Wrestling: Drop in weight class sparks North Ridgeville junior Ian Rottari

When it comes to staying hot on the high school wrestling mats, not many area athletes can match North Ridgeville junior Ian Rottari. The 106-pounder struggled to start the season when he tried competing at 113 pounds, dropped to 106 and went 2-2 at the Medina Invitational Tournament and then flipped a switch. He has won three straight tournament championships and his last 19 matches. "He's got a different mindset than he had last year," Rangers coach Joel Melvin said. "I think last year it took him some time to kind of figure some things out and maybe the drive wasn't necessarily there, but this year he had a disappointing loss (at the Al Pinter Memorial at Cuyahoga Heights) and he came off the mat and was like, 'I'm going to 106 and that was that.' "Cutting weight is never easy but I think he was within striking distance of that relatively early and ever since he made the move he's just kind of been on a mission." Rottari was lingering between the first two weight classes at the start of the season. He was too heavy to make 106 and he was weighing in under the 113 limit. "I was still eating a lot, and I still eat enough, but I feel cutting weight puts you a little more on the edge and ready to wrestle," Rottari said. "I wasn't cutting (at 113), I was like at 111 at one time, and I felt like I needed to go back to 106 to gain that edge." Rottari's wrestling career has roots in jiu jitsu, which he's practiced since he was 3 years old. He and his father have trained in the martial art in their home, laying out mats, and then he felt beginning wrestling in the seventh grade was a natural progression as his ambition is to become a mixed martial arts fighter when he graduates high school. "The top and bottom game (in wrestling are helped because of the jiu jitsu) but the neutral game can be difficult at times … especially my stance," Rottari said. "But the top and bottom game definitely flows very naturally, especially with my hips and being able to move around. It makes it a lot easier with my jiu jitsu experience." Rottari said the jump from youth to high school wrestling was difficult, but he finished the season as a Division I district qualifier. He said one of the biggest reasons for his strong finish in his varsity debut season was the leadership in the practice room. "I got a lot better because the room was filled with seniors," he said. "I was the only freshman and they took me under their wing. I got trained by the likes of Zach Orseno, Jared Counts … all of them just worked on making me a better wrestler." Rottari had a disappointing finish to his sophomore season, failing to make it past the sectional tournament, but he used the early exit as fuel during his offseason training. "I definitely could have done a lot better and I'm taking that anger and disappointment from last year and using it this year," Rottari said. "I took a week off (after his sophomore season) and then got right back to it. (My father and I) mainly worked on a lot of jiu jitsu, but then we incorporated in into my wrestling so that I could get better for the next year." Rottari still needed that moment that allowed him to truly unlock his potential this season and he got it at the John Matteucci Memorial Classic at Eastlake North High. He was given the sixth seed at the event, which made him feel both disrespected and motivated. "I was seeded sixth and that makes you a little worried," he said. "Like in the back of your mind you're going, 'Oh, this kid's a higher seed than me.' But I just threw that all away and wrestled how I wrestle and I ended up winning it. "I was actually losing in the final match and then I saw an opportunity and I stuck him." Rottari went 5-0 with four pins to capture the JMMC, then won the tournament at Orange High and dominated at the Toledo Waite Invitational. He again went 5-0 in Toledo two weeks ago, grabbing three pins, a 13-4 major decision over Perrysburg's Colin Tomlinson and a 9-2 win over Toledo Central Catholic's Alexander Guerra. "(Tomlinson) was a younger kid but he really knows how to wrestle," Melvin said. "And (Rottari) wrestled him very skillfully. You saw (Rottari) just kind of wear that kid down and that experience and age kind of prove to be difference makers." Riding a hot streak into the postseason is always a good thing when it comes to wrestling. Wrestlers calling it "peaking at the right time" and Rottari could be a force to be reckoned with next weekend during the Southwestern Conference tournament and a week later at the sectional tournament. "I feel much more confident when I step onto that mat," Rottari said. "I'm not letting the adrenaline and the nervousness take over … I'm just wrestling my best. Also analyzing my matches … I've gotten a lot better at that. "So I'm super excited for this conference tournament. I'm looking to take it and be a good conference champ. I'm looking to go to sectionals and I'm looking to go to districts and possibly even states. I'm just super excited to see the competition." Contact Shaun Bennett at (440) 329-7137 or sbennett@chroniclet.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him @ShaunBennettct on X.