The Ultimate Fan Guide to the 2010 Division 3 High School Wrestling Forecast by Brian Brakeman
Dan Cosimi - The Ohio Wrestling Network

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NUW

2010 HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING FORECAST (39th ANNUAL EDITION)
Brian F. Brakeman
January 26, 2010

Division 3

215 pounds

All-Ohio
State Champion: KF-1 Ethan Hayes - Junior - Dixie High School - New Lebanon, Ohio [2009:D3-215-2nd]
2nd place: KF-2 Corby Running - Senior - Clinton-Massie High School - Clarksville, Ohio [2009:D3-189-1st, 2008:D3-189-6th]
3rd place: KF-3 Josh Salyers - Senior - Mechanicsburg High School - Mechanicsburg, Ohio
4th place: MH-1 Justin Schafrath - Senior - Chippewa High School - Doylestown, Ohio [2009:D3-189-Q]
5th place: HE-1 Tyler Fabry - Senior - West Jefferson High School - West Jefferson, Ohio [2009:D3-215-Q]
6th place: HE-2 Andrew Wright - Junior - Northmor High School - Galion, Ohio [2009:D3-215-Q]
7th place: MH-2 Brent Allerding - Senior - Loudonville High School - Loudonville, Ohio
8th place: MH-3 Ethan Garofolo - Senior - Columbia High School - Columbia Station, Ohio [2009:D3-215-Q]

Qualifiers
9. OC-1 Kole Young - Senior - Seneca East High School - Attica, Ohio [2009:D3-189-A]
10. MH-4 Devon Mullins - Senior - Waynedale High School - Apple Creek, Ohio
11. KF-4 Mike Mullen - Senior - Calvert High School - Tiffin, Ohio
13. HE-3 Jacob Coon - Sophomore - Nelsonville-York High School - Nelsonville, Ohio
15. HE-4 Bryan Bowling - Senior - Westfall High School - Williamsport, Ohio
16. OC-2 Kody Bellamy - Sophomore - St. Mary Central Catholic High School - Sandusky, Ohio
21. OC-3 Eric Johns - Senior - Bucyrus High School - Bucyrus, Ohio
23. OC-4 Isaac Bowling - Junior - St. Joseph Central Catholic High School - Fremont, Ohio

Challengers
12. MH-5 Josh Roberts - Senior - Wellington High School - Wellington, Ohio
14. MH-6 Kennedy Smith - Sophomore - St. Peter Chanel High School - Bedford, Ohio
17. KF-5 Adam Alig - Sophomore - Coldwater High School - Coldwater, Ohio
18. MH-7 Drew Skleres - Junior - Pymatuning Valley High School - Andover, Ohio
19. KF-6 Trae Cusac - Senior - Carey High School - Carey, Ohio
20. MH-8 Jedd White - Senior - Mapleton High School - Ashland, Ohio
22. HE-5 Amos Leach - Junior - Union High School - Belmont, Ohio
24. KF-7 Joey Grubenhoff - Junior - St. John High School - Delphos, Ohio
25. HE-6 Dalton Leach - Senior - Martins Ferry High School - Martins Ferry, Ohio
26. OC-5 Stephen Klotz - Junior - Lakota High School - Kansas, Ohio
27. OC-6 Ben Saddoris - Senior - Montpelier High School - Montpelier, Ohio

It appears to be a sharp three-man battle for the state title at this weight class featuring a trio of wrestlers from the Southwest District. All three boys outperformed my expectations last year and I am hoping to rectify those mistakes this time.

