Clay's big program becoming one of Ohio's elite

Clay's Mike Screptock works to turn Ivan McClay of Massillon Washington in the 126-pound final at the Maumee Bay Classic. Screptock won the title and is 33-4 this season after finishing fourth at the state tournament last year. Screptock and Garrett Gray recently topped 100 victories in their careers. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

When the Clay wrestling program began making waves prior to the 2008-09 season, the first step under former coach Gerry Anthony and his seasoned assistants was building up the numbers.

Soon Clay would have more boys participating in wrestling than any other program in northwest Ohio.

The next step was getting those eager Eagles some quality experience, a task helped by Clay's ability to field two full varsity teams, plus junior varsity and freshman squads.

Those building blocks led to Clay winning the final three City League tournaments (the school's first league wrestling titles since 1965), and a gradual movement up the competitive ladder statewide.

After scoring just two team points at the 2008 Division I state tournament, Clay jumped to 23rd place in the team standings in 2009 with 20 points, to 21st in 2010 with 21, and to 12th last year with 36.

Currently ranked sixth in the state coaches poll, the Eagles, in their first season under coach Ralph Cubberly, have ascended to the brink of elite status among Ohio programs.

"This team is definitely meeting the expectations that I had for them," Cubberly said. "Actually, we're ahead of where I thought we'd be. I'm really happy with the way these kids have come together and trained. Everything they've achieved they've earned."

The next steps may be the most difficult -- producing the school's first individual state champion, and achieving a top-10 team finish at state.

Leading that charge is a trio of seniors who are loaded with quality experience after four years competing at the varsity level. Each placed among the top six last year at the state tournament -- Mike Screptock, a 126-pounder with a 33-4 record this year, Garrett Gray, who is 33-5 at 285, and Angelo Amenta, who is 32-8 at 138.

Clay coach Ralph Cubberly has three wrestlers who reached the state tournament last year — Angelo Amenta, left, Garrett Gray and Mike Screptock. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

"Those three are leaders on the team and they do a good job of it," Cubberly said. "They push the other kids. It's like having three extra coaches on the staff.

"They've been around the block in wrestling, and they have a lot of experience. We trust them to do the right things. A leader by example like that is worth his weight in gold."

Screptock and Gray have logged more varsity matches than anyone else during Clay's rise to prominence, and each recently surpassed 100 career victories. Screptock placed fourth at state at 112, while Gray was sixth at 285.

"In this four years [the program] has grown a lot," Screptock said. "When I was a freshman we had a couple [top-level] kids, and as it went on we've kept growing. "I think this is the best team we've had in the four years."

"Practices have changed a lot," Garrett Gray said of Cubberly's arrival. "They're shorter but a lot more intense. It's more alive and there's more banging on each other and pushing each other harder."

Amenta transferred to Clay after competing as a freshman at Waite for his father, former coach Carmen Amenta. He will wrestle at Columbia University, has over 150 career wins, and placed third at state last year at 130.

"Our goals have changed in the time I've been here," Amenta said. "First it was to try to be a state qualifier. Then it was to be a state placer. Now we want to be state champs. That shows how much the program has changed and grown."

Two other Eagles have 30 or more victories this season -- senior Jacob Conine, who is 33-4 at 132, and freshman Richie Screptock, who is 31-4 at 113.

Adding depth are five others who have posted at least 20 wins -- juniors Jared Gray (23-4 at 220), Eddie Silva (22-5 at 170) and Damon Dominique (21-8 at 152), and sophomores Nick Stencel (25-12 at 145) and Jared Davis (20-6 at 106).

Rounding out the Gold lineup which will compete in Saturday's inaugural Three Rivers Athletic Conference tournament at Central Catholic will be juniors Brian Henneman (15-13 at 120), Devin Dominique (17-7 at 160), Charlie Amenta (12-9 at 182), and Robert Rank (15-14 at 195).

Clay has 14 starters with winning records, which is no easy feat considering the strength of the its schedule.

Clay's Garrett Gray takes down Liberty Center's Justin Gillen in the 285-pound final at the Maumee Bay Classic. Gray has a 33-5 record this season. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

Highlighting that slate was Clay's first-place finish at the prestigious, 37-team Brecksville Invitational Holiday Tournament, where half of the Eagles placed in the top eight.

Leading the way was Richie Screptock's championship at 113, brother Mike's second-place finish, a third from Garrett Gray, and fourth-place finishes from Conine and Angelo Amenta.

"When the season started we didn't really know how good we were until we started winning the bigger tournaments," Mike Screptock said. "As a team, we just want to keep stepping it up, in the districts, and trying to finish in the top five in the state."

The Brecksville event was the first time Clay was at full strength during the season. In some earlier meets, the Eagles were missing up to six starters with injuries. But the Eagles have been adequately healthy since the new year began.

That was evident in mid-January when the Eagles captured their fourth straight team title at the Maumee Bay Classic (formerly Waite's Mary Kerr Memorial Invitational), which Clay now hosts.

The Eagles posted a tournament- record 281 points to easily top runner-up Lorain's 172, the widest margin ever for a Kerr/Maumee Bay team champion.

"Winning the Brecksville Invitational was something no one in Ohio thought was going to happen," Cubberly said. "Our kids went out there and wrestled really well.

"That's probably the second toughest tournament in the state right behind the Iron Man."

Clay's chief competition in the TRAC is expected to be from host Central Catholic.

Clay senior Angelo Amenta grabs the leg of Delta's Luke Kern at the Maumee Bay Classic. Amenta, 32-8 this season, placed third at state last year. THE BLADE/ANDY MORRISON Enlarge | Photo Reprints

"Winning a championship in the league is definitely a big thing," Garrett Gray said. "We want to show that we can win anything you put in front of us. We want to conquer the TRAC. As a team I definitely feel we're ready for the stretch. For four years I've been working for a state championship.

Sectionals begin Feb. 18 with the top four wrestlers in each weight class advancing to districts.

"Our lineup is coming together," Angelo Amenta said. "The gantlet that we went through since the start of the season, all the tough tournaments that we've been to, really prepares us for the next four weeks at the TRAC, sectionals, districts and state.

"I've taken some lumps this year. But, as long as I get it together in March, nothing else really matters."

Contact Steve Junga at: sjunga@theblade.com 419-724-6461, or on Twitter @JungaBlade.