WADSWORTH: Even the Wadsworth wrestling team can’t fathom what it has done in nearly the last quarter century. That said, the Grizzlies understand the enormity of the situation.
With a win Saturday at the Suburban League Tournament, Wadsworth wrapped up its 24th consecutive conference crown. While there have been years in which the Grizzlies have shared the title (1995 and ’96 with Highland, 1998 with Norton and 2006 with Barberton), the run is impressive.
To put it into perspective, the last time the Grizzlies didn’t win or share the SL, Bill Clinton won the presidency for the first time and Silence of the Lambs took home the Academy Award for best picture.
“It’s a streak that keeps going because of the great tradition that [coach John Gramuglia] has built here,” four-time SL champion Noah Baughman said. “It’s hard for freshmen and people just coming up into the program to realize how big it is just because they weren’t a part of the start.
“Wrestling under Coach ‘G’ and getting four years into it, you know what it means to him. It’s hard to put your head around, but it’s something we put tremendous pride in. Nobody wants to end it.”
While reigning state duals champion Brecksville was missing state alternate Jason Bronstrup, two-time state placer Justin DeMicco and state qualifier Luke Strnad, what the Grizzlies did was nothing short of amazing as the squad had 13 finalists with everyone placing.
Of the 13 finalists, Noah Baughman (120 pounds), Michael North (126), Luke Baughman (132), Connor Clark (138), Joey Baughman (160), Chris Suarez (195) and Kyle Green (285) took firsts.
“There’s pressure to keep it going — you never want to be the team that let the streak go,” Joey Baughman said. “We knew we had to work harder and harder. Beating Brecksville (in the league dual) earlier relieved the pressure. Coming into this tournament, we felt a lot better.”
The American Conference was exciting, as SL newcomer Aurora and league veteran Copley squared off in a virtual dual match for the championship.
The Greenmen, who went undefeated in the regular-season portion of the league schedule, had 10 finals qualifiers. Copley matched Aurora wrestler-for-wrestler in the championship round.
Once there, the Greenmen kicked it into another gear, as Jack Gorman (113), Andy Garr (120), Trevor Mitch (132), Jarrod Brezovec (138), Cole Gavin (160), Colin McNamara (170), Bubba Arslanian (182), Connor Bizjak (195) and Josh Burger (285) picked up individual titles.
Aurora and Copley met seven times in that final round with the Greenmen winning six times.
“We made a huge statement,” Mitch said. “We had already beaten them in the dual, [and] coming out here today really showed that. We showed we can compete.”
Aurora also showed it was ready for the postseason, which begins in two weeks.
“This showed us that we’re a good team,” Mitch said. “We can do good things at the state tournament.”
Other winners from the National Conference were Brecksville’s Gabe Tagg (106), Jarod Bronstrup (113), Austin Hiles (152) and Eddie Sternad (220); Hudson’s Chris Motter (145); Stow’s Joey Andrassy (170); and Nordonia’s Anthony Perrine (182).
The American Conference also had winners in Copley’s Benny Simmons (126), Antwon Pugh (145), Brandon Grimes (152) and Madison Prokup (220), and Tallmadge’s Ed Suber IV (106).
The SL had an ultimate championship match with the winners of each conference wrestling in a winner-take-all match that didn’t count for points.
Tagg, Bronstrup, Noah Baughman, North, Luke Baughman, Brezovec, Pugh, Hiles, Joey Baughman, McNamara, Perrine, Suarez, Sternad and Burger won those titles.