Walsh Ironman: The nation's best did not disappoint

This weekend's Walsh Ironman Tournament at Walsh Jesuit kicked off the wrestling season with a bang to say the least. With all the highly ranked wrestlers there, the one thing that was established was that rankings meant little. Upsets were plentiful. The great thing about a tournament like this is that because bragging rights were what was on the line, not a state title, or national title, you saw more wrestlers really getting after it rather than wrestling not to lose. The following is a weight-by-weight recap of the highlights of the past weekend:

103 -- David Taylor used a third period takedown to prevail over Boris Novachkov of California in a battle of Cadet Nationals champion versus Junior Nationals champion. However, the real drama came in Taylor's semifinal win over Cadet Nationals runner-up Ben Sergent. Sergent opened that bout with a quick takedown and then added an escape in the second to extend his lead to 3-0 going into the third.

David Taylor of St. Paris Graham (Ohio) is the No. 1-ranked freshman in the Rev High School Power Rankings (photo by Jon Malinowski).

That's when Taylor turned it up a notch. After a quickly escaping and immediately scoring a takedown, Taylor kicked Sergent out, to trail 4-3 with about a minute remaining. Taylor was soon in on what appeared to be a routine takedown, albeit the go-ahead takedown. However, instead of settling for two points, Taylor converted his takedown into what might be described as a standing half nelson against the much taller Sergent. For a moment, it looked like a freshman mistake -- but Taylor exploded into the move and put Sergent onto his back, for a final tally of 8-4.

Sergent also came out on the wrong end of a great consolation semifinal bout against Danny Genetin of Massillon Perry. Leading and controlling the entire match, Sergent was overly aggressive in attempting a "barrel roll," and Genetin opportunistically stepped over him for the fall. Genetin would go on to take third with a fall over tough Steve Mitcheff

112 -- It happens at big tournaments without fail. There is one wrestler who the "buzz" is about all weekend long. You hear numerous fans in the bleachers talking about that one amazing wrestler. At the Ironman, that wrestler was the superb freshman from Lakewood St. Edward's, Collin Palmer. Palmer started his Saturday with a 10-1 win over two-time Cadet National Freestyle champion Anthony Valles. He followed that up with an 11-0 shellacking of defending Ironman champion Jayk Cobbs of Great Bridge. He had not allowed an offensive point. Suffice it to say that he was considered a lock by the crowd.

Nikko Triggas of California completely dominated the competition at the Walsh Ironman (photo by Jon Malinowski).

Perhaps no one noticed that in the other semifinal, powerful Nikko Triggas of California had just demolished Pennsylvania AAA state champ Chris Sheetz by a score of 14-3. In their final, Palmer gave up an early takedown. Seemingly trying to regain his invincible status, he then tried an unnecessarily risky move from the bottom and wound up giving up two back-points. Triggas then powered his way to a cradle and scored two more back-points. At this point, it seemed that the wheels came off for the freshman phenom from St. Ed's. Trying to make up points, he made increasingly risky attempts at a reversal -- and Triggas had an answer for each, wracking up several more near falls. The final tally was a shocking 13-2. In the end, it was the junior from California who served notice that he is the real deal. Look for Palmer to rebound at Beast of the East next week.

119 -- In what was perhaps the most dissatisfying final of the night, Aaron Hart of St. Paris Graham was awarded a highly-unpopular penalty point at the buzzer to prevail, 2-1, against Boris Novachkov, the same score he beat another California star, Caleb Flores, by in the semifinals. In the end, little was settled except that the top four guys at this weight- Hart, Novachkov, Mele (who lost 4-3 to Novachkov), and Flores were all about even.

