Wadsworth freshman’s debut is promising; Perry strong, too
By Jonas Fortune
Beacon Journal sports writer
CUYAHOGA FALLS: The annual Walsh Ironman Wrestling Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School brings together the best wrestlers, many of them state champions, from high schools as far away as California.
The two-day tournament is no place for a 112-pound freshman to make his high school debut. Well, no ordinary freshman, at least.
But Wadsworth’s Kagan Squire showed no signs of intimidation Friday as he won his first two high school bouts to advance to today’s quarterfinals.
In his first bout, Squire scored an 18-3 technical fall over Central Mountain (Pa.) freshman Joey Miller.
The win moved Squire into the next round, where he met Aurora junior Ty Mitch, the defending champion in the state Division II, 103-pound weight class.
The two grapplers were deadlocked 1-1 for most of the match, but during the final seconds, Squire spun his legs in to take a 3-1 decision.
“I’ve seen [Squire] wrestle and beat good kids. He beat Ty in the summer, “Wadsworth
coach John Gramuglia said. “We were just hoping it wasn’t a fluke. . . . We kind of got lucky right there at the end. [Squire] just kinda slipped around and threw his legs.”
Squire said the win felt good and gave him “a lot of confidence.”
“It feels good. It makes it a lot easier with the pressure, “Squire said.
While the win was an upset, Squire has had a good mentor and sparring partner to prepare him.
His older brother, Brad, a junior at Wadsworth who is missing this year’s Ironman due to an unspecified injury, is the first wrestler in Wadsworth history to win a state championship as a freshman. He competed in the state final as a sophomore, too.
“He has had a good role model with his brother, “Gramuglia said. “They have both have been all over the country wrestling already, so this atmosphere . . . they are kind of used to.”
Brad Squire captured an Ironman title when he knocked off Perry’s Seth Horner last year.
“He’s helped me a lot, “Kagan Squire said. “It’s helped me get a little more physical. Banging on my head; he does that a lot.”
Wadsworth sophomore Alfredo Gray, the No. 4 seed in the 103-pound weight class, and junior Ben Buzzelli, the No. 4 seed in the 285-pound weight class, both won twice to advance to the quarterfinals today.
“Now, we got a big day [today]. It’s not over, “Gramuglia said.
Perry impressive early
Massillon Perry appears to be in midseason form, although it’s only the first week.
Senior Nick Heflin, in the 171-pound weight class, dominated in all three of his matches Friday, winning by pin in each.
Freshman Zach Dailey swept through his three matches, too, winning by decision in each to advance to today’s quarterfinals. Seniors Seth Horner (145) and Sam White (125) both remain perfect heading into today, each winning twice.
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy seniors Tyler Powers (135) and Greg Hojnacki (189) also advanced to quarterfinals.
New Jersey’s Blair Academy had a 102.5 to 82.5 lead over second-place St. Paris Graham (Ohio) in the team standings as of press time. Massillon Perry was in fifth at press time.
Jonas Fortune can be reached at [email protected].
CUYAHOGA FALLS: The annual Walsh Ironman Wrestling Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School brings together the best wrestlers, many of them state champions, from high schools as far away as California.
The two-day tournament is no place for a 112-pound freshman to make his high school debut. Well, no ordinary freshman, at least.
But Wadsworth’s Kagan Squire showed no signs of intimidation Friday as he won his first two high school bouts to advance to today’s quarterfinals.
In his first bout, Squire scored an 18-3 technical fall over Central Mountain (Pa.) freshman Joey Miller.
The win moved Squire into the next round, where he met Aurora junior Ty Mitch, the defending champion in the state Division II, 103-pound weight class.
The two grapplers were deadlocked 1-1 for most of the match, but during the final seconds, Squire spun his legs in to take a 3-1 decision.
“I’ve seen [Squire] wrestle and beat good kids. He beat Ty in the summer, “Wadsworth
coach John Gramuglia said. “We were just hoping it wasn’t a fluke. . . . We kind of got lucky right there at the end. [Squire] just kinda slipped around and threw his legs.”
Squire said the win felt good and gave him “a lot of confidence.”
“It feels good. It makes it a lot easier with the pressure, “Squire said.
While the win was an upset, Squire has had a good mentor and sparring partner to prepare him.
His older brother, Brad, a junior at Wadsworth who is missing this year’s Ironman due to an unspecified injury, is the first wrestler in Wadsworth history to win a state championship as a freshman. He competed in the state final as a sophomore, too.
“He has had a good role model with his brother, “Gramuglia said. “They have both have been all over the country wrestling already, so this atmosphere . . . they are kind of used to.”
Brad Squire captured an Ironman title when he knocked off Perry’s Seth Horner last year.
“He’s helped me a lot, “Kagan Squire said. “It’s helped me get a little more physical. Banging on my head; he does that a lot.”
Wadsworth sophomore Alfredo Gray, the No. 4 seed in the 103-pound weight class, and junior Ben Buzzelli, the No. 4 seed in the 285-pound weight class, both won twice to advance to the quarterfinals today.
“Now, we got a big day [today]. It’s not over, “Gramuglia said.
Perry impressive early
Massillon Perry appears to be in midseason form, although it’s only the first week.
Senior Nick Heflin, in the 171-pound weight class, dominated in all three of his matches Friday, winning by pin in each.
Freshman Zach Dailey swept through his three matches, too, winning by decision in each to advance to today’s quarterfinals. Seniors Seth Horner (145) and Sam White (125) both remain perfect heading into today, each winning twice.
Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy seniors Tyler Powers (135) and Greg Hojnacki (189) also advanced to quarterfinals.
New Jersey’s Blair Academy had a 102.5 to 82.5 lead over second-place St. Paris Graham (Ohio) in the team standings as of press time. Massillon Perry was in fifth at press time.
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