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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 1, 2014
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Things I've noticed:
1) Mass Perry has run away with D1. Seven finalists. They are clearly the top team in D1 and no one else is close.
2) Brecksville is in 6th with 8 qualifiers. That's nice for most programs but when you're nationally ranked all year that's not very good. No finalists either. Any explanations?
3) Moeller is tied for 3rd. They might sneak into 2nd but this is not what was expected from a nationally ranked program that sent 9 to state.
4) Marysville sent 5 to state and is sitting in 2nd. Oregon Clay, tied with Moeller, sent 5. It's quality, not quantity.
5) St Eds is a non factor this year. Wonder if they'll be able to re-stock or if this slide is permanent? There is not anywhere near the amount of talent in NE Ohio that there used to be...esp. in Greater Cleveland.
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Brad Proudfoot added to this discussion on March 1, 2014
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Another story that I'm following is Claymont's strong tournament. They are not going to catch St. Paris Graham, but they are definitely making them earn it this year. They have 3 finalists and 8 total placers.
I always love to see these smaller community schools have fantastic showings at the state tournament. Also, Claymont always has a strong program.
Jason Jackson, thanks for all of the Claymont and area wrestler updates on Twitter.
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Mike Taylor added to this discussion on March 1, 2014
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The Claymont comment was something I noticed and was impressed with. However, their recent success at the state tournament (3rd a few years ago and 2nd this year) has made me wonder why they have moved to a higher level since I graduated from a nearby school (Dover) in 96 while my alma mater has taken a serious down turn. While Claymont was always the best team in the area we always gave them a run. It was always a good match. Now, though, the gap between them is enormous. I wonder what had happened more with Claymont than my high school.
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 1, 2014
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Mike: I have a long list of cleveland area programs that used to be tough as nails and no longer have good squads. It's a crisis in NE Ohio. And no one seems to acknowledge it. Bobby P knows what I'm talking about.
Congrats to Sam Gross of Beachwood who just won his second title. Sam is a fantastic young man and is part of a Beachwood program that has maintained a great tradition since the mid 1970's.
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Ben Golden added to this discussion on March 1, 2014
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Hank, it definitely does seem like there's a shortage of good wrestlers in NE Ohio right now. I'm hesitant to use the word "talent" because I'm sure the athletes are still there, but they aren't performing. What is it? Interest/culture? Coaching?
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 1, 2014
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Quote from Ben Golden's post:
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"Hank, it definitely does seem like there's a shortage of good wrestlers in NE Ohio right now. I'm hesitant to use the word "talent" because I'm sure the athletes are still there, but they aren't performing. What is it? Interest/culture? Coaching?"
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This year's state finals, in general, are the most pedestrian I've ever seen. There are plenty of wrestlers in tonite's finals that are not the ability level of most state champs throughout Ohio history. The big issue is that the Cleveland area is way down. Obviously, it starts with St Eds. But Mayfield, Mentor, Strongsville, Cleveland Heights, Warrensville, Fairview, Southview, St. Ignatius, Solon, Maple, Garfield, Walsh, Kenston...these were all powerhouses during most of my fourteen years of coaching. Most of them are either mediocre or terrible at the moment. And schools like N. Olmsted, Westlake, Bay, Shaker, Euclid, Shaw, Eastlake North, Willoughby South, etc...all had tough kids. The list goes on ad infinitum of Cleveland area teams that are no longer very good. The only one that has risen is Brecksville. That's one good team for so many that have slid. There's a huge need for a great youth facility on the east side of Cleveland. Without strength from this region, we're sliding as a state.
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Last edited by Hank Kornblut on March 2, 2014; edited 1 time in total
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Bill Splete added to this discussion on March 1, 2014
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Hank the words hurt, but they are true, st.eds put us all on the map and kept us there, and all our programs are way down, I have seen the time the coaches in the area put in, but dealing with unrealistic, arrogant, non accomplished children that think they know what it takes to get on the podium is my personal issue, u want success on the mat, but aren't willing to do the work and commit to the effort to get there and when you don't make it u take no responsibility and blame everyone else but the man looking back at u. It is going to take years to get anywhere close to who we once were, with out jobs and area growth the families will move away, as many have, to find them, and so will go our area tradition . I wish us all luck, this climb will be hard, but the kids have to meet us at the edge, or it's just a hobby, this is not out hobby! We got hit hard this weekend, are we going to get up? Watching this weekend was as hank put it pedestrian, a few bright spots, but not many. Thanks for the platform, I was feeling alone in my thoughts about this, I can see I am not alone!
There is nothing wrong with striving for this level, don't tell me it's ok, if u think that the. U don't know out history, and how hard this state, athletes and coaches have worked to build it. If the pendulum had swung, away from us, it can swing back. All have a great summer,
Congrats to claymont, I love the way those kids compete, it's what we would call old
School, tough and hard nosed
Please forgive my spelling and rambling, I just left and read hanks words and felt pretty darn close to his thoughts,
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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Bill: Re-reading my post, I said a few things that could have been better stated. But--we agree. The Cleveland area is way down. And without strong wrestling in "the suburban hotbeds of Cleveland", we're missing a huge component of what made Ohio great.
