Press B-Section 03/18/19

The

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Cat’s out of the bag See page B-6

March 18, 2019

R E S Sports S

Blazing tourney trail See page B-7

Record-setting Genoa wrestlers dominate in Columbus Genoa junior Dustin Morgillo gets a takedown of Ashtabula St. John senior Nick Burgard in Morgillo's 5-1 145-pound championship victory. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/ HEHphotos.smugmug.com)

By Mark Griffin and J. Patrick Eaken sports@presspublications.com Genoa senior Dylan D’Emilio put the Big Ten on notice last weekend in Columbus.

D’Emilio, who will compete for Ohio State next season, became the 32nd wrestler in Ohio high school wrestling history to win his fourth straight state tournament championship. D’Emilio (54-3), earned the title by pinning New Paris National Trail junior Peyton Lane in 1:35 in the title match Saturday night in front of 12,195 fans at the Schottenstein Center.

“He brings it all every time,” Genoa coach Bob Bergman said. “He seemed unfazed by everything. Usually there is some pressure, but we didn’t sense any of that this weekend. He gets himself in a fervor. He’s got a scowl and he gets in that alter-ego personality. He’s pleasant off the mat, but in his matches he’s not really fun to be around.”

D’Emilio finished his career with a 210-6 record, tying him for ninth-most career wins in Ohio history. He won state titles at 106 pounds as a freshman, at 113 as a sophomore and at 132 last season.

The Comets, who won last year’s title with 113½ points, crowned six champions this year and had one third-place finish. At one point, Genoa won five state title matches in a row. The Press typically awards it’s Alan Miller Jewelers Wrestler of the Year honor to any state champion, but with six, D’Emilio could get the honor because he’s the only four-time champ. However, The Press is going to stick to tradition and honor all six with Co-Wrestlers of the Year.

Sanchez brothers get it rolling Senior 120-pounder Oscar Sanchez earned Genoa’s first victory of the tournament, and the Comets rolled from there.

Genoa won 30 out of 35 matches during the tournament and finished with a D-III record 172 points.

“It’s phenomenal,” Bergman said.

“We’re all pinching ourselves. We were hitting on all cylinders and we executed perfectly. It’s so hard to do all at once — and at the state tournament - and it was a huge blessing to see it unfold.”

Oscar Sanchez took first at 120 pounds, while his brother Julian won at 132.

D’Emilio. juniors Dustin Morgillo (145) and Kevin Contos (152) and senior James Limongi (160) also won titles; senior Noah Koch took third at 285.

Genoa seniors Jacob Stewart (170) and Brian Martin (195) also competed. Martin won one match, by major decision.

“Everyone did their absolute best and put their best foot forward,” Koch said.

“We left everything out there and I’m proud

(continued on page B-3)

2019 Alan Miller Jewelers All-Press Wrestling Honor Roll 120 132 138 145 152 160 106 113 126 170 285 120 126 145 195 106 106 113 113 132 138 160 170 170 182 182 195 195 220

CO-WRESTLERS OF THE YEAR STATE CHAMPIONS Oscar Sanchez Genoa 1st D-III Julian Sanchez Genoa 1st D-III Dylan D’Emilio Genoa 1st D-III Dustin Morgillo Genoa 1st D-III Kevin Contos Genoa 1st D-III James Limongi Genoa 1st D-III STATE PLACERS Gavin Owens Eastwood 2nd D-III Jacob Moon Clay 3rd D-I Cameron Dickman Oak Harbor 3rd D-III Bradley Mendoza Gibsonburg 3rd D-III Noah Koch Genoa 3rd D-III Brandon Hahn Eastwood 4th D-III Antonio Lecki Lake 6th D-III Alex Szigeti Clay 8th D-III Jake Sage Oak Harbor 8th D-III STATE QUALIFIERS Tony Pendergraff Clay D-I Michael Judge Oak Harbor D-III Tyler Davis Oak Harbor D-III Bryce Maynard Eastwood D-III Matthew Dewitz Oak Harbor D-III Colton Falk Northwood D-III Troy Murphy Clay D-I Jacob Meek Clay D-I Jacob Stewart Genoa D-III Josh Nagy Clay D-I Austin Cole Northwood D-III Ty Cobb Clay D-I Brian Martin Genoa D-III Hunter Smith Gibsonburg D-III

