1975 High School Wrestling Forecast
4th Annual Edition
Written By Brian F. Brakeman
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Wrestling in 1975
A forecast of the 1975 State Wrestling Tournament has been complicated this year by two factors working in concert against. First, because of newspaper strikes in some areas and inadequate coverage in others this scouting report has been more difficult to prepare than during the last several years and is, perhaps, not as complete as I would like. Second, most weights this year are evenly balanced with no one boy standing head and shoulders above the rest. This is true whether the weight is strong or weak.
AAA Report
98#
Projected Champ: Steve LaScala (Maple Hts.)
Top Contender: Mike Hill (Cincinnati Princeton)
As usual 98# is a tough weight to analyze since so many good sophomores (without prior record) wrestle at this weight. Still LaScala, who I picked to win last year, seems a clear choice. He is one of the quickest wrestlers I’ve ever seen and has been superbly trained. Hill, back at 98#, is also quick and is stronger than LaScala but lacks his polish. They met last year in a consolation bout with LaScala winning 12-8 and it wouldn’t be surprising if they meet this year for the title.
Other possible place winners are Rob von Allman (Oakhills), Joe Biggs, (Upper Arlington) and Mark Essi (Lakewood). Essi, only a junior, is probably the best in this area after LaScala. Other good area boys are Arter (Euclid), Weiss (VF), Dan Mason (Parma), and Cerankosky (SJ.). In Akron Scott Johnson of Wadsworth looks tough, while Munoz of Fremont Ross looks good out of Toledo. Jim Kordik (Centerville) seems strongest out of the Dayton area but Jim Watson (North) and Terry Folino (Beavercreek) could be tough.
105#
Projected Champ: Chris Sutton (Toledo St. Francis)
Top Contenders:
Scott Pancoast (Indian Hills)
Mike Inghram (Wickliffe)
Larry Pfautz (Akron Ellet)
Super Sophs:
Bill McNulty (St. Edwards)
Bill Walsh (North Olmsted)
This is a very competitive weight class with a number of strong wrestlers from all over the state. I have chosen Sutton because he is very consistent, very experienced, and very smart. But he is a small 105# and not real strong so he is by no means a shoo-in.
Pfautz is a pinner who can score a lot of points and has the potential to be excellent. Pancoast is very sure but a little cautious. Inghram is also conservative and if he gets behind won’t be able to catch up. Yet any of these three, given the right circumstances could beat Sutton.
Walsh and McNulty could also beat any of the above boys but I don’t see them putting together four good matches in a row — and that’s what’s needed for a state title.
But watch out for these two guys next year.
Ken Miller (Sandusky) has been injured but he won the North Canton tourney and was at Columbus last year. He and Sutton should come out of Toledo.
In Columbus Escolas (Westland), Thomas (Hilliard) and Lincione (Northland) are all solid and should do well. But again only two will qualify from that area.
Besides Pfautz, the Akron District has Mertz of Walsh and Reichard of Canton South, but these latter two stand a step below Pfautz.
Jim Koch (Anderson) has been sensational in the Cincinnati area but I rate him below Pancoast. He is, however, a pinner and dangerous the entire six minutes.
Cleveland 105’s include Polace (South), a good dark-horse candidate, Burke (Mentor), Russo (St. Joe), Miragliotta (Maple), Komac (Garfield), if he can make the weight, and Baldizzi (Strongsville). In summary, this is a very competive weight.
112#
Projected Champ: Chuck Davis (Grove City)
Top Contenders:
Bob Kelly (North Olmsted)
Mike Mahoney (Rocky River)
Jeff Gaines (Cincy Princeton)
Super Soph:
Jeff Woo (Eastlake North)
This is one of the best weights in the state. Any of the top four boys mentioned above fully deserves to be a state champ, and any of the four would win it in a normal year. Still Chuck Davis will dominate as none of the others can match his skill, strength, and experience. As a National AAU Champ his credentials are sound and he will win the big matches by comfortable scores.
Kelly, I think, is Davis’ top competition with his aggressive style while
Mahoney is classy and Gaines is strong. Remember Davis was 2nd at 98#, Kelly 4th at 98#, and Mahoney 5th at 112# last year, so they are experienced.
Right below this group are Woo, the sophomore with a fantastic future, Edwards (Toledo Macomber), Williams (Dayton Roosevelt), and Wilcoxen (Reynolds-burg). Kevin Irby a state qualifier as a freshman last year is also at this weight but the competition will be too strong for him. Larry Jones from Mt.
