By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

THE COACH

Josh Zupancic

7th year

63-67 career record

THE TEAM

Coaching Staff: Brady Marlow, assistant; Jim Kuchta, assistant; Steve Benes, assistant.

2021-22 Record: 14-9 overall, 4-3 Metro Athletic Conference, 3rd at MAC Tournament, 3rd at Portage County  Tournament, 2nd at sectional, 9th at district.

Returning Lettermen (15): Donovan Paes, sr.; Landon Bodovetz, sr.; Kaleb Fisher, sr.; Sam Brunner, sr.; Joey Fedor, sr.; Aidan Carone, jr.; Jacob Joltin, jr.; Hunter Smith, jr.; Carter Gray, jur.; Chris Claar, jr.; Joey Neal, jr.; Matt Klimak, soph.; Hayden Brown, soph.; Cohen Klimak, soph.; Jayce Fedor, soph.

Lettermen Lost (2): Morgan Harris, Alex Shaffer.

SEASON OUTLOOK

The numbers are strong for the Rockets, with 15 returning lettermen, who will work to continue to build off last year’s successful season.

Additionally, Streetsboro welcomes a new freshmen class that already has a lot of wrestling experience.

LIGHTWEIGHTS

The 106 and 113 weight classes will include a collection of wrestlers, but is led by junior Aidan Carone, who won a championship at the Portage County  Tournament last year. He was third in the MAC and was top-eight at the districts. He enters the 2022-23 season state ranked at 113 pounds.

Freshmen Tobyas Boyett and Anthony Singular could see some action at either weight class as well.

Sophomore Matt Klimak could land at either 113 or 120. Last season, he won the Hudson Tournament championship, MAC title and was a sectional champion as well.

Freshman Cam Rogowski is another new face that could find himself at either 113 or 120.

Anthony Perez, a senior transfer from CVCA, will likely take the 126 spot. As a sophomore, he placed fifth at the state championships. Last year, he was a sectional champion and was sixth at the district tournament.

Junior Jacob Jotlin was a backup last year, but will likely be stepping into a starter role at either 126 or 132.

MIDDLEWEIGHTS

Sophomore Justin Wargo will land at 132. He was a successful middle school and youth wrestler and gained varsity experience last year as a sub.

At 132/138 will will be senior Donovan Paes, who was a Portage County Tournament, MAC, sectional and district champion a year ago.

Paes produced a 38-2 record and placed seventh overall at the state tournament.

Currently, Paes is ranked No. 1 in the state at 132 pounds.

At 138-144, Hunter Smith, a junior returns after a season that he was a runner-up at the MAC Tournament finished in the top eight in the Rockets’ district.

Additional wrestlers that could see time at the 138 weight class include junior Reed Diezic, junior Mario Puleo and freshman Jon Smith.

UPPERWEIGHTS

Hayden Brown, a sophomore, is expected to wrestle at either 144 or 150 after gaining varsity experience last year.

Junior Carter Gray was injured for the majority of last season, but was a district qualifier as a freshman. He will land at either 150 or 157, alongside sophomore Cohen Klimak.

Klimak had a strong freshman season and was a MAC champion, while also placing third at sectional, fourth at district and was a state qualifier that finished with a 34-11 record.

Junior Chris Clear and senior Kaleb Fisher both could help at either 157 or 165.

Landon Bodovetz was a district qualifier last year. Now a senior, he will likely wrestle at 165 or 175.

At 175-190, senior Kevin Murphey, freshman Elijah Hall and freshman Gabe Ballinger will be working for the starting nod. Both are new to the sport this year.

Sam Brunner, who is a senior that was a district qualifier last year, will be in the lineup at 190.

District qualifier Joey Fedor, a senior, will start at 215.

Three Rockets, junior Joey Neal, sophomore Jayce Fedor and freshman Arthur Scott, will all work for time at 285.

WHAT MAKES THIS YEAR’S TEAM SPECIAL

“It has the potential to be our best team in the past 10 to 20 years,” Zupancic said. “It is the largest senior class since I have been the coach. Also, we have the most upper weights than we have had in a while.”

CAUSE FOR CONCERN

“Same as any year, we just hope for good healthy and fitting into the right weights,” Zupancic said.

LEAGUE OUTLOOK

“We should be one of the favorites to win the MAC this year,” Zupancic said. “We have yet to be Cloverleaf, Woodridge and Norton in duals, so we will have to break through that. Coventry and Field should also have solid teams in the league.”