Auroraadvocate.com - Harmon kicks off mat year

For the first time in years, Harmon School's wrestling team edged Chagrin Valley Conference middle school powerhouse West Geauga in the opening match of the season.

With the final score tied at 45, the eighth tie-breaking criteria of most first points scored in matches gave Harmon the win.

Harmon also defeated a bigger and improving Berkshire squad 44-37. With many extra wrestlers paired for matches, coach Paul Frankmann said the triangular meet didn't finish until 8:30 p.m.

"This year's Harmon team features 25 athletes who are more evenly spread out among the weight classes than in past years," Frankmann said.

"With only two open weight classes that could be covered by having lighter wrestlers "bump up" if needed, the team promises to be extremely competitive."

Captains elected by the team are George Bollas and Paulie McGhee.

Wrestling at 80 pounds, seventh-grade Brandon Overholt went 1-1 with a pin against West Geauga, and eighth-grader Andrew Peterson wrestled for 35 seconds to score two pins.

At 92, seventh-grader Payton Picone pinned his West G. opponent and won against Berkshire by major decision, while eighth-grader Alex Rusk wrestled well in his debut match, but lost to West G. before picking up a forfeit from Berkshire. Jeziel Chavez (eighth) won an exhibition match against West G.

At 104, Logan Gross (eighth) wrestled two tough matches, winning 8-3 against West G, but losing to Berkshire. At 110, Brian Evans (eighth) was edged in two matches that each went three periods.

Nick Hradisky (eighth) won his first ever match with a pin against West G, while eighth-grader Kevin Boysza picked up a key pin at 116 against West G, but was caught and pinned by Berkshire.

SAMMY Petrash (eighth) battled to a close loss against West G. in his first match ever, and then pinned his Berkshire foe in exhibition matches.

At 122, Matt Finley wrestled well coming off vacation time. Seventh-grader Eric Caponi wrestled well in his first match, and 128-pounder Nate Branscom battled against West G and prevailed against Berkshire with a pin.

Seventh-grader Derek Angelo fought two tough opponents, 134-pounder Ethan Ekstrand (eighth) wrestled well and seventh-grader Brian McNamara won exhibition matches by decision and pin.

At 142, eighth-grader Bollas lost a rematch to a junior high state placer from West G. after losing a 5-point lead when caught in a cement mixer counter at the end of the 3rd period. He then made short work of his Berkshire opponent with a 56-second pin.

Eighth-grader McGhee had two pins at 160, seventh-grader A.J. Suchovsky pinned against West G. and picked up a forfeit against Berkshire, and eighth-grader Mickey Carrasco pinned both his opponents at 205 lbs.

Seventh-grader Nate Hostelley wrestled well in his first-ever match.

Other wrestlers looking for their first matches this week are eighth-graders Noah Wordell, Ben Sender and Sam McCoy between 98 and 110 pounds.

Also wrestling this year is eighth-grader Chad Jubell, who is working out to learn the sport, get in shape for AHS football and join the AHS wrestling squad as a heavyweight next season.

Harmon will host Kenston and Ravenna in a triangular Dec. 10, then will go to Tallmadge on Dec. 12 for an invitational tournament.