125 -- No one can dispute that Lakewood St. Ed's Keith Sulzer knows how to win. Sulzer trailed the entire match with No. 1-seeded Ian Moser in the semis, but scored a late takedown to pull out a 4-3 win. He then seemed to be outwrestled in his finals bout with Ben Jordan of St. Paris Graham, but in the end it was Sulzer who got his hand raised with a 2-1 victory. However, it was the sophomore Jordan who was the real story of the tournament at this weight. The son of former four-time state champion, two-time NCAA champion, and Ohio state representative Jim Jordan, the younger Jordan has mastered the same head inside single that his dad was noted for (he used to refer to it as the "angle knee drop" as I recall from wrestling camps as a youth). He showed an ability to penetrate the defenses of top upperclassman on his feet at will. First, he handled Cadet Nationals champion Kellen Russell of Blair Academy by a score of 9-3. Next, he scored the only two takedowns of the bout to beat a tough Quentin Keyes of Walsh Jesuit 5-3. In his final, trailing 2-1 going into the third period, his coach (his uncle Jeff Jordan) advised him to choose neutral. Perhaps Coach Jordan did not feel confident that his wrestler could escape from Sulzer, but against as solid a defensive wrestler as he was facing, it seemed like a strategic error. Young Jordan was never quite able to finish his single against the crafty Sulzer -- but look for big things from this young wrestler in the future.

Frishkorn pinned FILA Cadet Nationals champion Coby Boyd of St. Paris Graham in the quarterfinals, but lost to Californian Billy Murphy in the Walsh Ironman finals.

130 -- In a final of two of the highest ranked wrestlers in the Rev Power Rankings, Billy Murphy scored the only takedown against Jordan Frishkorn of Great Bridge to prevail, 3-2, in a final that was frankly somewhat disappointing. The real fireworks in this weight came in the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. First, after a scoreless first period, Frishkorn stuck FILA Cadet Nationals champion Coby Boyd of St. Paris Graham. Boyd had previously pinned another elite Ohio sophomore, Chase Skonieczny of Walsh Jesuit, in the first period of their second round match-up. Murphy's match-up with former Ohio state champion Adam Kriwinsky (who was defeated in the finals by Jordan last year) was perhaps the best match of the day. Through the first two periods, Murphy looked like a hammer, scoring four takedowns and physically dominating to take an 8-4 lead late in the second period. At that point, Murphy got sloppy trying to extend his lead to 10-4, and instead Kriwinsky capitalized, scoring the takedown to cut the lead to 8-6. At this point there was a huge momentum shift -- as Kriwinsky seemed to realize he was not out of his league after all- and Murphy started wrestling not to lose. The final score was Murphy hanging on for a 10-9 win.

Kriwinsky later knocked off Boyd 5-4 to serve notice that his match with Murphy was not an aberration. However, he lost for third against Skonieczny (who Boyd had pinned).

135 -- Upper Perkiomen junior Zack Kemmerer, who has yet to place higher than fifth in the Pennsylvania State Tournament, knocked off three former Ohio state champions en route to the title. First, he knocked off Shawn Harris of St.Edward's with a late takedown in a 3-1 bout that was probably his toughest of the tournament. He then handled Pat McLemore by a score of 9-4. In the finals, he scored the only two takedowns in a 5-3 win over Kevin Lipp, the NHSCA Juniors Nationals champion. Junior National Freestyle All-American Max Shanaman was upset by Brian Martin of Montini and then beaten by McLemore. He then avenged his loss to Martin for fifth. Harris seemed to have shot his energy in his war with Kemmerer and was eliminated in the next round.

140 -- Outstanding Wrestler Matt Dunn was perhaps the biggest story of the tournament. Dunn first rallied to defeat Cadet National Freestyle champion Mario Mason in overtime in a superb quarterfinal bout. After defeating Matt Lerer in the semis, he was pitted against three-time state champion Lance Palmer of St. Ed's. This was probably the best bout of the finals. Dunn led 3-0 going into the third period after a Palmer attempt at a granby-type maneuver landed him on his back. Palmer quickly took Dunn down and turned him with his wicked power half for two back-points for a 4-3 lead.

With about thirty seconds to go, Palmer broke down Dunn and threw the legs in. The match appeared to be over as Dunn was flat on his stomach and Palmer working, or at least appearing to work for a power-half. And then the ref called a stalemate. With fifteen seconds to go, Dunn was given a fresh start. Whether this was the appropriate call or not, he made the most of his opportunity, and when Palmer tried to suck him back into a crab ride, Dunn reversed him to his back for the 7-4 win. Lest you think this was a fluke, remember that Dunn was within ten seconds of beating Adam Frey at last year's Ironman. Clearly, the kid is for real.