Sr Jr Sr Jr Jr Sr

47-3 56-0 27-1 50-3 48-2 43-0

Fr So Sr Sr Sr So Jr Sr Sr

47-3 48-5 29-3 45-2 48-4 43-7 40-4 38-18 36-12

Jr Fr So So Jr Sr Sr Jr Sr Sr Jr Fr Sr Jr

31-15 29-9 36-10 39-13 31-8 40-12 36-16 42-11 17-6 40-13 43-9 47-15 41-12 27-10

113 120 126 132 138 145 152 160 170

DISTRICT CHAMPIONS DIVISION I Jacob Moon, Clay DIVISION III Oscar Sanchez, Genoa Cameron Dickman, Oak Harbor Julian Sanchez, Genoa Dylan D’Emilio, Genoa Dustin Morgillo, Genoa Kevin Contos, Genoa James Limongi, Genoa Bradley Mendoza, Gibsonburg

SECTIONAL CHAMPIONS DIVISION I 106 Tony Pendergraff, Clay 113 Jacob Moon, Clay 120 Ricardo Oviedo, Waite 170 Jacob Meek, Clay DIVISION III 106 Gavin Owens, Eastwood 113 Tyler Davis, Oak Harbor 120 Oscar Sanchez, Genoa 126 Cameron Dickman, Oak Harbor 132 Julian Sanchez, Genoa 138 Dylan D’Emilio, Genoa 145 Dustin Morgillo, Genoa 152 Kevin Contos, Genoa 160 James Limongi, Genoa 170 Bradley Mendoza, Gibsonburg 182 Jesse Arriaga, Gibsonburg 195 Brian Martin, Genoa 220 Alex Duran, Genoa

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS THREE RIVERS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE 106 Tony Pendergraff, Clay 113 Jacob Moon, Clay 152 Kyle Miller, Clay 170 Jacob Meek, Clay 182 Josh Nagy, Clay TOLEDO CITY LEAGUE 126 Ricardo Oviedo, Waite 132 Devon Wheeler, Waite 138 Colton Falk, Northwood 145 Joseph Heise, Northwood 152 Braden Mapes, Waite 170 Junior Chaisiri, Northwood 182 Austin Cole, Northwood 195 Erik Marazon, Northwood NORTHERN BUCKEYE CONFERENCE 106 Gavin Owens, Eastwood 120 Oscar Sanchez, Genoa 126 Antonio Lecki, Lake 132 Julian Sanchez, Genoa 138 Dylan D’Emilio, Genoa 145 Dustin Morgillo, Genoa 160 James Limongi, Genoa 182 Antonio Quezada, Genoa 195 Brian Martin, Genoa 285 Noah Koch, Genoa SANDUSKY BAY CONFERENCE (TOP 3) 113 Tyler Davis, Oak Harbor 132 Matthew Dewitz, Oak Harbor 160 Brady Jaso, Gibsonburg 170 Bradley Mendoza, Gibsonburg

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THE PRESS

MARCH 18, 2019

Dickman overcomes all kinds of odds to place third

By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Oak Harbor senior Cameron Dickman had to overcome a concussion and a sprained ankle this season, but that was nothing compared to the scare he got last weekend at the Division III state wrestling tournament at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

“He did not make weight Friday night,” Oak Harbor coach George Bergman said of Dickman, who competed at 126 pounds. “At the hotel, he jumped on the elliptical and lost 1.1 pounds. He’s the first kid I’ve ever had at state who had to weigh in on Saturday. It made for a bumpy road on Saturday.”

Here’s how Dickman, who placed third at 126 at last year’s state tournament, dealt with having to lose 1.1 pounds to make weight last Saturday: “I haven’t been able to really get back on my feet running since the ankle sprain,” he said. “I came into the day-of weigh-outs six pounds over. The year before, I was nine and a half over on Friday at 10 a.m. and it didn’t bother me at all. This time around, being my ankle was sprained, I had to get on an exercise bike the coaches brought down and I wasn’t able to shed the weight.

“I was the last kid in the building and I was still a pound over on Saturday morning. I woke up at 7 o’clock that day and got to work out for 45 minutes and went to the Schott. I was a half-pound under (the weight limit) that morning. It was a huge disappointment, not making weigh-outs and having to go another day without eating.”

