor, Errol Young, Marcel Clopton, and Richie Spicel all likely competitors (note: that would be an incredible six top three state finishers), but Dong will absolutely be in the thick of things.

Chris Canty:  The unsung Canty put together a brilliant 5-2 record.  After losing narrowly to eventual 4th place finisher Mike Kelly, Canty had to face dominating champion Josh Wiseman to stay alive.

David Habat:  Some might have thought the much-acclaimed freshman to be was a disappointment in Fargo.  On the contrary, his draw was a disappointment.  Habat faced the 3rd and 6th place finishers by round four, the later match coming down to criteria in the 3rd period.

Final Thoughts:

All in all, it was perhaps the best Fargo Ohio has ever had.  Ohio had a combined 44 All-American finishes between the Greco Roman and Freestyle competitions.   This may in fact be the most Ohio has ever had, and the 28 combined freestyle All-Americans lead all states, highlighted of course by four champions and nine finalists.  It was an interesting year in that Ohio’s top graduating seniors were upset in matches we never dreamed they’d lose, while the wrestler many thought was the top senior to be, 2x state champion Colt Sponseller did not place in either style.  And yet, two rising freshman won national titles outscoring the competition by a combined 156-1, and three of the four finalist hailed from Division III.    As the saying goes, that’s why the matches are still wrestled on the mat!

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