Genoa has impressive 1st day at state wrestling tournament

All 7 Comets move on to next round

Genoa’s Dustin Morgillo, top, cradles Massillon Tuslaw’s Brier Marthey during their 138-pound match at the state wrestling tournament.

THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON
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COLUMBUS — The first day in Columbus for the Genoa wrestlers went about as well as could be imagined.

All seven Comets that competed Thursday at Value City Arena advanced to the quarterfinals of Division III championship competition, leading to 19.5 team points and a spot in first place after the first day of Ohio High School Athletic Association individual tournament. 

Genoa’s Dustin Morgillo, top, cradles Massillon Tuslaw’s Brier Marthey during their 138-pound match at the state wrestling tournament.

Perhaps the most impressive victory for Genoa came from two-time state champion Dylan D’Emilio at 132 pounds, who pinned Bridgeport’s Elliott Dean, pinning Dean in 1 minute, 11 seconds to push Genoa to 10.5 points in the first round.

Head coach Bob Bergman said D’Emilio, who is 49-0 on the season, is the model of consistency for the Comets, who lead by two  points Massillon Tuslaw heading into the second day.

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“He is Mr. Consistent. He will not be denied. He has got the heart of a lion and he just continues to improve,” Bergman said. “His ceiling, we still haven’t seen yet.”

Before D’Emilio’s win, brothers Oscar and Julian Sanchez came away with victories at 113 and 120 respectively. 

Oscar Sanchez, the first Genoa wrestler of the day, won by major decision, 11-2 against North Lima South Range’s Kyle Keenan, before Julian Sanchez followed with a dominating 17-1 tech fall decision against Richmond Edison’s Hayden Johnson.

Dustin Morgillo picked up a 7-0 decision against Massillon Tuslaw’s Brier Marthey at 138, then James Limongi scored a 6-4 decision against Miami Valley Christian Academy’s Seth Henderson at 160, with Xavier Beach earning a 10-0 major decision against Danville’s Brice Berger at 182.

The Comets’ 285-pounder, Noah Koch, battled Fredericktown’s Mitchell Hurlbut to the wire before coming away with a 3-1 tiebreaker victory.

“Every heavyweight match is a barnburner,” Bergman said of Koch’s close win. “There is a lot of weight moving around there. It was awesome for him to get that win.”

Maumee's Brandon Phillips is thrown by Breslin Walker of Cuyahoga Falls CVCA as time expires during their 220-pound Division II first round match at the state wrestling tournament. Phillips won the match.

It was a good start for the Comets, who are looking to come away with the title after coming up just short a season ago, when Genoa placed second in the event. Genoa won the state dual team title in February.

“It’s an awesome start. Couldn’t ask for a better way to start the tournament. I am proud of our guys. They are all feeling it,” Bergman said. “The team is talking about it. [We have] unfinished business. We want to reach our potential this year. Everyone has worked really hard for this weekend, and we realize that.”

Bergman, whose team holds a seven-point lead over second place Ashtabula St. John and Milan Edison, said his team must remain focused in order to reach its ultimate goal.

“It’s just one period at a time, one match at a time,” Bergman said. “Outwork and out-hustle our opponent to move into the next best position, keep it simple and everything else will take care of itself.”

In other Division III action, Swanton’s Zack Schaller was upended by Marion Pleasant’s Carter Wolf in a 16-7 major decision at 120, but he was picked up by his teammates the rest of the way as the Bulldogs’ other four wrestlers picked up first-round victories and sit in fourth place with 13 points.

Trevor Schaller (126), Chase Moore (152), and Ryan Marvin (160) all won by decision, and Tommy Lytle (285) pinned Shadyside’s Josh Robinson in 2:48.

Zack Schaller came back in the first round of consolations with a pinfall win.

Delta also had a solid day as the Mattin brothers each won. Zack earned a 16-5 decision at 106 against Massillon Tuslaw’s Jacob Kuhlins, while Cole pinned Arcanum’s Ethin Hoffman in 2:48.

Oak Harbor’s Cameron Dickman picked up a 10-3 decision Ralyland Buckeye Local’s Brian Palmer in the 120-pound class, before teammate Tad Jensen fell by a 10-1 major decision at 132 against Galion Northmor’s Aaron Kitts. Jake Sage won 1-0 against Middletown Madison’s Zach Banks at 195.

At 145, Gibsonburg’s Hugo Villarreal pinned Dayton Christian’s Henry Danishek in just 20 seconds, then teammate Brad Mendoza picked up an 8-2 decision win at 170 against Creston Norwayne’s Kaden Kidd.

Archbold’s Gavin Grime came away with a 3-1 decision over Dylan Schenck of Milton Union at 145, while teammate Colton Soles won a 6-5 decision over Matt Hall to round out his weight class at 152.

At 113, Eastwood’s Brandon Hahn won by tech fall, 20-1, against Gates Mills Hawken’s Jackson Reineke, Patrick Henry’s Wil Morrow dominated in an 11-1 major decision against Nelsonville-York’s Colton Snyder, Dylan Hinton of Elmwood pinned opponent Covington’s Gage Kerrigan of Covington in 1:02, and Fremont St. Joseph’s Noah Price was decisive in an 11-3 major decision against Orrville’s Sam Auble at 220.

Wauseon’s Hunter Yackee, top, scores back points on St. Paris Graham’s Isiah Stickley during their 132-pound match in a Division II first-round bout at the state tournament.

Wauseon 2nd in D-II

Seven of nine Wauseon wrestlers were victorious as the Indians sit in second place with 16 points, well behind St. Paris Graham.

At 113, Gavin Ritter’s 7-5 decision by sudden victory against Goshen’s Josh Dunn got the Indians off to a good start. Nolan Ray put together a dominating 13-1 major decision win against Minerva’s Ethan Mueller. Hunter Yackee followed with a 3-0 decision against St. Paris Graham’s Isaiah Stickley at 132.

Mauricio Barajas kept the momentum going at 138, collecting a 7-1 decision against Newark Licking Valley’s Dylan Dodson before teammate Gage Grunden won 12-6 at 160. Sandro Ramirez then won a 13-8 decision at 152 against Washington Court House’s Zane Nelson before Xavier Torres won 7-3 against Akron Hoban’s Quinton Kelly at 160.

Maumee’s Ryan Hass pinned Cody Neece of Thornville Sheridan in 3:40 at 182, and teammate Brandon Phillips eked out a 5-4 decision against Cuyahoga Falls CVCA’s Breslin Walker at 220

Napoleon’s Zach Altman advanced with an 8-2 win against Cincinnati Wyoming’s Yima Nyamor at 152.

Tough day in D-I

The first eight area wrestlers all fell before Fremont Ross’ Garrett Barth edged Harrison’s Simon Shirley4-3 in the 170-pound class.

Clay High School, which entered the day with six wrestlers, came away with just one victory, when Nick Daly pinned Ashtabula Lakeside’s Luciano Cunningham of Ashtabula Lakeside in 4:37.

Lakewood St. Edward led with 32 points.