Dickman was one of five Oak Harbor wrestlers to compete at the tournament, joining freshman Michael Judge (106 pounds), sophomore Tyler Davis (113), junior Matthew Dewitz (132) and senior Jake Sage (195).

Dickman entered the tournament with a 25-2 record, with one of his losses coming at 132 pounds after receiving his fourth concussion. He didn’t wrestle for two weeks. His other loss occurred when he suffered the sprained ankle during the match.

“He came back at sectionals,” Bergman said. “He didn’t wrestle at league because of the ankle sprain. You’re a little bit rusty and your conditioning isn’t up to snuff,

Oak Harbor senior Cameron Dickman tries to turn an opponent at state. (Press photo by Lee Welch/FamilyPhotoGroup.com) but he made it through sectionals and each week he got a little bit better.”

Dickman, a two-time state placer, opened the tournament with a 17-8 major decision, then squeaked out a 2-0 win in the second round. He then got pinned in 4:03 by Troy Christian junior Ethan Turner, ending his bid for a state title. Dickman had never wrestled Turner before.

“We went to similar tournaments and I knew exactly who he was,” Dickman said.

“That match definitely didn’t go my way.

I couldn’t get my offense going and I underestimated him on his feet. He’s one of the best top riders I’ve ever wrestled. I got caught in a cradle and just got stuck.”

Dickman bounced back to narrowly defeat Lake junior Antonio Lecki, 4-3, in the consolation semifinals. Dickman went 3-0 against Lecki over the last three weeks of the season.

“He’s a very crafty wrestler,” Dickman said. “I didn’t want to take any chances. If I win by one point, that’s fine. I wanted to play it as safe as possible this time and get into the match for third.”

Dickman secured a third-place finish with a 4-2 win over Akron Manchester se-

nior Zach Larue, a three-time state placer.

The two had never met on the mat.

“That match, there was no room to be conservative,” Dickman said. “I was fortunate to come up with the first takedown, and that set the edge the rest of the match.

He’s a great wrestler on his feet and I didn’t want to underestimate him at all. I knew he’s been a competitor for years, and no matter what happened it was going to be close and it was going to be a good match.”

Dickman said he plans to wrestle in college, but for now he can reflect on winning his final high school match.

“I’m pretty proud of where I ended up after last year,” he said. “I’m always going to think, what if I didn’t get injured this year? At the end of the day, I have to be happy with the blessings and everything I’ve accomplished throughout my career.”

Sage (36-12), who took eighth at 195 last year, won two of his first three matches and reached the match for seventh place.

He had to default to Massillon Tuslaw senior Jake Loar, who took sixth at 182 last season, after injuring his ankle in an overtime loss in the previous match.

“His ankle got caught under him, so

he wasn’t able to wrestle (for seventh),” Bergman said. “His goal was to improve on his placement from last year.”

Judge won his first match, 7-0, but had to default his next two matches. Bergman said Judge suffered from concussion-like symptoms in the opening round.

Davis (36-10) pinned his first-round opponent before dropping his next two matches. Dewitz (31-8) lost both of his matches by decision.

Lake’s Lecki places sixth Lake junior Antonio Lecki won three of his first four matches before losing a 4-3 decision to Dickman in the 126-pound consolation semifinals.

Lecki lost to Newcomerstown junior Gavin Weaver, 5-2, in the match for fifth place. Weaver also defeated Lecki, 5-4, in the match for fifth place last season.

Northwood had two competitors at the D-III state tournament. Senior Colton Falk (40-12) won one of his three matches at 138 pounds, and junior Austin Cole (43-9) lost both matches at 182.

Falk earned a 13-5 major decision in his second match.

It’s third place for Moon Clay sophomore wrestler Jacob Moon (48-5) won a 10-0 major decision over Mason sophomore Dominic DiTullio to place third in the 113 pound weight class at the Division I state meet.

Moon was joined on the podium by Clay senior Alex Szigeti, who placed eighth at 145 pounds. They were two of seven Eagles to wrestle at state for Clay, which finished tied for 14th with Huber Heights Wayne, scoring 27 points.

Moon opened the tournament by taking a 12-0 major decision over Vandalia Butler senior Josh Suddeth, and then pinned Maple Heights junior Kolin Howard in 4:32 in the quarterfinals.

