WRESTLING DIVISION II SECTIONAL
Walsh Jesuit wins with strong front
Sunday, February 13, 2005
Tim Warsinskey
Plain Dealer Reporter
The depth of Walsh Jesuit’s wrestling team is not what it once was, but the Warriors’ front line was strong enough to win the Kenston Division II sectional Saturday and set them up for a run at the Firestone district title next weekend.
Walsh’s Big Three – state runners-up Quentin Keyes (119 pounds), David Rella (152) and Mike Pucillo (189) – won their weight classes and were joined atop the section podium by freshman 125-pounder Chase Skonieczny.
Walsh scored 195.5 points and advanced nine wrestlers to Firestone.
Led by champs Matt Humenik (112) and Frank Simko (140), Revere advanced eight wrestlers and edged Ravenna for second place, 166.5-166. Ravenna, which led the tournament Friday and had seven district qualifiers, also had two champs – Philip Dukes at 130 and first-year wrestler Xylon Purkiss at heavyweight.
“It was close here at the beginning of the tournament, but I think we’ll start to break away at the district, “said Pucillo, one of two Walsh seniors.
“We’re really young. We’ve got four really tough guys and five other guys not many people know about that can do some damage.”
Keyes had two technical falls and a pin, and Rella scored 67 points in a trio of technical falls. Pucillo’s tournament lasted about two minutes. He pinned his first two opponents in 14 seconds and 27 seconds, and in the finals faced Kenston’s Jason Sabo, who also had a pair of first-period pins. Pucillo pinned Sabo in 1:25.
Skonieczny had two first-period pins and a forfeit. His anticipated semifinal against Ravenna sophomore Matt Reedy did not occur because Reedy aggravated an ankle injury and forfeited.
Benedictine advanced eight wrestlers, and Aurora advanced six to the Firestone district. Orange, Tallmadge and Kenston each sent four. Chagrin Falls advanced three, Streetsboro two and Trinity one.
Aurora’s Johnny Papesh emerged from a competitive field at 103 pounds and won the final, 7-5, with a reversal at the buzzer against Revere’s Jon Kostrandaras.
At 135, Kenston’s Jimmy Rendinell outlasted Tallmadge’s Kyle Chonko, 8-7, on an escape with 15 seconds remaining in the second overtime. During the first overtime, Chonko just missed two takedowns on the outer circle edge and another at the buzzer.
Orange’s George Mann won an impressive, 10-7 decision over Revere’s Jared Kusar at 145. Mann had four takedowns, including the clincher at the buzzer. Other champs were Chagrin Falls’ Evan Meaney (160); Tallmadge’s Andrew Hill (171), who had three second-period pins; and Trinity’s Nic Laracuente (215).
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