When the 2019 Chagrin Valley Conference Wrestling Championships begin at West Geauga High School on Saturday, Geneva and Independence will look to defend their respective championships.
Geneva won the Chagrin Division last year while Independence claimed the Valley Division title.
The Eagles return eight CVC place winners from a year ago including returning runner-ups Braden Bilicic, who earned the top seed at 152 pounds after placing second at 145 last season, Cole Vennis, the third seed at 170 after finishing second at 182 last winter, and Charles Taylor, the second seed at 220 pounds after finishing second at the same weight a year ago.
Also returning for the Eagles are Jayden Sabol, who was third at 106 in 2018, Johnny Wayslaw, a fifth-place finisher at 120, Jesse McElroy, who placed fourth at 132 last year, Caleb Selman, who was third at 152, and Brandon Thomas, a third-place finisher at 195.
Sabol earned the No. 2 seed at 106 pounds, Wayslaw is the fourth seed at 126, McElroy and Bilicic are the top seeds at 132 and 152, respectively, Selman drew the second seed at 160, and Thomas earned the No. 1 seed at 195 pounds.
Devin Cerjan (4th at 138) and Justin Berg (3rd at 182) also earned seeds for the Eagles.
Independence returns just four place winners from last year but the Blue Devils have three returning champions in Michael Kucera, Nick Rossi and Luke Clymer.
Kucera earned the No. 1 seed at 126 pounds after winning the weight class last winter. Rossi is the top seed at 160 after winning at 152 in 2018 and Clymer drew the top seed at 220 after winning at 195 a season ago.
Other Independence wrestlers who earned a seed include Richie DiGeronimo (7th at 120), Liam Walker (8th at 132), Jimmy Senick (4th at 145), Brian Vollman (2nd at 182) and Vinnie Bucci (4th at 195).
Collin Patton placed sixth at 106 last year but was not seeded in 2019.
Three other wrestlers have the chance to defend their titles from last season.
Perry’s Kyle Rowan drew the No. 1 seed at 120 after winning at 106 last year. Cuyahoga Heights’ Jordan Krucek won at 182 pounds last winter but will miss the tournament as he recovers from an injury. Kirtland’s Jeff Kusar earned the No. 1 seed at 285 after winning the 220-pound weight class last season.
Seeds by weight class are listed below.
106
1. James Klingman-Berkshire (26-8)
2. Jayden Sabol-Geneva (24-10)
3. Nolan Frye-Cuyahoga Heights (28-4)
4. Patrick Reineke-Hawken (23-5)
5. Will Davidson-Kirtland (18-11)
6. Ty Zeigler-Cardinal (12-11)
7. Anthony McIntyre-Harvey (13-13)
113
1. David Boykin-Harvey (24-9)
2. Christian French-Hawken (16-7)
3. Calvin Rowan-Perry (16-8)
4. Josh Tribuzzo-Berkshire (8-6)
5. Dustin Kattler-Cuyahoga Heights (16-14)
120
1. Kyle Rowan-Perry (25-0)
2. Jackson Reineke-Hawken (23-3)
3. Brandon Meade-Cuyahoga Heights (25-8)
4. Yury Pozdneez-Orange (21-3)
5. Elijah Rowdy-Harvey (22-8)
6. Zach Kudroff-Beachwood (14-7)
7. Richie DiGeronimo-Independence (15-14)
126
1. Michael Kucera-Independence (24-9)
2. Konnor Duncan-Kirtland (18-9)
3. Colin Koenig-Perry (25-7)
4. Johnny Wayslaw-Geneva (28-7)
5. Carl Sicker-Harvey (23-4)
6. Jacob Hlifka-Hawken (17-11)
7. Jack Sparent-West Geauga (16-12)
8. Nick Linetsky-Orange (9-9)
132
1. Jesse McElroy-Geneva (30-4)
2. Jared Kochis-Orange (0-2)
3. Luke Hopkins-Cuyahoga Heights (32-2)
4. Tom Sicker-Harvey (16-6)
5. Paul Jacobs-Beachwood (14-6)
6. Austin Strever-Cardinal (9-7)
7. Andrew Wagenberg-Hawken (11-9)
8. Liam Walker-Independence (15-13)
138
1. Solomon Troychansky-West Geauga (14-11)
2. Mike Schmidt-Beachwood (23-7)
3. Trevor Bachna-Cardinal (12-8)
4. Devin Cerjan-Geneva (15-11)
145
1. Jarrod Malkus-Berkshire (13-2)
2. Damian Gambrill-West Geauga (0-0)
3. Luke Torgerson-Cuyahoga Heights (19-10)
4. Jimmy Senick-Independence (20-11)
152
1. Braden Bilicic-Geneva (32-4)
2. Aiden Marsh-Kirtland (17-12)
3. Tony Brezo-Cardinal (10-8)
4. Will Henry-Beachwood (12-12)
160
1. Nick Rossi-Independence (30-5)
2. Caleb Selman-Geneva (29-7)
3. Qyce Dweik-Orange (15-8)
4. Jerry Rose-Cardinal (16-3)
5. Brayden Adkins-Kirtland (19-10)
6. James Flowers-Beachwood (18-11)
7. J.J. Perrin-Berkshire (14-13)
170
1. Ricardo Valadez-Harvey (13-4)
2. Lucas Stoddard-Berkshire (29-7)
3. Cole Vennis-Geneva (14-7)
4. Maxwell Alpert-Cuyahoga Heights (12-10)
182
1. Doug Byrne-Wickliffe (13-4)
2. Brian Vollman-Independence (18-12)
3. Justin Berg-Geneva (14-12)
4. Brennon Braud-Kirtland (10-9)
5. Trevor Purcell-Harvey (9-9)
195
1. Brandon Thomas-Geneva (5-1)
2. Joe Connors-Cuyahoga Heights (22-10)
3. Elijah Durham-Harris-Beachwood (19-6)
4. Vinnie Bucci-Independence (14-14)
220
1. Luke Clymer-Independence (24-7)
2. Charles Taylor-Geneva (28-4)
3. Tommy Jackson-Perry (8-14)
4. Tyler Moriarty-West Geauga (19-9)
5. Alberto Reynoso-Harvey (20-11)
285
1. Jeff Kusar-Kirtland (20-6)
2. William Lindsey-Hawken (29-1)
3. Lou Alesnik-West Geauga (24-7)
4. Henry Woofter-Chagrin falls (16-3)
5. Tanner Coker-Orange (9-8)
Weight Classes to Watch
106
Klingman earned the top seed after finishing second last year and he has an 11-9 win over Sabol but suffered a 5-3 loss to Reineke at last weekend’s Badger Invitational. Frye placed fourth at the rugged Top Gun Tournament, which leaves 106 as one of the toughest weight classes in the tournament.
126
Kucera returns to defend his title but the returning state qualifier won’t have an easy path back to the top of the podium. Wayslaw is the defending 113-pound champ and Duncan placed third at 120 last season on his way to a state berth and Koening placed third at 113
160
Rossi won at 152 last year but he isn’t without his challengers. Dweik was a runner-up at 160, Selman finished third at 152 and Rose was third at 145. Adkins and Flowers also are returning place winners after placing fifth at 145 and sixth at 152, respectively.
285
Kusar won at 220 last year, Lindsey was the runner-up at 285, Alesnik placed fourth at 195 and Woofter was fifth at 285.
About the Tournament
- Wrestling begins at 10:00 a.m. and will continue through the championship round
- Admission is $6 (No charge for children 5 & under nor senior citizens)
- CVC passes will be accepted
- Wrestling will be conducted on three mats
- 16-man, double elimination brackets