However, Moon lost 1-0 to eventual state champion Dustin Norris, a Cincinnati LaSalle sophomore in the semis and headed to the consolation bracket, where he won two consecutive matches.

Moon first defeated Lakewood St. Edward sophomore Richard Delsanter 5-1 before taking on DiTullio in the third place match.

Szigeti had a tougher road, getting pinned in his opening match by Wadsworth senior Michael North in 4:59.

Starting at the lowest bracket in the consolation, Szigeti began working his way up, first winning a 14-2 major decision over Olentangy Liberty sophomore Jayce Fitzpatrick and then defeating a common opponent this year, Perrysburg sophomore Alex Garee, 6-4. Szigeti then lost to Stow Munroe-Falls junior Daniel Patten, 6-1, and then fell in the seventh place match to LaSalle sophomore Darnai Heard, 9-5.

Clay's other qualifiers were junior Tony Pendergraff, senior Troy Murphy, junior Jacob Meek, senior Josh Nagy and freshman Ty Cobb.

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Clay sophomore Jacob Moon defeats Mason sophomore Dominic DiTullio by a 10-0 major decision to place third at 113 pounds in Division I (Photo by Rich Wagner)

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MARCH 18, 2019

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Record-setting Genoa wrestlers dominate in Columbus (continued from page B-1) of what we did. To witness that and be on a team like this, it’s great.”

Genoa had a big lead after the first round, scoring 139 points to runner-up Ashtabula St. John’s 68½. Oscar Sanchez’s opening 17-4 win at 120 was a precursor of things to come.

“We scored a lot of bonus points in those first couple rounds,” Bergman said.

“It was pretty crazy.”

Sanchez (47-4) had a 15-0 technical fall and a pin (1:06) to set up the championship match against Edison senior Ray Adams. Sanchez, who injured his knee in the district semifinals, beat Adams, 8-3, at a tournament in January.

Sanchez won a 6-2 decision against Adams for the 120-pound title. He placed second at 113 pounds last season and was the 106-pound champion as a sophomore.

“I was really excited,” Sanchez said. “I wasn’t really nervous (in the finals) because this was my third time being in the finals. A lot of my teammates were in the finals, too.

I like to compete in front of big crowds, so I was excited about that. This was probably the best way I could think of ending it.”

Julian Sanchez (27-1) was equally as impressive on his way to the 132-pound title.

He won two major decisions and added a pin to set up a championship match against Delta senior Cole Mattin, a three-time state placer and last year’s champion at 126.

“Julian lost to him at Medina,” Bergman said. “He injured Julian (knee) and Julian lost the better part of a month and a half (with an injury).”

Sanchez got the better of Mattin this time, earning a hard-fought 3-1 victory.

Sanchez ended his career as a four-time state placer, taking second at 120 pounds the last two seasons and placing sixth at 113 as a freshman.

“It was super special,” Bergman said.

“I’m so proud of that kid. Mattin beat a three-time state champ last year in the semifinals and was the defending MVP in Division III. Julian mapped out what he wanted to do. We were all expecting more of a fight, but it was rewarding to see. He probably had one of the tougher matches in the state finals and he got it done.”

year I was disappointed and this year I got the job done. I don’t have any regrets.”

Limongi finished 43-0 this season and won 176 matches at Genoa. He won a state title at 160 pounds two years ago and placed third at 160 last season.

“He was really disappointed taking third last year,” Bergman said. “He’s just stoic out there and he hasn’t been taken down the entire year. We’ve never had a wrestler in our program do that. He’s just gritty, and it’s neat to see him be the anchor in the finals.”

Genoa junior Kevin Contos throws down Mapleton senior Beau Lefever in the152pound championship. (Press photo by Harold Hamilton/HEHphotos.smugmug.com) The streak is on D’Emilio registered pins in the first two rounds before blanking Rootstown senior Niko Chilson, a three-time state placer, 6-0 in the semis. D’Emilio then pinned Lane in the title match.

Morgillo (50-3), who placed third at 138 last season, won the 145-pound title via four wins by decision. His championship opponent was last year’s 138-pound state champion Nick Burgard, a senior from Ashtabula St. John.

Burgard beat Morgillo, 8-6, in the state semis last year. Morgillo turned the tables last Saturday, earning a 5-1 victory.

“He avenged his loss to Burgard,” Bergman said. “Burgard is a super talented kid, and Dustin was certainly not favored.