Kettering Fairmont District
Running, who I suggested might contend for a middle-of-the-podium place last year, was sensational at the state meet. Competing at 189 pounds he had three dominating wins (including a 17-9 decision over my choice), before nipping Bowers in overtime. It was his second state placement and the school's second state champion. He competed this year at Brecksville in what was a superior weight class and finished 7th, losing in overtime to the excellent Erb and later losing to Division 1 star Nate Weeks. I thought he wrestled well and his 17-2 technical fall over Division 2 state qualifier Spencer Shaw indicated his talent. Hayes was a total surprise last year. He was so far down on my lists I didn't even rate him. No problem. He was third at his district, splitting a pair of overtime battles with Salyers and then winning three high scoring contests at Columbus. Miller overpowered him in the finals but it did not take away from his outstanding performance. This year he was fourth at Brecksville, losing only Division 1 choice Tavanello and Georgia champ Farr. His win over Weeks was particularly impressive. Some thought his runner-up finish might have been the result of a hot weekend. It would be a mistake to think that. Salyers, as mentioned, twice went into overtime with Hayes but the second loss was unfortunate because it provided a tougher state draw ending with an eighth place finish. Nonetheless, I think he has the ability to challenge the top duo with perhaps, finalist possibilities. With a trio like that, it sure looks like the rest of that district will be wrestling for just one state berth. I see four possibilities. Cusac went 2-2 at last year's districts - both times losing by narrow margins. He was 1st at Lincolnview and could be a threat. Mullen was a district sixth at 189 pounds last year, losing his go-to-state bout to Stacey. Alig has just begun to wrestle but he has district experience while Grubenhoff - second at Marion Harding, is another. Bracket expertise might be needed to position these folks to have a chance. You don't want to get any of that top trio in your go-to-state bout.

Maple Heights District
There are some solid kids at Maple Heights but they'll need to be in terrific form to defeat any of that top trio. Schafrath captured a district third but went 1-2 at States and failed to place. That 189 pounds state bracket was interesting because it consisted of 13 seniors and three underclassmen. Interestingly, Running was 1st and Schaefer was third making for a 67% ratio for the young guys. Schafrath has been very good this year, winning the WIT with total dominance and taking the Dies over the excellent Willett. Allerding has also been first rate, losing in overtime to finish second at the Gorman and winning some small tournaments. Garofolo was a state qualifier last year and I see him as a quintessential grinder. He is not the world's greatest athlete but it's his arm they raise after most bouts. He was a little out of his depth at the state level last year but he has placement potential this time around. Mullins and Roberts may end up contending for the last state ticket. In the district this past year they met in a consolation round with Mullins winning 14-7. I think Roberts is getting much better - he lost to Garofolo in overtime at Elyria Catholic and their bout will be very close. The trio of Smith, Skleres and White are maybe another step back. White has had a terrific year, while Skleres doesn't seem to be improving as fast as I hoped. Smith is an interesting case. He was fifth at Solon, fourth at the CIT and even won three bouts at that brutal 215 pounds weight class at Brecksville. He may out perform this ranking.

Owens Community College District
There are some missing names at Owens. State qualifier Castillo (Ayersville) is apparently not wrestling, nor is D'Angelo (Tinora). That makes a district that was not strong to begin with even weaker. The one exception is returning state qualifier Johnson who continues to pile up the wins. A district semifinalist last year, he fell to fourth which naturally gave him eventual state champ Stuart Miller in the first round and Fabry in the consolation, which pretty much ruined his Thursday. Young has yet to wrestle this year but is certified at this weight class and should do well - if he appears. I like Bellamy, only a sophomore, who could qualify if everything goes well as well as Johns. That leaves Bowling, Klotz and Saddoris needing some big wins. One possibility and a strong one, is Moser who still has the option of competing here rather than at heavyweight.

Heath District
I think state qualifiers Wright and Fabry might be very close this year. Neither got a real good pairing at States and went a combined 1-4. This time it will be different. Fabry just finished placing at the Top Gun, while Wright won at Elgin. I think they're a clear step ahead of everyone else here. Coon, third at Elgin, might be next best with Bowling and Akerman also legitimate qualification contenders. Also watch for the two Leach boys - Amos (Union) perhaps the stronger of the two - and Dalton (Martins Ferry).