WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — Madison junior Nick Montgomery and Painesville Riverside junior Evan Rosborough are wild cards, and this is no time to bet against them. Every winter, wrestlers like them get on a hot streak and ride it deep into the tournament season. Both are dangerous pinners. Get in too deep on a takedown attempt, or momentarily lose balance...
WILLOUGHBY, Ohio — Madison junior Nick Montgomery and Painesville Riverside junior Evan Rosborough are wild cards, and this is no time to bet against them. Every winter, wrestlers like them get on a hot streak and ride it deep into the tournament season.
Both are dangerous pinners. Get in too deep on a takedown attempt, or momentarily lose balance against either, and he has the quick hips and upper-body strength to deck an opponent in an instant. Both did just that Friday night as their postseasons began at the Willoughby South Division I sectional tournament.
Montgomery (132 pounds) and Rosborough (195) realize some view them as one-dimensional long shots, but both say they have enough game to take them to the state finals.
Rosborough won 38 matches and was a 171-pound state qualifier last year, winning one match and losing in a tough draw to wrestlers who placed third and fifth.
This year, Rosborough is 26-4 and picked up his 23rd pin Friday against powerful-but-inexperienced Madison senior Billy Skerkavich. Rosborough is ranked fourth by wrestling analyst Brian Brakeman. Two of Rosborough's losses were to Brakeman's top pick, Massillon Perry's Jo Jo Tayse, by scores of 5-3 and 6-4.
"Honestly, a lot of people don't believe it, but my goal is to get down to the state tournament, be in the finals and go for gold," Rosborough said. "I'll see [Tayse] at the [Mentor] district, and I have a pretty good match plan. We're pretty evenly matched."
Montgomery placed fourth at state last season and seventh as a freshman. He is 29-2 with 17 pins -- fewer falls than he had last season.
"I'm trying to work more on my style and not so much on my throws. I want to change it up a little bit because they're expecting big moves," said Montgomery, who had a pin and a major decision Friday.
"His technique is phenomenal, and he has fun with the throws," Madison coach Ryan Wirtzberger said. "One mistake against Nick and it's over. I think he has a chance to beat anyone staring him in the face."
Sprung from its usual mooring at the Austintown-Fitch sectional, Madison dominated the early going at South despite some last-minute lineup holes after losing four starters in recent days. The Blue Streaks advanced nine of their 12 wrestlers to today's semifinals, and they lead with 63.5 points. Eastlake North is second (55.5 points) followed by a Willoughby South squad that did not start a senior (55 points), and a Mentor team that has lost five starters to injuries (50.5 points).
Madison was shocked Friday by the loss of two starters before wrestling began. Promising heavyweight Joe Bashore suffered the rare fate of not making the heavyweight minimum weight of 217 pounds. He weighed 216.8 pounds. Tim Striesel, a 170-pounder with 20 victories, was not permitted to wrestle because of a skin condition. Also, 195-pounder Nick Heydek (broken leg) and 145-pounder Aaron Sweeney (ribs) were injured recently.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: twarsinskey@plaind.com, 216-999-4661
On Twitter: @TimsTakePD
Source: http://highschoolsports.cleveland.com/news/article/2942420145216636693
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