The Race for 2nd Place:  Ohio Wrestling Site Division I Team Forecast: 

#1- Lakewood St. Edward: 

The more things change, the more they stay the same.  When the individual preseason rankings come out, St. Edward will have wrestlers ranked in the top ten in all fourteen weight classes.  No fewer than nine of those wrestlers will be ranked in the top four.  Simply put, the Eagles have only gotten better in the last year.  It’s true that 4x state champion Lance Palmer and state champion Keith Sulzer will be difficult to replace.  Palmer was practically an “automatic six” for the Eagles.  However, last year Palmer was backed up by one of Ohio’s best freshman, Andrew Gasber.  Gasber was a cadet national all-american in both styles this summer, and has finalist potential in a loaded weight (145).  

The new additions are Jamie Clark/Gus Sako at 103, Nick Sulzer (112) and the return of Ben Kuhar (275).  The effect of these additions is to make what were two of the weakest weights in 2006 into two of the strongest weights in the lineup.  St. Edward has a problem that other teams can only wish they had at 103; they have possibly the two best 103’s in the state (in Division I) and only one can start.  Clark comes into St. Edward as one of the most decorated incoming freshman of all-time:  2x Junior High State Champion, FILA Cadet National Champion, Cadet National Champion.   Clark actually went unscored-upon in winning cadet nationals and none of his matches were seriously in doubt.   To the best of my knowledge prior to Clark (and Logan Stieber) winning Cadet Nationals this summer only three incoming Ohio freshman have ever won Cadet Nationals:  C.P. Schlatter, Dustin Schlatter, and David Taylor.  The Schlatter brothers were dominating 4x state champions and David Taylor is on his way to becoming exactly that as well. 

It is amazing then that it can be in doubt that Clark will even be varsity.  However, the fact is that Gus Sako beat him the last time they wrestled, at junior high regionals when they were 7th graders (though Clark captured the title when Sako was defeated by Hunter Stieber).  Sako was himself a dominating junior high state champion last spring and should be a full 103, whereas Clark, a cadet national champ at 91 lbs, will likely be a very light 103.  Rumors persist that Sako has been getting the best of Clark in workouts. Their wrestle-off will be one of the biggest stories of the fall of 2006.

Nick Sulzer had a great showing in Fargo, very nearly making All-American in a very tough weight.  Look for the freshman to grab a middle state place.

Ben Kuhar was more accomplished than any Ohio heavyweight other than Luke Fickell heading into his junior year. A Division I state runner-up as a sophomore, he won two cadet national freestyle titles, the latter over Cameron Wade.  Then came the devastating ACL injury which put him out for almost a full year.  Kuhar returned for Fargo but was simply not the Kuhar of old, losing his first two matches against non-distinguished opponents.

Another questions that remains is what weight classes St.Edward’s two bona-fide superstars, Sean Nemec and Collin Palmer, will be competing at.   While rumors persist that Nemec will be at 160, a source very closely connected with the program informed me there was a 90% chance of Nemec being at 152.  Rumors have also persisted that Palmer will be at 119.  My source indicated to me that Palmer most likely will be at 125- but 119 was in fact a possibililty. 

The most likely lineup for the St. Edward Eagles:

103- Jamie Clark/Gus Sako
112- Nick Sulzer
119- Jon Cobos
125- Collin Palmer
130- Neil Birt
135- Shawn Harris
140- Dan Gonsor
145- Andrew Gasber
152- Sean Nemec
160- Scott Elliot
171- Brian Roddy
189- Chris Honeycutt
215- Ben Rios
275- Ben Kuhar

#2- Cincinnati Moeller:  Perhaps no team has become as maligned as the Fighting Crusaders of Moeller H.S.  Ranked as high as #4 in the entire nation after the “Powerade” last fall, the team finished 3rd at the state tournament despite what can only be described as a complete collapse last season.  Last year Moller had six wrestlers ranked in the top three, but came away with exactly one third place finish out of that group.  A recap:

At 160, #2 ranked Dean Gaier was a controversial call away double overtime away from upsetting defending state champion Anthony Ciraky, but then dropped to 7th place when he was inexplicably beaten by Jeff Green of Westlake.

At 125, #3 ranked Eric Gobin failed to make weight at Districts.

At 171, #3 ranked Eric Cameron dropped two overtime bouts and slumped to 7th place.  Cameron was one of the biggest stories of the early part of the season, winning at Ironman, Powerade, and SWOWCA.

