Wrestling: Shorthanded Elyria Catholic impresses at NCC tournament

MENTOR — Despite missing multiple wrestlers, most notably Juelz Martin, who is ranked 10th in the state at 138 pounds, it was still a successful day for Elyria Catholic at the North Coast Conference tournament. The Panthers placed fourth, and had nine wrestlers finish on the podium, including some who haven't been among the team's most successful competitors this year. "I thought it was good that we had guys that haven't been as impactful throughout the season come through today," said Elyria Catholic coach Mick Burnett. "We had a couple of guys missing, so the younger guys stepped up, guys like Vinnie Reyes, Carter White, Dominique Worthy, Colin Coughlan, this is some of their first real success, and it's good for their confidence." While Elyria Catholic's performance up and down the roster was impressive, it was unsurprisingly led by Grady Moos and Jake Hill, who won the team's only two conference titles at 106 and 157. Moos, the 106 champion, dominated his way through another tournament, capping it with a 15-0 technical fall victory over Lake Catholic's Dylan Osolin in the final. "I was getting to my attacks well," Moos said. "I was thinking positively the whole time, and I had a good warmup, so overall, it was a very good day." Moos began his high school career with a win in December at the Cobos Classic, and has improved as the season has gone on. He is the top-ranked wrestler in Ohio in Division II at 106. "It's been super fun winning and seeing my progress throughout the year," Moos said. "I'm excited. I think I did a good job in the regular season, and I'm just excited for the postseason now." He has been elite on the mat this year, but according to Burnett, Moos might be better, mentally. "His emotional maturity has been so impressive to me," Burnett said. "It's hard to have that target on your back, and he's done a really good job of putting that aside and navigating that. He's wrestling at his best right now." After falling short at the conference meet a season ago, senior Jake Hill got his redemption, winning the title at 157 with a pin of Benedictine's Gabriel Dolan. "I was just getting to my offense, and I felt like everything worked out today," Hill said. "I just did what I've been doing all year." While Hill was happy to pick up a conference title, with the postseason coming up, he has bigger goals. "This doesn't give me any confidence that I didn't already have," he said. "I knew I was better than most of these kids today, and I think I'm better than most of the kids in the state, so my goal is being on that podium in Columbus." While Hill's performance on the mat has helped Elyria Catholic, as the only senior on the roster, his leadership has been just as important. "He's shown great leadership this season," Burnett said. "He does things right, he eats right, he goes to sleep at the right time and that's what you want from your leaders. He's our only senior, but we have a group of juniors and sophomores that are following him, and they're all working together for a common purpose. When you have that, even on a small scale, success follows shortly after." TEAM STANDINGS: 1. Lake Catholic 214.5, 2. Padua 123, 3. CVCA 122.5, 4. Elyria Catholic 114.5, 5. Benedictine 104, 6. NDCL 41, 7. Holy Name 16.5. INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: 106 – CHAMPIONSHIP: Grady Moos (Elyria Catholic) tech. fall Dylan Osolin (Lake Catholic), 15-0. THIRD: Evan Heinz (Padua) pin Wil Dauenhauer (NDCL), 2:58. 113: CHAMPIONSHIP: Chance Wuhr (Lake Catholic) default Maddox Moos (Elyria Catholic). 120: CHAMPIONSHIP: Bryden Spellacy (Padua) tech. fall Lawrence Mayes (Benedictine), 22-4. THIRD: Maclain Chase (Lake Catholic) maj. dec. Colin Coughlan (Elyria Catholic), 12-4. 126: CHAMPIONSHIP: John Hatgas (Benedictine) tech. fall Ethan Preseren (Lake Catholic), 20-2. THIRD: Luke Jones (CVCA) dec. Sean Kelly (Holy Name), 9-7. 132: CHAMPIONSHIP: Timmy Mazur (Lake Catholic) dec. Rocco Czamecki (CVCA), 8-1. THIRD: John LoFaso (Padua) dec. Hakeen Garcia (Elyria Catholic), 3-0. 138: CHAMPIONSHIP: Tyler Ineman (Lake Catholic) dec. Ky'Ron Fikes (CVCA), 8-1. THIRD: JayZhan Jones (Benedictine) tech. fall Richard Makowski (Padua), 20-4. 144: CHAMPIONSHIP: Giovanni Magistrelli (Lake Catholic) maj. dec. Jayden Street (CVCA), 11-2. THIRD: Joseph Todi (Elyria Catholic) pin Salvatore Hoenigman (NDCL), 2:08. 150: CHAMPIONSHIP: Tommy Slack (Lake Catholic) dec. John Jones (Benedictine), 22-19. THIRD: Chase Hodas (CVCA) pin Anthony Chamoun (NDCL), 1:36. 157: CHAMPIONSHIP: Jake Hill (Elyria Catholic) pin Gabriel Dolan (Benedictine), 3:08. THIRD: Sam Mullen (Lake Catholic) dec. Joe Belfiore (Padua), 7-0. 165: CHAMPIONSHIP: Jayden Davidson (Lake Catholic) pin Vincent Reyes (Elyria Catholic), 4:59. THIRD: Kayleb Shaw-Mason (Padua) dec. Braeden Jacobson (NDCL), 7-5. 175: CHAMPIONSHIP: Jimmy Zarzeczny (Padua) maj. dec. Ben Mitchell (Lake Catholic), 12-3. THIRD: Carter White (Elyria Catholic) pin Colt Troy (Holy Name), 3:30. 190: CHAMPIONSHIP: Paul Tepley (CVCA) default Zach Bores (NDCL). THIRD: Nick Kelly (Padua) pin Antonio Carr (Benedictine), 2:41. 215:– CHAMPIONSHIP: Danny Zmorowski (Lake Catholic) default Mason Frye (CVCA). THIRD: Mason Harshman (Padua) pin Dominique Worthy (Elyria Catholic), 2:13. 285: CHAMPIONSHIP: Shepard Charlton (Benedictine) dec. James Jeffers (CVCA), 6-0. THIRD: Bo Barney (Padua) pin Alfred Antonelli (Lake Catholic), 2:27.