Chagrin Valley Conference wrestlers closed out the second weekend of competition with strong performances in several different area tournaments.
At least 12 CVC wrestlers stood atop the podium and many more placed among the top six at their respective weight classes.
Tournament champions included Trinity’s Derion Williams (106), Xavier Pearson (126), Brandon Bruce-Bey (175), Cameron Carter (190), Jeremiah Reed (215), and SeBron Price (285). The Trojans finished second as a team at Cuyahoga Heights’ Al Pinter Memorial Tournament.
In addition to their five champions, the Trojans also had five other place winners.
“I’m just proud of the work (Derion) puts in he has high goals, and he wrestled a great finals match against a great opponent who was the Division III No. 1 ranked kid in the state with a 11-4 victory and winning Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament,” said Trinity coach Isaiah Hill. “This was Xavier’s first tournament this season. He missed the first tournament, but he looked good and calm, and wrestled well not giving up a takedown all tournament. Brandon is the senior leader of the team. He works hard and had a good tournament going 5-0. Cam is getting back to his old self. He went 5-0 with three pins and a major decision and a technical fall in the finals over the Division III No. 18 ranked kid in the state. (Sebron) is coming off an injury and in his first tournament ever. He went 5-0 with three pins and a hard-fought win in overtime in the finals. SeBron missed the Hawken tournament due to injury, but he is a first-year senior wrestler working hard to become the starter.”
Madison won five championships on the way to claiming the team title at the South Rebel Invitational. Jordan McCullough (120), Jack Harrison (132), Addison Trisket (150), Sonny Salajcik (157), and Noah Blough (165) each claimed the top spot at the podium to lead the Blue Streaks to the team championship.
McCullough and Harrison both recorded four pins and a decision, Trisket pinned four opponents and added a technical fall, Salajcik recorded two pins, and Blough recorded three pins and a technical fall on the way to winning their brackets. Kaden Ruscin (106), Aidan Pastor (113), Tommy Beaver (113), Justin Phillips (120), Izaiah Siler (175), Kevin Pinon (190), and Cam Mullins (285) also placed for the Blue Streaks.
Madison’s girls’ team went 4-1 in the Defense Duals at Vermilion High School to finish second. Abby Forster, Taylor MacAdam, and Kora Radolovic each turned in a strong performance.
Jefferson’s Jonathon Bissell (144) and Lakeside’s King Wright (157) both won tournament titles at the Riverside Rumble, and Hawken’s Will Greenberg won the 285-pound championship at Barnesville’s Doan Ford Invitational.
Greenberg went 5-0 and defeated several ranked wrestlers and a returning state place winner on the way to his title.
“It was a great test for us wrestling out of town against some stiff competition,” said Hawken coach Victor Ventresca. “Will keeps building week to week.”
Lutheran West’s D.J. Otero went 5-0 at 106 pounds at the Marlington Duals. He pinned all but one opponent, the No. 6 ranked wrestler in the state, whom he beat by major decision, 17-5.
“D.J., in his second event of the season, showed how dominant he can be,” said Lutheran West coach Josh Malave. “He will compete at the historic Medina Invitational later this month. We are confident that his work ethic and abilities will put him in a position to compete for a state championship at the end of the season.”
Chagrin Falls opened the season with a sixth-place finish at the Hawken Invitational and then finished seventh at the Rebel Invitational on Saturday.
After earning six top-six finishers at Hawken, the Tigers earned eight top six finishes at South with Jay McGinnis (126) finishing second, Hunter Blair (132) and Harrison Fritz (150) placed fourth, Owen Stull (144) and Jake McClintock (190) earned fifth-place finishes, and Max O’Brien (120) placed sixth.
“We started up slow on day one at Hawken but had a terrific day two moving from 10th to eventually sixth place,” said Chagrin Falls coach Brian McKenna. “At Willoughby, we had different stretches of success, which is understandable for we are primarily a young squad. Coming into the program, I have been very impressed with their effort and attitude. The team is looking forward to making more progress throughout the season.”
Independence’s Manoli Fourtounis turned in a strong performance in placing second at the Rebel Invitational at 138 pounds.
Fourtounis went 3-1 with three pins.
“Manoli has a lot of natural ability and the more mat time he gets the more that ability comes through,” said Independence coach Ken DeAngelis. “He’s a hard worker in the room and he’s improving daily.”
Mitch Meyer (113), Charlie Meyer (132), Jonah Valenti (144), Luke Masek (150), and Jake Vitron (165) also placed for the Blue Devils.
Coaches are requested to send in Wrestling Roundup notes every Sunday.