145 -- In one of the most impressive finals performances of the night, junior Sean Nemec of Lakewood St. Edward's dominated Travis Blasco of Blair, 6-2. Nemec scored all three takedowns with solid leg attacks and yielded just two escapes. This was a reversal of their match from the previous season, when Blasco defeated Nemec in the deciding match of the Blair/St. Ed's dual meet. Freshman Andrew Clement of Christianburg parlayed his funky style to a fourth place finish. Expect to hear his name a lot in the future.

152 -- Junior Eric Medina of Blair Academy was perhaps the most impressive wrestler of the tournament. In his semifinal, he went up against Jason Welch of California, the No. 1-rated sophomore in the Rev Power Rankings in the most anticipated semifinal of the day. Welch is very good on his feet with a funky style. However, at least on this day, Medina had an answer for everything Welch attempted. Medina took Welch down numerous times in scrambles, often to his back, and was approaching a technical fall when he finally stuck Welch. In the finals, Medina powered his way to a 9-6 win over Josh Rohler which was not nearly as close as the score. Rohler looked uncharacteristically sluggish.

160 -- The final was a dead-even struggle between two of the nation's best 160's, David Rella and Mac Lewnes. Adding to the drama was the fact that the tournament was held at Rella's home school, Walsh Jesuit. In the end, Lewnes spoiled the occasion with an 8-7 victory. Three-time state champion Matt Epperly of Christianburg finished a disappointing fifth place.

171 -- Unseeded Eric Cameron of Cincinnati Moeller established himself as one of the best 171's in the nation. First, he took out No. 1-seeded Ian Heinisch by a 12-6 score. He then shellacked Andrew Hoffer of Christianburg, 10-1, in the semis. His finals match with Brian Roddy of Lakewood St. Edward was one of the best of the night. Cameron scored the go-ahead escape to take a 10-9 lead with about 20 seconds left, forcing Roddy to try an unsuccessful desperation headlock, for a 12-9 final. Probably the best kid in this weight was Rob Waltko of North Allegheny. Waltko dominated the entire bout with Roddy, only to get cradled and pinned in the third period. He then came back and took third, winning by technical fall over tough sophomore Cody Mangrum, who had lost to Roddy, 8-5, in their semifinals, for third.

189 -- The unheralded John Weakley of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy in Ohio put on a takedown clinic against highly-rated David Green of Oviedo in the finals, prevailing 14-5. As explosive as they come, look for big things from this junior.

215 -- Junior Cody Gardner of Christianburg cemented his claim to being the best 215 in the country by demolishing all comers, including a 14-4 finals win over Garrett Goebel in the finals. Goebel is only a sophomore and has a great future ahead of him.

Hwt -- Oviedo's No. 1-ranked heavyweight, Kenny Lester, did not disappoint. Lester scored four first-period falls in five matches, including the finals, en route to the title. Look for Sophomore John Hiles of Columbus St. Francis DeSales to become a household name in wrestling circles. Hiles suffered a one-point loss to Matt Richardson in the second round but stormed back for third, avenging his loss to Richardson and handling state champion/Cadet Nationals runner-up Cameron Wade by a score of 8-4.

Teams -- The race between St. Ed's and Blair was tight as expected. It came down to the 152-pound final between Blair Academy's Eric Medina and Josh Rohler. A Rohler win would have meant a tie for first place. However, Medina took it to Rohler and Blair maintained their status as the No. 1 team in the nation for now. A newcomer to the status to the elite teams in the nation is ever-improving Christianburg, Virginia. A public school, Christianburg finished fourth place. They will be even better next year as they only graduate three seniors.

In summary, those who are close to the Ironman should make the trip to see some of the finest high school wrestling in the nation. This year's tournament was better than ever!

Sign In

Walsh Ironman: The nation's best did not disappoint

User Feedback

Recommended Comments

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Categories

Rankings

Browse

Activity

Support