Dustin went after it and dominated. He was in control the entire match. It was a very strong statement.”

Contos (48-2) made it look easy en route to the title at 152 pounds. He won by

tech fall, by pin (1:03) and used an 11-4 decision in the semifinals to advance to the title match. He beat Ashland Mapleton senior Beau Lefever (43-3) by a 9-2 margin.

Contos, who placed sixth at 152 a year ago, comes from a strong wrestling background. His father, Kevin, is an assistant coach at Genoa.

“That family, that’s all they do,” Bergman said. “All of their eggs are in that basket. They love the sport and it’s neat to see. His dad and uncle (Sean) took third (at state) and his grandfather (Mark) took third, so this was the family’s longtime goal and it was fulfilling.”

Limongi capped an unbeaten season with a 7-1 win over Ethan Ducca, a junior from Ashtabula St. John, in the 160-pound finals.

“The whole tournament I was thinking, this is my last year and my last shot at this and I want to go out on top,” Limongi said. “It was really rewarding in that, last

Third place for Koch Koch, who placed third at 285 last year, worked toward winning a state title all season. That disappeared in the opening round, however, when he was pinned by Preble Shawnee junior Ty Stevenson in 3:26.

“I don’t think my mental game was quite set,” Koch said. “I usually get my mind right before a big event like this. I was just out of it that morning.”

Koch bounced back from the loss to win four straight matches and qualify to compete in the match for third place.

“I was very disappointed in myself,” he said. “I definitely did not achieve my end-of-the-year goal. The coaches came up to me after my loss and talked to me a little bit. They said I had nothing to be ashamed of, that I needed to go get what I deserved. I just kind of had to let it go and keep rolling.

I had to get my mind right and keep going, no matter what.”

The 6-foot-4 Koch met a familiar foe, Elmwood senior Kain Brossia, in the thirdplace finals. Koch hadn’t lost to Brossia, a Northern Buckeye Conference rival, the past two years.

“Brossia is short and extremely stocky,” Bergman said. “It’s like wrestling a refrigerator. When Noah lost in the first round, it was crushing. All year he talked about becoming a state champ.”

Koch emerged from his finals match with 3-2 decision and finished his senior season with a 48-4 record.

“It meant a lot,” he said. “I was proud of myself, but I was also disappointed. I’m proud of what I got. To be able to compete at such a high level now, I feel pretty good about it.”

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MARCH 18, 2019

Cat’s out of the bag — Gavin Owens is darned good

By Mark Griffin Press Contributing Writer sports@presspublications.com Eastwood wrestling coach Joe Wyant wanted to shield his young squad from getting media attention this season.

After last weekend, however, the cat’s out of the bag after Eagles freshman Gavin Owens took second place at 106 pounds and sophomore Brandon Hahn placed fourth at 120 pounds at the Division III state tournament at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.

“We knew before the season he was a good wrestler,” Wyant said of Owens. “He was third in the state in junior high last year.

He beat two very quality kids at a tournament we went to near Akron early this season. He’s had a great season. He doesn’t get nervous, and he’s been in so many matches ... He was smiling before the start of the tournament. Nothing ever bothers him.”

Owens faced Delta sophomore Zack Mattin in the 106-pound finals and lost an 8-1 decision. It was a rare loss for Owens, who finished with a 47-3 record. Mattin, who also beat Owens, 6-3, in the district finals, placed seventh at 106 at last year’s state tournament.

“It was cool,” Owens said of taking second. “I got farther than I expected. I thought I was going to lose in the quarters.

I wrestled someone (Covington sophomore Kellan Anderson) who already beat beat me (5-0) midway through the season.”

Owens opened the tournament with a pin of freshman Kyle Miller of Sugarcreek Garaway in 1:19. His second-round match was against Anderson, who was 50-0 at that point and had taken sixth at 106 pounds last year. Owens fought to a 7-1 win, then beat Edison freshman Alec Homan, 6-3, setting up the title match against Mattin.

“I just went out there and did my best,” Owens said. “I never made it to the (state) finals in junior high, so it was cool running out of the tunnel in front of everyone.

I wasn’t nervous. I accomplished what I wanted to and I did better than I thought. I was just hoping to place, and I came in second. My expectations are higher now, and everybody else’s are, too.”

