D-I District Wrestling: Avon's Eian Englehart, Elyria's Bennett Wachter and Blake Cancel go 2-0 on first day

WADSWORTH — Avon 215-pound senior Eian Englehart and the Elyria duo of Bennett Wachter (106) and Blake Cancel (144) were on the verge of the state tournament after the first day of the Wadsworth Division I district Friday. All three won two matches on the first day of the tournament, meaning they need just one win to earn a trip to Columbus. The top four finishers qualify, so winning a semifinal bout clinches a spot, but so does a win in the consolation semifinals if they were to lose the first match today. Cancel and Englehart are looking for their first trip to the state tournament, while Wachter qualified last year. Englehart defeated Austintown Fitch's Xzavior Mayo 7-0 to win his quarterfinal, after picking up a 43-second pin in the first round. His first chance to make state is against Louisville's Jakeb Beard. "I had a couple of good matches," Englehart said. "It's good to have good competition, you expect that. I've wrestled (Beard) before and it's hard to beat someone twice. I just have to come in with a good mindset and get things done." Along with Englehart, the Eagles have Anthony Mrosko (144), Jack Schumacher (165) and Derek Weitzel (285) alive in the consolation bracket. They need to win three matches to reach the state tournament. Avon (16) is sitting in 21st place out of 41 teams. Massillon Perry (99) led Louisville (78.5). Both the Panthers and the Leopards have eight in the championship semifinals. Elyria (24) is 13th. Gaitlin Hassler (150) is still alive for the Pioneers in the consolation bracket. Amherst (3.5) is 34th. Jax Percival (106) is in the consolation bracket for the Comets. Wachter cruised through Louisville's Emilio Rodriguez 7-1 in the quarterfinals, after opening the tournament with a 28-second pin. Both Wachter and Rodriguez are ranked in the top 16 of their weight class in Division I by Matscouts' Josh Lowe. The weight is particularly stacked at this district with six wrestlers in the top 16. "That last match (against Rodriguez), I feel like I could have gotten to my offense faster," Wachter said. "I got two wins out of the way, so now it's just about getting one win at a time." Wachter faces Uniontown Lake's Andrew Cassetty, another ranked wrestler, in the semifinals. On the top half of the bracket is projected state placer Constantinos Paxos of North Canton Hoover. Wachter knows what it takes to make it to the state tournament and is trusting that training to get him where he wants to be. "I just want to stay calm and in a good rhythm," Wachter said. "I don't want to overhype myself up and get myself nervous to not be about to wrestle to my full potential." Cancel pinned both of his opponents. Up next is two-time state placer Mason Rohr of Massillon Perry. Lowe predicts Rohr to win his second straight state title this year. Englehart is similar to Wachter in trying to take a patient approach as he nears the state tournament. "I'm trying to take it one match at a time," Englehart said. "Looking at the big picture can be overwhelming. "I'm just so grateful for my coaches and my great teammates that I get to do it with. It's a great experience." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Semifinal pairings: 106 — Tyson Mateo (Ashland) v. Constaninos Paxos (Hoover); Bennett Wachter (Elyria) v. Andrew Cassetty (Lake). 113 — Paxton Laughlin (Louisville) v. Dominic DiFilippo (Medina); Gaspar Reymundo (Barberton) v. Wyatt Cleary (Walsh Jesuit). 120 — Taegan Gilmore (Medina) v. Max Ohl (Ashland); Asibek Anvaroz (Mayfield) v. Xavier Pollard (Louisville). 126 — Lincoln Rohr (Perry) v. Colton Rhoads (Louisville); Michael Rusinko (Strongsville) v. Nathan Hale (Valley Forge). 132 — Liam Montgomery (Louisville) v. Liston Seibert (Perry); Blake Frantz (Wadsworth) v. Josiah Sims (Brush). 138 — Mason Bauer (Ashland) v. Kaiden Barker (Louisville); Evan Protopapa (Fitch) v. Seth Cavazos (Perry). 144 — Mason Rohr (Perry) v. Blake Cancel (Elyria); Aric Criss (Louisville) v. Kolten Mellon (Wadsworth). 150 — Tyler Tirabassi (Walsh Jesuit) v. Brayden Miles (Brunswick); Guardian Miller (Ashland) v. Cameron Plotts (Perry). 157 — Kyle Jardine (Wadsworth) v. Stephen Pontius (Fitch); Lukas Jordan (Lake) v. Andrew Ramos (Perry). 165 — Carter Wickes (Brunswick) v. Adonis Kelley (McKinley); Tyler Rowles (North Royalton) v. Caden Mariola (Walsh Jesuit). 175 — Drake Brasiel (Aurora) v. Boston Abdul (Lake); Brennan Warwick (Perry) v. Luke Evensen-Hein (Walsh Jesuit). 190 — Caige Horak (Perry) v. Nik Kofinas (North Royalton); Bodie Smith (Ashland) v. Frankie Salvino (Massillon). 215 — Jackson Phillips (Barberton) v. Drayston Martin (Ashland); Jakeb Beard (Louisville) v. Eian Englehart (Avon). 285 — Marvin Guerra (Harvey) v. Jacob Earnest (Wadsworth); Cliff Nicholson (Medina) v. Joey Ma (Walsh Jesuit).