At 275, #3 ranked Frank Becker finished 7th in a weight class where “parity” could best describe the top eight finishers.

Don’t look for history to repeat itself.  Gaier, Gobin, and Becker all return and should be eager to redeem themselves.  Germaine Lindsey and Tommy Weinkam also return after 3rd and 4th place finishes at 135 and 140.  Lindsey has a great chance to win state if he can stay away from Thomas Straughn of Massillon Perry.  Weinkam was ranked #2 last year and has an excellent chance to be a finalist, but his chances at a title will likely be slim with either Thomas Straughn or Sean Nemec likely to be in his way.  Becker and Gaier also have finalist potential.  2x state placer Mike Mahon is a “darkhorse” title contender if he lands at 160.

The biggest issue may be weight classes.  Eric Gobin has been as high as 160 after competing at 125.   Mike Mahon wrestled as high as 189 in the spring after wrestling 152 during the spring.  The lanky Gaier seems like a natural to move to 171 after moving up 15 lbs the previous season, but one  would think he might like his title chances much better at 160 (with no Dustin Kilgore or Brian Roddy). 

The best bet for Moeller from 140-171 at this time appears to be:

140- Germaine Lindsey
145- Eric Gobin
152- Tommy Weinkam
160- Mike Mahon
171- Dean Gaier

There isn’t a better team in the nation in that range.   Other wrestlers Moeller will be counting on to score points are state qualifier Adam Cadwallader (119-125), district qualifiers Matt Melink (125-130) and Ross Quehl (189-215), , and Matt Hammer, a quality middleweight who could find himself without a weight class.  Junior High state placewinner Jacob Corrill could also be a point scorer in a 103 lb. weight class which looks to be extremely thin next year (no pun intended).

In summary, barring a complete collapse, Moeller is the prohibitive favorite for 2nd place in Divison I.

#3- Massillon Perry:

The more things change, the more they remain the same.  Massillon Perry under Dave Riggs (though he is technically an assistant now) has arguably been the best public school program in Division I over the last 15 years.  In 2006, they stunned the pundits by finishing 2nd in the team race, easily outdistancing Moeller.   Despite the powerful squad Moeller is returning, a repeat performance is certainly possible given that Perry returns three top three finishers plus adds a new title contender in Sam White to the lineup.  White finished 4th at cadet nationals over the summer and will take over the 103 lb. spot.

Leading the squad will be state champion Thomas Straughn, who should man the 145 lb. spot after his improbable cut to 135.  Featuring a brilliant “knee-tap” from his feet, Straughn piles up points like very few competitors in the state.  Dan Genetin and Seth Horner were 2nd and 3rd last year, but could be moving up two weights next year.  It is my view, however, that (certification permitting) Genetin will be back at 112 despite wrestling 119 in Fargo.

In addition to the top three, sophomore Nick Heflin (130-135) returns after qualifying for state as a freshman.  Hefin defeated eventual 3rd place finisher Matt Dennis at the state tournament.  Senior Matt Coleman (152-160) finshed a disappointing 5th at Districts but defeated two state placerwinners during the season.   Similarly, 189 lb. Dustin Schilling did not make it out of Districts but had two quality wins against Divison II 4th place finisher Matt Fisher and state qualifier Ernie Porco.  Perry will be counting on Heflin, Coleman, and Schilling to place if they are to finish 2nd.

Other wrestlers who could possibly score at the state level for Perry are Andrew Klecan (transfer from Massillon Washington) and tough sophomore Andrew Phillips at 171-189.

#4:  Lakota West:

Lakota West’s 2007 team will have more “star power” but less depth than last year.   The star power comes in the form of Bo Touris and Ryan Fields.   Touris had a tremendous season last year with wins over Steve Mitcheff, Dan Genetin, Ben Sergent, and Kyle Lang.  The only “blip” on the radar screen came at an unfortunate time- the rematch with Mitcheff in the state semifinals.  Nonethless, given the overall season he had last year Touris opens at 112 as co-favorites with Mitcheff at the very least.   Ryan Fields seeks his first title after two runner-up finishes.  Fields was unbeaten last year including wins over both Division II state finalists.  He begins this season as the favorite at 119 provided Collin Palmer is at 125. 

