11th Annual WRESTLING USA / CLIFF KEEN DREAM TEAM CLASSIC DUAL MEET

Photos by Wyatt Schultz
gwyatt@zeus.ia.net
wyattschultzphotography.com/

11th Annual WRESTLING USA / CLIFF KEEN DREAM TEAM CLASSIC DUAL MEET

by Pat Galbincea

Austintown, Ohio - Ohio is reputed to have the best high school wrestling in the nation, but Buckeye State grapplers consumed a hefty dose of humble pie Saturday in the 11th Wrestling USA/Cliff Keen Dream Team Classic at Fitch High School.

Ohio all-star wrestlers were soundly beaten by Pennsylvania, 38-16, and in the follow-up meet, the USA All-Stars beat Team Ohio, 27-16.

The latter result was not unexpected since the USA All-Stars, who wrestle against a different state each year, have never lost. Iowa's 39-21 loss in 2001 was the closest scare the USA has gotten.

Plain Dealer Wrestler of the Year Kevin Hardy (145 pounds) gave the crowd plenty of excitement in his 7-3 decision over four-time Texas state champ Luke Ashmore, 7-3. The lanky, angular Hardy used leverage to score three takedowns -- two off a Russian tie and one single leg -- and engulfed Ashmore with adroit mat wrestling.

"I used to have trouble with short, stocky wrestlers," said Hardy, a three-time Division I state champ. "It's taken me a few years, but now I've finally figured out how to beat them . . . and it's not really that hard any more."

Ohio State-bound Colt Sponseller (160) of West Holmes scored the only major decision in the match, using tenacious snap-and-spin-behind takedowns to thoroughly whip three-time Oregon state champ Ryan Smith, 21-9.

Berea's 2006 state champ, Dustin Kilgore (171), lost a key bout in the last two seconds, 5-4, to nationally No. 1-rated Idaho state champ Kirk Smith, who used a driving single-leg takedown to win. It was similar to Kilgore's 14-12 overtime loss to Brian Roddy of St. Edward in the recent state finals.

The Ohio team got off to an unexpectedly good start against Pennsylvania when Medina freshman Matt Mauer, trailing, 5-2, in the final period, rallied to tie the match, then won a scramble in overtime to beat Keith Scharrer, a senior from General McLane High, 10-6.

Mauer got two key takedowns in the final minute -- switching from a fireman's carry to barrel rolls in both cases -- to tie the match, 6-6.

"I sure was nervous to start," Mauer said. "I didn't want to do anything stupid in front of that big crowd. I think I was able to wear him down. In overtime, I kept fighting and wouldn't give up. To be honest, I wasn't sure I even had points when the match was stopped."

However, the Ohio team didn't win again until hometown favorite and Fitch junior Tony Jameson (135), a three-time Division I state champ, used funky and creative takedowns to score a 17-9 major decision over Steve Waite.

Ohio's worst misfortune came at 189, when two-time state champ John Weakley of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy was tapped on the nose by Nick Sipes in the first 32 seconds. Weakley winced in pain, and a physician determined that Sipes' legal tap broke Weakley's nose.

Team USA Wrestling Dream Team

Ohio All-Stars Wrestling Dream Team

FINAL RESULTS

Dream Team Video Coverage of Each Match

Team USA 27, Team Ohio 16

• 140- Luke Silver (USA) won 8-2 over Matt Reedy (Ohio) - 17MB Quicktime
• 145- Kevin Hardy (Ohio) won 7-3 over Luke Ashmore (USA) - 15MB Quicktime
• 152- Thomas Straughn (Ohio) won 2-1 OT over Albert White (USA) - 17MB Quicktime
• 160- Colt Sponseller (Ohio) won 20-9 over Ryan Smith (USA) - 16MB Quicktime
• 171- Kirk Smith (USA) won 5-4 over Justin Kilgore (Ohio) - 17MB Quicktime
• 189- Clayton Foster (USA) won 9-4 over Chris Honeycut (Ohio) - 15MB Quicktime
• 215- Jared Platt (USA) won 5-1 over Justin Powell (Ohio) - 15MB Quicktime
• 285- Dom Bradley (USA) won 10-6 over Brenden Barlowe (Ohio) - 16MB Quicktime
• 103- Sam White (Ohio) won 12-6 over Joey Farnsworth (USA) - 17MB Quicktime
• 112- Eric Olanowski (USA) won 1-0 over Bo Touris (Ohio) - 17MB Quicktime
• 119- Zach Sanders (USA) won 5-2 over Cordell Longstreath (Ohio) - 17MB Quicktime
• 125- Boris Novachkov (USA) won 4-2 over Bryan Dean (Ohio) - 16MB Quicktime
• 130- Kellen Russell (USA) won 3-0 over Darreb Boing (Ohio) - 16MB Quicktime
• 135- Jeff Pelton (Ohio) won 3-1 OT over Vincente Varela (USA) - 19MB Quicktime