Healthy is underfeated and a strong Cincinnati wrestler while Ed Marsh and Frank Perrino from that area are also good.
Jay Liles (Findlay) is an experienced wrestler but the real dark-horse
in the field will be Shapiro from Toledo Rogers. While something of an un-known quantity he could muscle into the top echelon at this weight.
In Cleveland, John Romeo, Steve Kaback (Brush), Mike Jones (John Marshall), Dan Foldesy (St. Eds) and Maybe even Duane Hoover (VF) could qualify for the state. It should depend on who gets the best draw at our district.
119#
Projected Champ: Dan Chinn (Grove City)
Top Contenders:
Hollis Frierson (J.M.)
Jim Novak (Maple Hts.)
Taylor Young (Sidney)
Super Soph:
Jim Edwards (Westland)
This is a “dynamite” weight with again four wrestlers who are all really super athletes. I’m picking Chinn but only by the narrowest of margins. He can score points from the top and is strong in close matches. For a junior, he is also experienced, finishing 2nd at 112# last year.
Novak, a defending state champ, could win again but he is up two weight classes and won last year after being battered in the district finals. He can be beaten. Frierson has never fulfilled his original promise even though he twice placed in Columbus. He is just a little too cautious though on a hot weekend he could easily win. Young is the most explosive wrestler of the four, but also the most erratic. It should be fun watching these four fine wrestlers go at it in Columbus.
Besides Novak and Frierson Cleveland has a whole handful of other 119’s. Best is probably Arlia (Parma), but Sowden (South), Werling (Rocky River), Welch (St. Ed), Irvine (Pain. Harvey), Gorsek (Fairview) and Farrell (EN) are all good. This is just a superb weight.
Out-of-towners include Cayton (Cloverleaf) who will be in the Cleveland AAA district this year after qualifying for Columbus in AA last year along with Doppes (West Hills), Jaynes (W. Carrollton) and Simon (Mt. Vernon).
A good dark horse candidate might be Jim Edwards of Westland. Only a sophomore this year he qualified for the state as a freshman and has great credentials in the Columbus area this year. In a weaker field, he might well be a favorite.
126#
Projected Champ: Mike Walsh (North Olmsted)
Top Contender: Doug McLean (Worthington)
A month ago, I would have picked McLean to win, but he has been unimpressive so far this year. Walsh with his cautious style wins the close bouts, and he, of course, is very experienced. McLean, on the other hand, scores a lot of points but seems to have trouble in big tourneys. It could possibly be a stamina problem.
Akron has a number of good 126’s with Lynn Leonard (Kenmore), Larry Milbry (Norton), and Kirk Baker (Wooster) being the best. I particularly like Leonard.
Charles Williams (Mansfield) was third at 119# last year but has been switching weights this year. If at 126#, he could be a real factor. Todd Cohen (Eastmoor) and Cal McDay (Princeton) are other down-staters who could place.
This is not a strong weight anywhere, and Cleveland has only a few state-caliber 126’s. The best are Dave Blazetic (Mentor), Greg Drenik (Wickliffe), and perhaps Doug Koch (Padua Senior) or Russ Williams (Fairview). After 112# and 119#, this weight just doesn’t seem that good.
132#
Predicted Champ: Maurice Stewart (Garfield Hts.)
Top Contenders:
Dave Gilliam (Eastmoor)
Ron Dilley (Kent Roosevelt)
Pat Denman (Bowsher)
There is no clearly superior wrestler at this weight, but Stewart seems the best of a mediocre crop. Both 132 and 138 are weak this year — a surprising circumstance since the middleweights are traditionally strong. Stewart is very strong and reasonably quick, and this junior from Garfield Hts. keeps improving.
It’ll be the third time to Columbus for Dilley, while Gilliam is the best of the lot in Columbus. They would seem to have the best chance of beating Stewart. Other downstate wrestlers are Gray (Whetstone), Cox (Colerain), and Govig (Finneytown). Blommel (Beavercreek) and Hafer (Vandalia) could also be contenders. Also, watch out for Brad Stough of (Norton).
Ibarra (Whitmer) and Kronbach (Toledo St. John) are two strong contenders from the Toledo area. The upcoming CIT should give us a clue to Kronbach, but both he and Ibarra perhaps should be rated as top contenders.