Hahn’s performance was also impressive. He qualified to last year’s tournament and went 1-2 at 113 pounds.

“He was one match from placing last year, and he’s had a great season,” Wyant said. “Four of his losses this season were to (Genoa senior) Oscar Sanchez. He beat Oscar in their first match, and Oscar beat him the last four times. His other loss was to (Jacob) Moon from Clay, a state placer.

Hahn opened with a 17-2 tech fall before losing to Legacy Christian Academy freshman Camron Lacure, 14-7. Hahn (437) then won three straight matches to set up a rematch with Lacure in the match for third place at 120.

Lacure pinned Hahn in 4:49, but it was a 1-1 match up until that point. It marked the first time Hahn has been pinned this season.

“He grabbed a single-leg and I kicked away from it,” Hahn said. “I stood up and he rushed at me and got me. Obviously, fourth (place) is good, but it wasn’t my goal.

My goal was the state finals and, hopefully, state champ. I have another two years to accomplish that, and hopefully I do.”

Eastwood sophomore Bryce Maynard qualified to the state tournament at 113 pounds. He lost his first match, won his second match and was eliminated with a 3-1 loss in round three.

Mendoza places third at 170 At the state wrestling tournament, Gibsonburg senior Bradley Mendoza lost in the Division III semifinals at 170 pounds, but he bounced back to win his last two matches to earn a third-place finish.

Mendoza (45-2), who took third at 170 last season and fifth in 2017, finished his career with 169 wins.

He won by pin and a decision in the first two rounds and then faced Galion

Eastwood freshman wrestler Gavin Owens on his way to a state runnerup finish at 106 pounds.

(Photo

by Jeff Holcomb)

Gibsonburg senior Bradley Mendoza on his way to a third place finish at 170 pounds.

(Photo

by Jeff Holcomb) Northmor junior Conor Becker in the semifinals.

“I faced him twice last summer and I beat him by decision twice,” Mendoza said.

“I was nervous; anybody would be nervous. I had some confidence because I had already won against him, but that doesn’t mean anything. It’s the state tournament and anything can happen. I knew he was quick and I knew it was going to be a tough match.”

Becker (49-2) got a 5-2 decision over Mendoza and pinned his opponent in the championship match.

“He played me perfectly,” Mendoza said. “He stayed away from me the whole match. He got hit for a stalling call. Third period comes around and it’s 1-1 and he gets a takedown and I get out right away.

I keep the pressure going and go for a shot and it doesn’t end up happening.

“Coming down to the final seconds, with like 10 seconds, I go for a throw and it felt perfect. He was on his knees and not expecting it at all. His legs swung back and he was able to lock my legs so I couldn’t toss him. It was just enough for him to get by.”

Mendoza bounced back with an 8-1

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win in the consolation semifinals. He beat Rittman sophomore Sevi Garza, 3-0, in the match for third place. Garza entered the tournament with a 46-1 record and took seventh at 160 last year.

“It was brutal coming back (in the consolation semis),” Mendoza said. “You have to be an absolute animal to win a state title, but it takes one heck of a man to lose in the semis, strap it up and win a couple more times. It takes so much mental strength, it’s ridiculous. You have to be able to fight back and overcome all those emotions. I’ve been able to do that for two years. I wanted noth-

ing less than a state title.”

Mendoza said it meant a lot to walk off the mat with his arm raised in his final high school match.

“It was a great feeling,” he said. “It’s so hard to explain, you have so many emotions going through your head. It didn’t come out how you wanted it to, so it’s bittersweet. You have to love the sport. I was breaking down in tears after the match.”

Gibsonburg junior Hunter Smith competed in the 220-pound division and was unable to win a match. Smith finished with a 27-10 record.

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THE PRESS

MARCH 18, 2019

B-7

Cardinals blazing a trail

By J. Patrick Eaken Press Sports Editor sports@presspublications.com Cardinal Stritch’s boys basketball team has blazed such a tournament trail that maybe they’ll make a movie out of it — kind of like “Hoosiers.” Maybe call it “Cardinals.”

Going into their Division III regional final Saturday against Coldwater (18-9), the 11th-ranked Cardinals (23-3) left four teams in the dust, including fourth-ranked Genoa (24-1).

At Central Catholic’s Sullivan Center, Stritch took down the Comets, 55-44, to advance to the regional tournament at Bowling Green State University’s Stroh Center.