USA Dream Team Members Record and Bios

103 Joey Farnsworth - Cary High School, NC 137-11, National Jr Champion, 1x State Champion
112 Eric Olanowski - Kellam High School, VA 188-13, 1x State Champion
119 Zach Sanders - Wabasha-Kellogg High School, Mn, 223-5, 4x State Champion
125 Boris Novachkov - Freemont High School, CA, 153-14, 2x State Champion
130 Kellen Russell - Blair Academy, NJ 145-7, 2x National Prep Champion
135 Vicente Varela - Rio Rancho High School, NM 168-8, 4x State Champion
140 Luke Silver - Bishop Lynch High School, TX 293-11, 4x State Champion
145 Luke Ashmore - Bishop Lynch High School, TX 274-16, 4x State Champion
152 Albert White - Chicago St Rita High School, IL 199-4, 4x State Champion
160 Ryan Smith - Crook County High School, OR, 157-7 - 3x State Champion
171 Kirk Smith - Contennal High School, ID 122-24 - 2x State Champion
189 Clayton Foster - Kamiah High School, ID 150-11- 3x State Champion
215 Jared Platt - Blair Academy, NJ, 155-12 - 2x National Prep Champion
285 Dom Bradley - Blue Spring High School, MO 181-25 - 3x State Champion

Coach Roy Hall

Pennsylvania Border War

Team 38, Ohio Bwt 16

103: Mauer (O-Medina) d. Scharrer, 10-6 ot; 112: Swope (P) d. Hillock (Mass.Jackson), 5-1; 119: Dolan (P) d. Harrington (Sandusky St. Mary), 10-0; 125: Miller (P) p. McGuire (Miamisburg), 5:12; 130: Lowther (P) d. Haas (Mass. Jackson), 6-0; 135: Jameson (O-A. Fitch) d. Waite, 17-9; 140: Leitzel (P) d. Newland (St. Paris Graham), 10-5; 145: Nestor (P) d. Lijoi (U. Lake), 10-0; 152: Abdur-Rahman (O-Cin. Princeton) d. Goodman, 10-7 ot; 160: Beckman (P) d. Foore (Wadsworth), 8-7; 171: Brentzel (P) d. Thompson (St. Paris Graham), 6-3; 189: Sipes (P) by default over Weakley (CVCA); 215: Heubel (P) d. Hooper (Manchester), 7-2; Hvy: Sharp (O-West Branch) by disqualification over Santia.

Ohio Dream Team Members

103 Sam White, Mass. Perry
112 Bo Touris, Lakota West
119 Cordell Longstreath, Grahm
125 Bryan Dean, St. V.
130 Darren Boing, St Peter Chanel
135 Jeff Pelton, Bellvue
140 Matt Reedy, Ravenna
145 Kevin Hardy, Solon
152 Thomas Straughn, Perry
160 Colt Sponseller, W. Holmes
171 Justin Kilgore, Berea
189 Chris Honeycut, St. Ed's
215 Justin Powell, Boardman
275 Brendon Barlowe, West Central

Coach: Greg Urbas, St. Eds.

Pennsylvania Border War

Team 38, Ohio Bwt 16

103: Mauer (O-Medina) d. Scharrer, 10-6 ot; 112: Swope (P) d. Hillock (Mass.Jackson), 5-1; 119: Dolan (P) d. Harrington (Sandusky St. Mary), 10-0; 125: Miller (P) p. McGuire (Miamisburg), 5:12; 130: Lowther (P) d. Haas (Mass. Jackson), 6-0; 135: Jameson (O-A. Fitch) d. Waite, 17-9; 140: Leitzel (P) d. Newland (St. Paris Graham), 10-5; 145: Nestor (P) d. Lijoi (U. Lake), 10-0; 152: Abdur-Rahman (O-Cin. Princeton) d. Goodman, 10-7 ot; 160: Beckman (P) d. Foore (Wadsworth), 8-7; 171: Brentzel (P) d. Thompson (St. Paris Graham), 6-3; 189: Sipes (P) by default over Weakley (CVCA); 215: Heubel (P) d. Hooper (Manchester), 7-2; Hvy: Sharp (O-West Branch) by disqualification over Santia.

Coach: Derrick Fletcher, Ravenna

Ohio Border War Team / TEAM PENNSYLVANIA

103 lbs. Keith Scharrer General McLane HS AAA-6th D-10
112 lbs. Ethan Swope Dubois HS AAA-2 X Qual D-9
119 lbs. Troy Dolan Derry Area HS AA-3 X 1st D-7
125 lbs. Robbie Miller Reynolds HS AA-5th D-10
130 lbs. Grant Lowther Trinity HS AAA-4th D-7
135 lbs. Steve Waite Ft. LeBouef HS AA-1st D-10
140 lbs. Nikko Leitzel Ridgway HS AA-3rd D-9
145 lbs. Aaron Nestor Reynolds HS AA-3rd D-10
152 lbs. Ryan Goodman Latrobe HS AAA-2nd D-7
160 lbs. Lawrence Beckman Reynolds HS AA-3rd D-10
171 lbs. A.J. Brentzel Penn-Trafford HS AA-2nd D-7
189 lbs. Nick Sipes Curwensville HS AA-3rd D-9
215 lbs. Jesse Heubel Seneca HS AA-Qual D-10
285 lbs. Steve Santia Hempfield HS AAA-1st D-7

Coach Brian Hill
Reynolds High School, PA