By Roger Gordon

Correspondent

Garfield was down a couple wrestlers, but the G-Men still managed a second-place finish behind Southeast in the 10-team Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Tournament on Feb. 8 at Columbiana Crestview.

“Being down a couple wrestlers probably cost us the championship,” head coach Dan Andel said.

Sophomore Landon Andel captured the title in the 138-pound weight class with four pins, while senior Harper Troyer won the 175-pound weight division with three wins.

“It was nothing extreme as far as competition or matches for Landon and Harper,” the elder Landel said. “They both handled it pretty easy.”

Two nights earlier on Feb. 6, Garfield celebrated Senior Night with a victory over Pymatuning Valley.

“We acknowledged seniors Harper and Kaleb Lewicki. Everybody wrestled with a purpose, wrestled well,” said the coach. “We have some good momentum. It was a good dual to finish out the dual-meet season.”

FIELD

In a quad meet Feb. 6 at Woodridge, Field defeated Ravenna 58-16 and Cloverleaf 56-27, but lost to the Bulldogs 42-32.

“I thought we wrestled really well,” head coach Dave Tenney said. “I think, at this point of the season, we’re starting to come into our own. The guys are starting to peak at the right time as we get ready for sectionals.”

     • Next up for Field: Metro Athletic Conference Tournament at Woodridge on Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. (Said Tenney, “I expect to have several young men on the podium and truly expect to have some conference champions.”

ROOTSTOWN

Rootstown was dominant across the board in a 72-16 triumph over Strongsville on Feb. 6 at home.

“Everybody wrestled really well,” head coach Anthony Anderson said. “The majority of our wins were by pin.

     • Next up for Rootstown: At Mogadore on Feb. 13 at 6 p.m.

MOGADORE

Mogadore lost 45-36 to visiting Springfield in the Battle of the Fence Feb. 6.

“We didn’t wrestle too bad,” head coach Duane Funk said. “We just had too many holes giving up forfeits.”

With wins were seniors Braeden Manley in the 120-pound weight division and Owen Roberts at 132 plus junior Matthew Trusky at 190.

“Braeden came out and got a nice pin for us right off the bat, so that started us off on the right foot,” said Funk. “Owen had a nice match with a solid pin, and Matthew also secured a pin for us. Matthew wrestled really well, wrestled tough. He moves well for a big guy.”

     • Next up for Mogadore: Tri-meet against Rootstown and Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas on Feb. 13.

KENT ROOSEVELT

Kent Roosevelt lost 45-41 to Cleveland Central Catholic on Feb. 5 on Senior Night. The

teams were evenly matched. Highlights were seniors Noah Dunlap and Ethan Braham, who both won by exciting pins.

     • Next for Kent Roosevelt: Dual in the School at Tallmadge.

GIRLS

ROOTSTOWN

Rootstown won 27-24 at Field on Feb. 11.

The two winners (there were several forfeits on both sides) for the Rovers were junior Reise Thomas, who won by decision in the 115-pound weight class, and freshman Morgan Giebel, who won by pin at 145.

“Reise wrestled a good match. It was a tight match,” head coach Nick Sladky said. “Morgan’s result gave us the win. She went out and wrestled really tough. She caught her opponent with a headlock, put her to her back and pinned her.”

Five nights earlier, on Feb. 6, Rootstown competed in a home quad meet against Strongsville and Canton South in a meet that also included Crestwood. Sladky was happy with his team’s performance.

“We did really well. I see lots of improvement,” he said. “We’re just gearing up for the postseason. We’re starting to peak a little bit at the right time, so that’s good.” Giebel won both of her matches at 145.

“Morgan did really well, wrestled hard, learned a few things and finished her matches out,” said Sladky.

Freshman Sophia Byers split two matches at 130.

“Sophia is wrestling tough,” the coach said.

     • Next up for Rootstown: At Mogadore on Feb. 13; at Carrollton Girls Tournament on Feb. 15.

KENT ROOSEVELT

Kent Roosevelt’s Penny Edwards split her four matches Feb. 9 in the Lady Redskins Invitational at Port Clinton.

“Penny wrestled some tough competitors,” head coach Ryan Fankhauser said. “We didn’t see her best, but we’ll get another opportunity with the same opponents this Saturday at the Brunswick Girls Invitational.”