In Cleveland, DeLillo (Lake Catholic), Perry (Mentor), Dye (North Olmsted), McManigle (Madison), and Micsak (Ad. King) are all solid wrestlers. DeLillo, I believe, is probably second only to Stewart in the area and, if healthy, should place in Columbus. As a real dark horse, try Rich Colella (Mayfield) on for size.
138#
Predicted Champ: ????????????
Top Contenders:
Harold Cochran (Eastmoor),
Greg Brockert (Vandalia)
Bruce Taylor (Toledo Rogers)
This is the weakest weight in the state this year. I see very few really first-class wrestlers here and virtually none with previous state experience.
Taylor, Cochran, and Brockert seem the best of this group, but it’s really hard to see any of them as a state titleist. Tony Jones (Sandusky) and Rich Savona (Toledo St. John) are contenders, and Mike Wantz, a transfer at Fairmont East, did make it to Columbus last year.
What will likely happen is that a relative unknown will win by having a hot weekend in Columbus. If so, I believe a Cleveland boy will win. Chet Green (Eastlake North) is a clever wrestler with his legs, and that style could confound many downstate boys (look how far Scott Brann went with the style two years ago at this same weight). Jim Victor (Mentor) and Tony Brown (JFK) are both strong and solid, but neither has that little extra flair that wins big bouts. But then, this year, they may not need it.
Long shots in Cleveland might include Denny Ryan (JM), Ted Buehl (Berea), and Vic Grdina (St. Joe).
All in all, this is not a top-flight weight, but by the same token, it should be a very competitive one.
145#
Predicted Champ: Stan Garey (Garfield Hts.)
Contenders: Many wrestlers from around the state
Super Soph: Steve Foley (Worthington)
Stan Garey appears to be the best of a closely-bunched field at 145#. The weight, while not as strong as the past several years, is still good.
My early choice would have been Mitch Davis of Brookhaven, but he is not wrestling this year after placing 4th at this weight last year. Garey gets the nod because he is a solid wrestler who can pin quickly and score a lot of points. He, however, is quite erratic and is unpredictable in terms of attitude.
Three other good choices might be Rudy Mueller (Lakewood), Dana Stilgenbauer (Fitch), and Kirk Osgood (Rogers). Each is a strong wrestler but all lack state experience. On a good weekend, each is capable of winning it all.
Two wrestlers with state experience are Rick White (Fairfield) and Brent Benard (New Philadelphia). I don’t believe, however, that they will even place this year.
Besides the exciting Foley at Worthington, Nole (Reynoldsburg), Coyle (Elder), and Kubik (Beavercreek) should make it to Columbus with a chance of placing.
In Cleveland, Mickey McDonald (Eastlake North) is very erratic, but he can literally beat anyone mentioned here when the mood strikes him. Kevin Brandenburg (Mentor), Frank Bianchi (Solon), and possibly Mark Ford (Euclid) could make it to Columbus, but if they do, a high place would seem unlikely.
155#
Predicted Champ: Mike DeAnna (Bay)
Top Contender: Bob Girardi (Maple Hts.)
It’s nice to come to a weight where the next champion seems easily discernable. DeAnna, a defending state champ, is just too good to lose, and he should wrap up his second title easily. The only lad with a possible chance is Bob Girardi (Maple Hts.), and the odds are about the same as the Indians copping the pennant.
Beneath these two, we have a nice workmanlike group with a number of solid wrestlers. Kevin Foley (Worthington) probably rates next to Girardi in terms of overall ability, closely followed by Jack King (Eastmoor) and Mark Beshara (Westerville). But remember only two of these three can qualify out of Columbus.
Ryan (Cincy St. X.), Jennings (Howland), Buynak (Wayne), and Kurth (Rogers) are downstaters who might qualify. However, Cleveland and Columbus should dominate this weight.
Other good Cleveland entries are Martinez (Southview), Philiphs (Collinwood), Vanadia (VF), and Ice (N. Ridgeville). Fox (Mentor) or Gagat (Midpark) are long shots to qualify for Columbus.
167#
Projected Champ: Ray Barrett (Maple Hts.)
Top Contenders:
Bill Teutsch (Bay)
Aaron Caywood (Rogers)
This is a difficult weight to analyze since there seem to be so many disparate styles. I like Barrett because he is strong, experienced, and well-trained, but he is by no means unbeatable, and Teutsch’s quickness or Caywood’s finesse could take this weight.
Several other wrestlers also could win at this weight. Mike Harris (Trotwood) is a tough boy who doesn’t give up, and Tony Stabile (Brunswick) is experienced. He will meet Barrett in the sectionals.