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Bill Splete added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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Agreed, we need to pull our weight and we are not
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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Changing directions....
1) Moeller's Chalmer Frueauf (sp) lost in OT and was subsequently disqualified. Moeller lost all the points he scored and slid to 8th. Curious as to whether or not anyone saw what happened.
2) CSU recruit Michael Kostandrea won state. Kent's two Ohio recruits, Conel and Tutolo, did as well. OU recruit Austin Reese won it while Dakota Sizemore ended up 4th. Buckeye recruits Ryan Harris and Seth Williams both won at 170 lbs. Micah Jordan won #4. Newton took 3rd while Burcher ended up 4th. These schools have other recruits from out of state.
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Casey Talbott added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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I’ll start by congratulating Brady on having two champs, and on the team’s fine performance.
But I also want to give some “props” to the teams and individuals from northwest Ohio, throughout the three divisions.
D1 hasn’t been particularly strong up here over the years.
But Perrysburg and Clay both had great weekends, finishing 2nd and 4th (a half point out of 3rd), respectively, with Perrysburg getting a champ (first since Robin Rayfield, I believe), and Clay getting its first champ ever.
So these are two public school programs that are really on the upswing.
In D2, Toledo Central Catholic had a great weekend, finishing a strong 3rd, with three finalists and two champs.
Two of the three finalists are back, whereas the third appears to be off to the Air Force Academy (great family, great kid).
And in D3, Delta weathered a very disappointing semifinal round (going one for five), digging itself into a bit of a hole, but then bounced back to basically run the table in the consolation bracket, and won the thing going away.
I exchanged emails with one of its coaches (Mike Mattin) early Saturday morning, offering words of encouragement, and this is what he said in response:
“Wrestling is so much like life, isn't it? Adversity everywhere. How you respond is what defines you. I am optimistic that our kids will respond.”
Tough to go wrong with leadership like that.
In any event, Delta appears ready to return to and even surpass its glory days, with a whole boatload of points coming back.
So congrats to each of these teams (and to other teams and individuals as well), for doing the “Upper 419” proud :-).
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Hank Kornblut added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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Quote from Casey Talbott's post:
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"I’ll start by congratulating Brady on having two champs, and on the team’s fine performance.
But I also want to give some “props” to the teams and individuals from northwest Ohio, throughout the three divisions.
D1 hasn’t been particularly strong up here over the years.
But Perrysburg and Clay both had great weekends, finishing 2nd and 4th (a half point out of 3rd), respectively, with Perrysburg getting a champ (first since Robin Rayfield, I believe), and Clay getting its first champ ever.
So these are two public school programs that are really on the upswing.
In D2, Toledo Central Catholic had a great weekend, finishing a strong 3rd, with three finalists and two champs.
Two of the three finalists are back, whereas the third appears to be off to the Air Force Academy (great family, great kid).
And in D3, Delta weathered a very disappointing semifinal round (going one for five), digging itself into a bit of a hole, but then bounced back to basically run the table in the consolation bracket, and won the thing going away.
I exchanged emails with one of its coaches (Mike Mattin) early Saturday morning, offering words of encouragement, and this is what he said in response:
“Wrestling is so much like life, isn't it? Adversity everywhere. How you respond is what defines you. I am optimistic that our kids will respond.”
Tough to go wrong with leadership like that.
In any event, Delta appears ready to return to and even surpass its glory days, with a whole boatload of points coming back.
So congrats to each of these teams (and to other teams and individuals as well), for doing the “Upper 419” proud :-)."
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+1
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Bill Splete added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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Casey,
Agreed, the northwest pulled its weight, perrysburg wrestled tough, so did clay(not a big fan of staff) but the kids where solid. Not real surprised by delta, over the last two years have been real strong. As for Toledo central catholic, I am not surprised I think their coach is a d2 NCAA champ out of findlay, an Shawn Nelson talked about how tough and driven he is, I like the way they compete and they will just get better and better.
I think hank and I r thinking and even longing for that past, don't want to speak for hank but that is my feeling, the northwest earned it thus weekend and deserve the sucess
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Bob Preusse added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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Hank & Bill S,
re Cleveland & suburbs, ive been talking about this for years, the decline was inevitable, even mighty st Eds not immune-- now it shows in the state results.
the reasons ive spoken of ad nauseum, i will not repeat other than to mention population decline & manufacturing decline up here (general weakening of youth & culture applies everywhere in society).
Don Meredith said it best,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtGxusvUT3k
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Discussion Topic: State Meet Stories
Mark Niemann added to this discussion on March 2, 2014
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Hank: the Moeller kid was DQ'd because after his loss, when the Marysville wrestler walked over to shake the Moeller coaches' hands, Freauf walked straight towards the tunnel. He sort of hesitated, looked at the Marysville coaches, the Marysville coaches looked at him, and attempting to shake hands, stepped in Freauf's direction. Freauf, obviously a bit upset after the loss, stated two words to the coach. I didn't hear it but I saw the coach's reaction - wide eyes, looking around in disbelief.
Not quite Cameron Wade, but enough to get him DQ'd.
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