FROM STAFF REPORTS
Aurora -- The "second season" starts this weekend for the Greenmen wrestling squad as it travels to Walsh Jesuit on Feb. 15-16 for the Division II sectional tournament.
Eleven teams will be on hand, with the top four individuals in each weight class advancing to the district at Alliance. Teams other than AHS are Benedictine, CVCA, Orange, Ravenna, Revere, Streetsboro, Tallmadge, Walsh, Warrensville Heights and Woodridge.
Wrestling starts Feb. 15 at 5:30 p.m. and Feb. 16 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.
In its last meet of the regular season, AHS proved to be a courteous host as Maple Heights thumped the locals 64-6. Aurora won the first and last matches as Josh Whitelaw prevailed 9-5 at 106 pounds and Josh Burger won 2-0 at heavyweight. Whitelaw recorded two sets of near fall points and two takedowns. Burger earned a point for his foe intentionally taking him off the mat and later an escape point.
In JV action, Alex Nelson, Kevin Hutchinson, A.J. Kimes, Albert Pietrangelo and Nick Matt won.
The JVs also battled in the 15-team Shaker Heights tourney on Feb. 9 and Nelson and Dean Hayden managed third place. Nelson won two matches, one by pin, and Hayden won four of five matches with two pins. Austin Piunno pinned two en route to fourth place.
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Coach Dick Bliss' weekly awards are as follows:
Top wrestlers -- Whitelaw and Burger; most takedowns -- Whitelaw with two; fastest fall -- Piunno in 29 seconds; most exciting match -- Hayden in a 2-0 decision with a takedown in overtime.
Coach's award -- Brian McNamara, who fell just 5-4 to a Maple Heights grappler; top practice wrestler -- Kevin Boysza; top JV wrestlers -- Nelson and Hayden; top sophomore effort -- Whitelaw; top freshman effort -- Burger.
Top varsity record going into the sectional tourney are: Andrew Petersen 27-8, Whitelaw 19-8, Burger 27-9, Brian Evans 27-11, Micky Carrasco 24-11, Sal Petrash 17-10 and McNamara 17-14.
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