By Casey Moore
Special to the Beacon Journal
CUYAHOGA FALLS – Dave Rella couldn’t have dreamed of a better situation.
Not only was the Walsh Jesuit senior wrestling in the 160-pound championship match at the Ironman Tournament, but he was also in his home gym and scheduled as the last championship match of the evening.
“How else should it go down?” Walsh Jesuit coach Sonny Marchette asked rhetorically. “Any human being thrives on that sort of environment.”
Rella would’ve hoped for a different result, as he was defeated 8-7 in a back-and-forth match against Mount St. Joseph (Md.) senior Mack Lewles. An escape by Rella with 10 seconds left cut the deficit to one, but he couldn’t earn a match-tying point.
The tournament winner was Blair Academy (N.J.), which edged Cleveland St. Edward by a slim margin at 170.5-166.5. The two were deadlocked at 154.5 heading into the championship session.
CVCA junior John Weakley was the only area champion, winning the 189-pound weight class by a 14-5 major decision over senior David Green from Oviedo (Fla.).
The host Warriors, who finished ninth in the tournament, had two other wrestlers battling in the final session.
Sophomore Chase Skonieczny won five matches on Saturday to come back and finish third at 130 pounds. Skonieczny went 1-1 on Friday and was in the consolation bracket heading into the morning session.
“I don’t look at him as a sophomore,” Marchette said. “He’s an exceptional wrestler. He’s still young and can learn a lot more, but he’s one of those guys who’s always going to be there.”
Walsh Jesuit senior Quentin Keyes (125) lost a hard-fought match against junior Kellen Russell. Keyes took a 1-0 lead into the final period before Russell worked back for a 3-1 decision.
Perry also had three wrestlers participating in the last session.
Sophomore Danny Genetin (103) cruised to a third-place finish over Elyria sophomore Steve Mitcheff, while junior Thomas Straughn battled to a fifth-place finish in his 145-pound weight class.
St. Vincent-St.Mary had two wrestlers in the last session, including senior Josh Rohler who was edged by Blair Academy junior Eric Medina 9-6 in the 152-pound championship. Senior Marco Caponi (215) placed fourth.
“I thought that would go the other way,” said St. V-M coach Anthony Gary about Rohler’s loss. “But finishing in the top 10 (tied for 10th) is one heck of an accomplishment in the best tournament in the country.”
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