Advancing at this stage is not easy, and it took a 40-foot three from 6-foot-2 junior guard Joey Holifield at the buzzer to send the game into overtime.

“You just kind of survive and advance and our kids are tough,” Stritch coach Jamie Kachmarik said. “The big thing I write on the board is ‘Mental toughness from here on out’ and if you are mentally tough and you are in that huddle and we draw up a play, I tell Joey Holifield that if you’re open you better shoot, and he got a shot off and he hits a big three to tie it.

“Then, you know, the next overtime both teams kind of trade buckets and in the second overtime, Joey drives, he gets a basket, and then we get a stop, and then they start fouling and (6-3 senior guard) Little (Anderson) went 7 for 7 from the foul line.”

To beat the Comets, Stritch had to keep Genoa 6-foot-3 senior guard forward Jacob Plantz in single digits, and they did. Plantz, who will play NCAA Division II collegiate basketball at Lake Erie College, came in averaging over 21 points per game.

Bring on Holifield, who played a key role in holding Plantz to six points.

“Joey Holifield, he guards those guys,” Kachmarik said. “There is a reason why he is getting recruited Division I — for his defense. He does guards and limits touches, and he’s physical and they can’t post him up and they run off screens and he blows right off through it. It wasn’t in our game plan or anything, it was ‘Joey, you are guarding Plantz and do what you do.’ And, he’s done it all year on the best players.”

Meanwhile, Kachmarik wasn’t totally pleased with his team’s offense against Genoa, but they got it done.

“To be honest, I thought we didn’t play very good offensively,” Kachmarik said.

“They packed in and I told our guys that we let them dictate how we played. I was disappointed in that a little bit and we were

lucky to come out on top.

“Guess what, in overtime, we started attacking and we got to the foul line and that’s how we won the game. Thirty-two minutes prior to that, we had guys wanting to shoot jump shots. We went 5 for 20 from three, and we shouldn’t be taking 20 threes.

That was quite the thing.”

Kachmarik said this team has been on a mission ever since last year’s season ended at the district tournament.

“Last year at districts when we lost to Archbold at Central, Jordan, Joey and Little — we were all in the locker room late and he said, ‘Next year, Coach, this doesn’t happen. We’re going to try and get that.”

Fast forward to Wednesday, the Cardinals shot 57.1 percent from the field to defeat Grandview Heights (21-8), 63-58, in the regional semifinal.

It is Stritch’s third trip to the regionals under Kachmarik’s tenure, but this is the first time the Cardinals advanced to the regional final with a shot at the state final four.

“It’s a huge thing for our community and our program. We’ve been working so hard since our freshman year. It’s just special. We’re going to take it one game at a time — we’re going to take this game to the heart and we’re going to try and get to state in one game. We’re very close. We’ve got to do it together,” said senior guard Jordan Burton.

Stritch’s three first team All-Toledo Area Athletic Conference guards hit double digits, combining for 48 points. Anderson scored 19, making seven of 13 field goals, Holifield scored 15 on six for nine shooting, and Burton scored 14, making five of eight shots, including two of three from beyond the arc.

Grandview Heights coach Ray Corbett said those three, and 5-5 sophomore guard Jhaiden Wilson, were the difference.

Wilson had eight points and three steals, and 6-7 senior forward Nolan Finch had seven points, five rebounds and blocked two shots.

“Give them credit. My Lordy, those kids made great plays,” Corbett said. “They are a guard-oriented team and their guards played extremely well. They shot it well.

“We weren’t concerned about offense.

We sat as a staff and talked and said, ‘It’s not the offense that we were worried about, it was our ability to guard them.’ There are not many teams we faced this year, even with the people we play…their ability to put it on the floor and kick, and they had a lot of guys who can do that, and it just stressed our defense. And, if everyone is shooting well, like they did in the first half (15 for 24, 62.5 percent), good luck.”

Cardinal Stritch 6-foot-3 senior guard Little Anderson's dunk gave the Cardinals a 59-51 lead over Grandview Heights with 37.7 seconds remaining in Division III regional semifinal action at the Stroh Center. (Press photo by Scott Grau)

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Cardinal Stritch 6-foot-2 junior guard Joey Holifield drives around a Grandview Heights defender. (Press photo by Doug Karns/www.CardinalStritch.org)

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THE PRESS

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