St. Peter Chanel served notice to Monroeville on Thursday that it's ready to give the reigning Division III state champions a run at the state wrestling tournament. A third-place finisher in Columbus last year, the Firebirds ended Wadsworth's two-year reign at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament in impressive fashion.
St. Peter Chanel served notice to Monroeville on Thursday that it's ready to give the reigning Division III state champions a run at the state wrestling tournament.
A third-place finisher in Columbus last year, the Firebirds ended Wadsworth's two-year reign at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament in impressive fashion.
It should be noted that the Grizzlies were without injured state-placer Sheldon Brandenburg and state qualifier Clay Wenger (17 stitches in lip and above eye), who bowed out after the quarterfinals.
On the heels of a semifinal round that saw Chanel win four of its five matches, the Firebirds turned it up a notch in the finals and walked away winners.
"Tonight was a big steppingstone for us," said Dan Orrill, who won the 145-pound weight class for the Firebirds. "We've always been second to the Division I teams. We wanted to show we're a D-III power and we're a force to be reckoned with in all divisions.
"We have a lot of confidence. It's a special group we have here, a brotherhood."
That brotherhood watched Orrill, a returning state-placer, fight off his back in the third period and beat Greco and freestyle wrestling All-American D.J. Beauch of Toledo Central Catholic, 6-4, in the final.
Chanel's Aaron Assad (103) and Cody Walters (160) were also crowned champs as the Firebirds went 3-1 in finals matches. Given that Chanel won the tournament with state qualifiers Cody Tschantz and Danny Collier out of the lineup because of injuries makes the showing more impressive.
"I told the team this is a good indication of where we're at and where we want to be," Firebirds coach Graham Coghill said. "We've had kids step up this year and really turn it on."
George DiCamillo of St. Ignatius won his third straight Brecksville Tournament. The 112-pound junior has two Ironman titles and two state-placings in his pocket, but joined some rare company with his 10-3 win over Dayton Christian's Jacob Danishek in the final at Brecksville.
"This one means a lot," DiCamillo said. "It's the best holiday tournament in the nation going on 50 years strong.
"It's a great tune-up for state to see what level you're on. I think I proved myself well."
The match of the night came at 215 when Wadsworth Division I state champion Nick Tavanello and Wapakoneta Division II state titlist Logan Erb locked horns in a thriller.
After trading escapes, Tavanello hit a single-leg takedown in the third period near the edge of the mat to secure the 3-2 win.
"This one ranks high on my list," said Tavanello, who finished second at Brecksville last year. "I was a little nervous going into the match because he's an excellent wrestler. I felt the leverage swing in my favor, so I took the momentum that way. Everything falls into place when you work hard."
Cam Tessari, a three-time state champ for Monroeville, became only the third four-time champ at Brecksville, pinning Padua's Andrew Romanchik in the final at 140.
Tessari joined Drew Pariano (1991-94) of Fairview and Brecksville's Craig Dimitris (1996-99) in the elite field.
Monroeville's Hunter Stieber (135) and Chris Phillips (171) became three-time champions at the tournament after missing last year's event because of injury. Wadsworth's Kagan Squire (125), Padua's Brent Fickel (130) and Lake Catholic's Jimmy King (152) rounded out the area winners.
Brad Bournival is a freelance writer in North Royalton.
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