1972 High School Wrestling Forecast
Brian F. Brakeman

One of the most intriguing questions about this year's state wrestling tournament is whether the Cleveland area can regain their once "taken for granted" dominance. In 1971 the Cleveland area grabbed but five of thirteen championships in both Class AAA and Class A-AA; far below their usual totals. This could be the year to see, once and for all, if the rest of the state is finally gaining equality with this district. Perhaps a quick look at each weight class might better clarify this picture.

At 98 pounds Dave Kenney of Cleveland John Marshall towers far above the rest in his class. State runner-up last year, Kenney has not yet been tested this season. With virtually none of the downstate 98-pounders returning at that weight this season, Kenney may receive his toughest matches in the CCC district with Deubel (Maple Heights), Liptak (Mentor), Picone (Garfield Heights), and Bolz (Willoughby South) making the challenge. In any event Cleveland should regain this title grabbed off by Toledo last year.

There are, as always, a number of strong 105-pounders throughout the state but none seem as strong as Steve Kibler (Parma Heights Valley Forge) and Duane Wall (Maple Heights). If a dual meet between these two powerhouses could be arranged, their match would certainly be the highlight. Bruce Hambrick (Delaware), fourth in the state at 98 pounds, is probably the best out-of-district returnee, but he has already been defeated this year by Parma's fine junior, Tom Von Sternberg. Greg Kesselring, already a two-time state qualifier though only a junior, Ron Mathews from Dayton, and Robin Emery (North Olmsted) are three other strong contenders.

Seven state qualifiers come in this year at 112 pounds, but undoubtedly the finest of all, state champion Ray Cruzado, has been kicked off the Lorain squad for disciplinary reasons. Right below Cruzado come three strong boys: Shawn Garel (East Cleveland Shaw), Keith Richardson (Akron Central-Hower), and Dave Brauning (Sandusky). In another year each would be a strong favorite for the title, but this year they'll be fortunate to stay at the top of the heap; for right below them stand four other boys who qualified for the state tournament last year and posess considerable skills (Noble, O'Conner, Katchman, and Rhodes).

Six state qualifiers also return at 119 pounds but it is probable that none of them are strong enough to gain the state crown. This looks like a weight where a darkhorse like Skrowonski (Maple Heights) or Young (Parma Heights Valley Forge) might win during a weekend when they "put it all together." The two returning qualifiers from the Cleveland area, Don McKee (Cleveland West Tech) and Denny Schall (Mayfield) are both competent workmen, but look more like state place finishers than state champions. Downstate, Mark Sanders (Dayton Stebbins), fourth last year at this weight, and Clyde Jackson (Warren Western Reserve) seemed doomed to runner-up type finishes of some sort.

So far the Cleveland district would probably have to be ranked as favorites at each of the first four weight classes, though there certainly is room for plenty of argument at 112 pounds. However, Jeff Guyton (Toledo St. Francis DeSales) appears to dominate the 126-pound class as decisively as Dave Kenney does at 98 pounds. While three other state qualifiers return at this weight, including John Blazek (Lakewood St. Edward), fifth in the state last year, no wrestler appears to have a real good shot at a healthy Guyton.

Steve Fink (Maple Heights) should lead a strong contingent of Cleveland district 132-pounders into the state tournament this year. Backed up by the likes of Jeff Schoeneman, Jeff Schick, Bennett Parker, Luke Blazek, and Pete DeLuca, this district should again do wel at a weight where all four of our wrestlers placed last year. Strength downstate should come from Mike Sayre (Hilliard) and Mike Mayromatis (Steubenville) along with a strong group from the Toledo area.

This is a most unusual year at 138 pounds where there are few returning wrestlers with outstanding credentials. State qualifier Steve Back (Reynoldsburg) is down from 145 pounds and is ranked #1 in the Columbus area. Right behind him is Mark Stanley (Upper Arlington) who also went to the state tournament last year. In Cleveland there is a jumbled picture at this weight with many fine wrestlers but none of a dominating influence. With so many evenly matched wrestlers, it's almost impossible to guess who'll even represent our district, but it does seem fair to believe that whoever it is will be underdogs in Columbus.

Cleveland probably has more fine 145-pound wrestlers than the rest of the state put together. Dave Steinmetz (Parma Heights Valley Forge), Dale Antolino (Maple Heights), Bill Gore (Lyndhurst Brush), Gary Maciejowski (Bedford), Paul Buehle (Berea), Nils Jaegerson (Lakewood), and Al Hess (Mayfield) are seven of the finest wrestlers you could imagine. Whatever four do qualify will surely destroy whatever else makes it to Columbus as all should probably place. The fight will be to get to Columbus.

What Cleveland lacks in quantity at 155 pounds is easily made up with quality. Van Kirkendall (Berea) and Jamie Kurtz (Cleveland John Marshall) are both outstanding three-year lettermen with previous state tournament experience. In a year where a lot of strong boys are at this weight, these two could still finish one-two.

There are six returning state qualifiers at 167 pounds and none are from the Cleveland district. In fact, four come from the Akron arrea where only three can advance to Columbus. Yet even with these numbers the Cleveland boys should do well. Lamka (Cleveland South), Liske (Willoughby South), Beech (Maple Heights), Mevitz (Cleveland St. Joseph), or Jackson (Lorain Admiral King) are all experienced wrestlers who have district experience. The toughest competition from downstate should come from Jay Ortlip (Upper Arlington), Larry Rice (Norton), and Ernie Brown (Akron Buchtel).

Three truly great wrestlers return at 175 pounds - state champ Mike Daniels (Cincinnati Hughes), state runner-up Kevin Quigley (Westlake), and state place finisher Ken Hansen (Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller). While Daniels won the title last year, Hansen beat him three times in the Cincinnati area and only missed a fourth opportunity due to an overtime loss to Quigley. The suspicion persists that Daniels got all the refereeing "breaks" last year and perhaps things will be different in 1972. Tim Sweigard (Elyria) and Fred Smith (Stow) could also be strong contenders for places this year.

1972 is definitely the year of the 185-pounder. From all over the state great candidates are appearing almost daily with each seemingly having better credentials than the last. They'll all have to get by Regal Haynes, last year's state runner-up at this weight, though, and that will be no easy task. In Cleveland Doug Tabor (Bedford), Don Hayes (Lyndhurst Brush), and perhaps Bob Avis (North Royalton) should prove most difficult competition. Tabor, in particular, has looked outstanding. Rick Layman (Worthington) and Craig Snee (Massillon Jackson) both placed at this weight last year and they'll not be taken lightly either. All in all, this weight should make college recruiters drool at the thought of all this muscle.

Almost every year someone nobody has ever heard of takes the heavyweight title, and usually that person is from somewhere other than Cleveland. Since 1963, only Tim Kardoff in 1970 has wrestled this title away from somebody outside of this district. This year looks like it will follow recent form. While there are a lot of good heavyweights here, none has the bulk/speed combination that usually wins.

In summary, Cleveland boys should probably come back with seven to nine titles and a whole raft of place finishes. With the new brackets, instituted in 1971, Cleveland district qualifiers cannot meet until the semifinals which should insure a tremendous amount of medals coming north this year.

One final note. Perhaps the most competitive weight bracket in the state this year is in Class A-AA at 120 pounds. Two defending state champions (Dieli and Tompkins), a state runner up (Cowdy), a third place finisher (Hradek), a fourth place finisher (Stalnaker), and a fifth spot medalist (Shannon) will all vie for that title with predictable fireworks. Beyond that two other state qualifiers from last year will also be at that weight.