Streaks stomped at Medina Invitational wrestling

Todd Stumpf, Special to The Plain Dealer, January 04, 2010 3:06 p.m.

MEDINA, Ohio -- Two wrestling streaks of improbable length came to an end Tuesday night at the Medina Invitational Tournament.

One was 14 years old, the other just one year.

Mike Griffith, a junior, became the first wrestler from the host school to win his weight class since 1995. The other streak was broken when St. Edward clinched the team championship earlier in the day, ending the Eagles' MIT losing streak at one.

St. Edward finished with 285.5 points to easily out-distance runner-up Oak Harbor's 168.5. The Eagles finished second a year ago to Massillon Perry before rebounding to win the state championship in March.

"We were banged up last year," Eagles coach Greg Urbas said. "We had a lot of guys injured, and they got better as the year went on. This year, we seem to be pretty healthy so far."

Perry finished third with 150.5 points. Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy placed sixth overall, but first among Division III teams. Medina was the next-best local team finisher, finishing eighth, one spot ahead of Highland.

St. Edward senior Nick Sulzer, who repeated as an MIT champ, said the loss at Medina a year ago helped propel the Eagles to the state championship. Their aura of invincibility had been damaged somewhat.

"It was definitely an eye-opener for us," Sulzer said. "It showed us that we still had a lot of work to do and there were other people out there who could beat us."

Sulzer stopped short of saying the Eagles' loss in Medina was a good thing, no matter how much it may have been seen as such by others around the wrestling community.

"We never want to lose," he said. "Other people might have liked us. People boo us everywhere we go. That just motivates us."

Griffith's 3-2 decision over St. Edward's Alex Moore in the 112-pound title bout gave Medina its first individual champion since Mark Balog.

"It feels good," Griffith said. "One of my coaches [Sean Kiousis] was an MIT champ and it feels good to be in his shoes."

For St. Edward, Sulzer was dominant on the way to being named the tourney's second-most valuable wrestler. Josh Demas, who won the 171-pound title for Westerville North, was most valuable. The award was the result of a vote. Sulzer actually out-pointed Demas in the two-day event.

Sulzer won all five of his matches by pin or tech fall. In his 23-8 championship-match victory over New Philadelphia's Mitch Riker, Sulzer did not allow a point that wasn't conceded.

"I still have a lot of work to do," said Sulzer, state runner-up last year at 152. "There's still a lot of time."

Joining Sulzer as individual champions for the Eagles were Dean Heil (103), Gus Sako (125), Anthony Salupo (145) and Greg Kuhar (285). Matt VanCuren (140) joined Moore as a runner-up.

The Eagles placed no lower than eighth in each of the 14 weight classes, an outstanding showing even by their standards in the 39-team tourney.

Nathan Tomasello of CVCA was second to Heil at 103. Highland's Dan Mirman was second at 135.

Chaz McGrain of Olmsted Falls finished second at 152.

CVCA also got high finishes from Alex Utley (third, 171), Zak Vargo (fourth, 135), Matt Meadows (fifth, 189), Michael Rattay (seventh, 112) and Matt Dobben (eighth) 125.

Todd Stumpf is a free-lance writer in Rittman.