Lakota’s depth will be diminished by the loss of three state placers and a fourth state qualifier, including 3rd place state finisher Tony Bradberry.   However, the cupboard is not bare.  Returning state qualifier Jesse Stevens had a nice showing at “Fargo” and could open the season with a top three ranking if he wrestles 135 again.  Tyler Green should this year after coming up one match short of placement at 125 last year.  Rick Weatherholt (189-215) had a disappointing District after being ranked #14  in the state but could be a significant point scorer for Lakota this year.  Other wrestlers who should put together solid seasons include Andrew McClain (152-160), James O’Connell (152-160), Rick Clemons (152-160), Cody Taylor (171-189), and Dillon Halford; however, all are longshots to be significant point scorers for the Firebirds at the state level.

#5: Reynoldsburg

Reynoldsburg continues to improve under head coach (and 1993 state champion) Jason Allen.   This year’s squad features five returning state qualifiers.  This is a squad I could easily see blowing past Lakota West and challenging for the #3 spot, or I could just as easily them ending up toward the bottom of the top ten. 

Two wrestlers are legitimate state title conteneders, Andrew Hartshorn (2nd at 275 in 2006) and Mazin Shalash (3rd at 152).  However, with state champion Barlow and 2005 runner-up Ben Kuhar returning to a very deep weight class, it is just as easy to see Hartshorn slipping into 5th or 6th place as in the finals.

Mazin Shalash will probably open at 160 as co-favorites with Derrick Foore of Wadsworth.  However, its quite possible we may see Mohammad Abdur-Rahman or Dean Gaier here, as the 160 lb class will be a virtual “oasis” between two of Ohio’s best, Sean Nemec and Dustin Kilgore.  Thus, like Hartshorn, Shalash could be 4th as easily as he could be state champion.

The real “linchpin”, however, will be 103 lbs Keni Li.  Li was a pleasant surprise for Reynoldsburg last year, qualifying for state despite having fourteen losses.  At state he amounted to cannon-fodder, losing by first period fall and 16-0 technical fall.  However, reports are that he was a light 103 who will have grown into the weight in his senior season.  Moreover, it is considered unlikely that any other returning state qualifier will be back at 103.  While the impact of the weight certification rules has been greatly exaggerated (more on that in an article coming soon), the rules will almost certainly have the biggest impact at the 103 lb. class (the era of the “huge 103” may be over).  In a weight class where all but Clark/Sako and Sam White look very beatable, Li could be a third top three finisher for Reynoldsburg in his senior season.

Perhaps the most interesting story of Reynoldsburg’s returning state qualifiers is Chris Lester (130-135).  Last year the unranked Lester entered the District Tournament with a 22-13 record.    He had failed to place at North Canton.  He posted a 1-2 record at Brecksville.  He finished 7th at Toledo Weight.  Therefore, when Chris Lester lost his first match at District’s 13-1, the fat lady had not yet sung, but she was certainly warming, so to speak. However, from there, Lester won his next four matches: 5-3, 3-1 OT, 2-1, and 3-2 to qualify for state, against all odds.   Meanwhile, the first round opponent who nearly teched Lester did not qualify for state.  As so often happens, the magic of this “Cinderella Story” faded at “The Scott”, as Lester went 0-2.  Difficult to say whether his District represents a progression in his skills or a hot weekend.

State Qualifier Nick Sasfy returns (most likely at 171)  and should have a good shot at the podium after dropping two one-point bouts in Columbus last year.

Robbie Nien (119-125) is another wrestler that could surprise.  No wrestler came closer to qualifying for state without making it than Nien- a match away with losses of 10-9 and 7-6 in double-overtime.  Nien defeated three state qualifiers during the regular season, however.  Another possibility to score at the state level is Elijan Kolevski (135/140).  Like Nien, Kolevsky was a match away from state last year and defeated at least two state qualifiers during the season.

The Ohio Wrestling Site Top Ten:

1. Lakewood St. Edward
2. Cincinnati Moeller
3. Massillon Perry
4. Lakota West
5. Reynoldsburg
6. Wadsworth
7, Miamisburg
8. Youngstown Austintown Ftch.
9. Elyria
10. Grove City Central Crossing

This article is the first installment of the six-part “Preview 2006-2007” series.  Stay tuned for team rankings and analysis in Division II and Division III and individual rankings in all divisions. 

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OhioWrestlingSite.com 2005