Other strong downstaters are Archie Griffin’s brother Duncan at Eastmoor, Randy Hill (Oakhills), Charlie Lausch (Northland), and Jim Anderson (Toledo St. John).
In Cleveland, Jim Ress (Cleve. Hts.) is immensely strong, and Tim Lipnicki (Midpark), Roger Kochman (Eastlake North), and Dave Frazer (Strongsville) could get to Columbus. A solid dark-horse might be Tim Robinson (Nordonia), who looked so good at the Kenston Tourney.
A long-shot might be Dave Daver (Toledo Central Catholic) who just now is reaching this weight. He placed last year and may well do so again.
Chuck Muenzer (Waite) is also strong.
175#
Predicted Champ: Charles Schoen (Toledo St. John) *
Top Contenders:
Mark Elliott (Oakhills)
Ron Varga (Fairview)
Mike Vrana (Eastlake North)
*If he wrestlers at this weight
If Chuck Schoen is at 175#, he will be the favorite to win, although he will be pushed by three top contenders. This is one of the toughest weight classes in the state, as Schoen was 2nd at 185#, Varga 2nd at 175#, Elliott 4th at 175#, and Vrana 4th at 167#. All four are excellent and deserve to be a champion. I chose Schoen because of his strength and determination, but Elliott is explosive enough to beat anyone. If Schoen does go to 185#, Elliott would be my pick to win at this weight.
Varga and Vrana are just a shade below these two (although Varga did beat Elliott in overtime last year). Actually, the draw will be important here because these boys have such different styles that who gets which opponent first might well determine the final order.
Besides this top four, at least three other wrestlers are first-rate. Phil Temple (Whetstone) has state experience and has been sensational in Columbus, while Mike Schlageter (Toledo St. Francis), Ray Grubaugh (Nordonia), Larry Kuermle (Dover), and Mike Tuttle (Revere) also have been to Columbus.
Casenhiser (Norton) and Kobilarcyzk (Wooster) might also make it through the Akron-Canton district and will be dangerous foes. I particularly like Kobilarcyzk, and with a good draw, he could easily place.
In Cleveland, Prosuch (Lake Catholic), Koren (Brush), Kopacko (Midpark), and Dombos (Garfield) are a large notch below Vrana and Varga but might rate as long shots for a place finish at Columbus.
185#
Predicted Champ: Charles Schoen (Toledo St. Johns) *
Top Contenders:
Jim Turnbull (Madison)
Steve Linz (Cincy St. X.)
Mickey Archer (Waite)
*If at this weight instead of 175#
Ironically Schoen will have a much easier time winning if he chooses this higher weight to compete at. He was second here last year, and with Harold Smith at heavyweight, nobody here should get within four points of him.
Turnbull has been ill with mononucleosis, so his condition is uncertain, but when healthy, this redhead is tough and very aggressive. Linz has been “mopping up” in the Cincinnati area, but his performance last year at Columbus was disappointing, and he is up two weight classes.
Chuck Harris (Trotwood) and Chris Wilson (Troy) are strong in the Dayton area, while Crislip (Louisville) could be the best in the Akron-Canton area. However, Gary Skelly (Nordonia) is probably the No. 1 choice from that district.
Cleveland has a number of solid 185’s (besides Turnbull) who could do well in Columbus. These include Koz (Lakewood), Svoboda (Garfield), Gregory (Brush), Gall (North Royalton), Tillo (Bay), and Anger (Collinwood). Two dark-horses are the rapidly improving Ken Milkovich from Maple Hts., and Tom Kopacko from Midpark.
Heavyweight
Predicted Champ: Harold Smith (Canton McKinley)
Unless Godzilla shows up to wrestle at Columbus, Harold Smith will win. Probably the #1 high school wrestler in the country at the upper weights, Smith will be a 190 in college. However, it is the heavyweights who will meet him at the state tourney.
Hoping for that one chance to beat Smith (because upsets are frequent at heavyweight) are four
good big boys from Cleveland. Tom Cousineau (St. Eds.), Mike Weitzman (Eastlake North), Bob Golic (St. Joe), and Tim Payne (North Olmsted) are the next four best heavies in the state. If they could wrestle Smith as a group, they could beat him, but if they’re forced to do it one at a time, the man who draws furthest away from him will take second.
The only other two heavies worth mentioning are Fultz (Brookhaven) and Morrison (Ashland). One of them will get a place since Smith plus the four Cleveland boys only adds up to five.
AAA Team
This year the team race could be very close. Many teams have two or three great wrestlers, but it is so fragmented that only one team has a chance of running away with it. That team is perennial state champion Maple Hts., who have four boys who should place. If they do and the “Maple Mystique” gets one or two other wrestlers to Columbus who score, Maple should win easily.
North Olmsted has brilliant individual strength and could win if Maple falters. Grove City with two potential state champs hopes to emulate Bay’s feat of winning with only two wrestlers. Toledo Rogers has four strong contenders, while Columbus Eastmoor has been strong.
A real dark-horse might well be Eastlake North. If Woo, Green, McDonald, Vrana, and Weitzman all wrestle at the top of their form, they could well surprise the entire state. Oakhills might also be a team that could come from nowhere if everyone has a hot weekend.
A-AA Report
Wrestlers from the smaller schools get tougher each year, and it’s a shame their tourney isn’t a week earlier so that the top boys could get a chance at the AAA crown (as the NCAA does). Shown below are the half dozen or so best wrestlers at each weight with an asterisk denoting those who I believe will win titles.
98#
Balmert (Ready) *
Constantino (Orange)
Fisher (Beachwood)
Bucher (Fairless)
Eckel (Wehrile)
105#
T. Brinton (Kenston)
D. DiSabato (DeSales)
Herbert (Loveland)
O’Malley (Brooklyn)
Adrian (Licking Hts.,)
Knoll (Norwalk)
Dishong (Springfield)
Fulks (Eaton)
Zimmer (Wehrle)
112#
Hanson (Rich. Hts.) *
P. DiSabato (DeSales)
Wing (Bexley)
Vosler (Eaton)
A. McKinney (WH.)
J. May (Highland)
Fracasso (Delaware)
Winke (Oak Harbor)
119#
Stone (Beachwood) *
Kovacs (Stritch) Starr (Licking Hts.)
Fuller (Highland)
Chang (Wyoming)
Musgrave (Orange)
A. Wilson (DeSales)
126#
D. Blake (Chestwood) *
R. Kollman (Twinsburg)
R. Pelleschi (Brooklyn)
Haynes (Stritch)
Schmidt (Swanton)
Howison (Delaware)
Camp (Rottman)
132#
T. Herold (DeSales)*
E. May (Highland)
Cotner (Perrysburg)
Stepp (Deer Park)
Begley (Stebbins)
138#
D. Cavanaugh (Highland)*
Howe (Eaton)
Fisher (Norwalk)
George (Lehman)
145#
L McCune (Kenston)*
Flowers (W.M. Hon)
Jansen (Ready)
Wilcox (High)
Cwynar (Brooklyn)
Oberdove (Manchester)
155#
Barnett (Highland) *
C. Gould (Stritch)
Nickell (Eaton)
Bailey (Springfield)
Fox (Carrollton)
Reighley (Ely. Cath.)
Breon (Teays Valley)
Burns (Watterson)
167#
G. Milkovich (Orange)*
T. Snyder (Northwest)
Reiheld (Orrville)
T. Ramsay (Brook.)
175#
Savas (WH) *
Seiffert (Watt.)
Knepp (Leh.) )
Glowik (Bene.)
Simmons (Highland)
185#
Lowe (Lick. Hts.) *
Smucker (Archbold)
Mulvin (Perkins)
Glagola (Southeast)
T. Hartong (Black River)
M. Williams (Witt.)
Hvy.
Cunningham (Ak. South) *
Sanicky (Crestwood)
Pniewski (Ledgemont)
J. Johnson (Watterson)
Zagara (Orange)
Piro (DeSales)
Reed (Carrollton)
Lane (Minerva)
Courtney (Fre. St. Joe)
A-AA Team
If Highland or Orange can carry enough wrestlers out of Cleveland’s murderous district (only two qualify at each weight), they should be the favorites to win. However, a bad draw at the district level could eliminate either or both. DeSales will surely get 5 or more to the state, and sheer numbers are hard to beat, especially with Herold and the DiSabatos leading the defending champs. Stritch is again tough and will be a factor at Columbus. Dayton Eaton is also a strong AA team from Southern Ohio.
I really like Highland and feel that they may have the best dual meet team in the state, including any AAA school. Whether they will show as well in the State Tourney, however, is open to doubt. A great dual team may not fare as well as one with 3 or 4 outstanding individuals.
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