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    Dan Ransick, InterMat Contributor •

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    Wrestling 49: Ohio

    With the high school wrestling season's start fast approaching, InterMat will be taking fans across the United States of America on a tour of scholastic wrestling. From now until the middle of November, InterMat will introduce fans to the top high school senior wrestlers in the 49 states with scholastic wrestling. From Alaska to Florida, and Maine to California, fans will gain exposure to future college and senior level stars.

    Year in and year out the Buckeye State has churned out some of the best high school wrestlers the nation has seen. This year again is no different. Ohio has 14 wrestlers ranked in the InterMat Top 100. For the first time in years a soon-to-be four-time state champion doesn't headline the list. In fact, the top wrestling recruit has just one state title to his name.

    1. Nate Skonieczny (Walsh Jesuit)
    Projected 2011-12 High School Weight Class: 138/145
    Projected College Weight Class: 149

    Nate Skonieczny is the only wrestler to defeat Bo Jordan (Photo/Kevin Schlosser, BuckeyeWrestling.com)
    Analysis: If it weren't for being stuck with two of the best wrestlers in the nation his freshman and sophomore seasons, Nate Skonieczny may very well be going for his fourth state title this year. However he was stuck in the same weight as Zach Neibert and Bo Jordan both of Graham. In fact Skonieczny gave Jordan his only high school loss to date at the Top Gun tournament in 2010. While only having a single state title Skonieczny has performed big on the national scene winning Ironman in 2009 and taking third last year. Skonieczny can score points and at the same time he's very hard to score on. Look for Skonieczny to be one of the best in the nation regardless of weight or class.

    2. Huston Evans (St. Paris Graham)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 195
    Projected College Weight Class: 197

    Analysis: Huston Evans is one of the most physically imposing wrestlers you will come across in the nation. His results are just as imposing to his opponents. Evans, a three-time state finalist and one-time champion, comes back this year hungry as ever to win a state title. Evans was a prohibitive favorite last year but was upset by the very talented Chaz Gresham. Evans an early commit to Virginia Tech will look to continue his dominance this year and will be one of the top 195-pound wrestlers this season.

    3. Nick Tavanello (Wadsworth)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 285
    Projected College Weight Class: 285

    Analysis: A dominant force at the 215-pound weight class for the past three years on both the state and national level. Tavanello a three-time placer and two-time champion now moves up to 285 this year where he will look to continue that streak. He will be pushed a little more but should be able to come out on top. A big man that can move on the mat he has committed his talents to Ohio State already in which he will look to anchor the 285 slot for years to come.

    4. Kagan Squire (Wadsworth)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 132
    Projected College Weight Class: 133/141

    Kagan Squire will be looking for the elusive state title in 2012 (Photo/Bob Tuneberg, BuckeyeWrestling.com)
    Analysis: Perhaps the most decorated wrestler on the national level Kagan Squire is also the only wrestler in this group without a state title. He has fallen short in each of the past years. Last year he was perhaps the most prohibitive favorite he lost to Joey Ward a wrestler he had beaten three-times that year and finished second for the second straight year. I do not see that happening this year. Squire should be in the top five of whatever weight class he lands. The 2011 FloNationals champion at 125 looks to capture that elusive state title to close out an illustrious high school career.

    5. George DiCamillo (St. Ignatius)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 120
    Projected College Weight Class: 125

    Analysis: DiCamillo broke through in a big way last year winning everything he entered in. He started the year off with a title at Ironman and finished it winning his first state title. He finished 4th in the rankings for Intermat last year. DiCamillo is still not committed on his college choice yet but should be a hot recruit for the 125-pound spot.

    6. Isaac Jordan (St. Paris Graham)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 160
    Projected College Weight Class: 165/174

    Analysis: The name Jordan is synonymous with Ohio high school wrestling. The family has a combined 16 state titles between the brothers and their sons now. Jordan was limited in participation last year due to injury but came back when it counted the most. He was an undersized 160, but still went on to win his second consecutive title. He will be joining his brother Ben at Wisconsin this fall.

    7. Ryan Taylor (St. Paris Graham)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 120
    Projected College Weight Class: 125

    Last season Ryan Taylor cruised to his second state title (Photo/Kevin Schlosser, BuckeyeWrestling.com)
    Analysis: Ryan Taylor becomes the third wrestler from Graham to join this list. Taylor will be going for his third state title this year. Last year Taylor cruised through the state tournament en route to another title. An explosive wrestler with an aggressive style, Taylor looks to have another outstanding year before heading to Wisconsin with teammate Isaac Jordan.

    8. Chaz Gresham (Goshen)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 195/220
    Projected College Weight Class: 197

    Analysis: Until last year Chaz Gresham was relatively unknown on the national circuit. A three-time state placewinner and state champion last year. Gresham stunned the crowd last year with two big lateral throws on Huston Evans to be crowned state champion. Gresham is a physical specimen with a lot of raw athletic ability. I look for him to only get better with time when he reaches the collegiate level.

    9. Mark Martin (St. Edward)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 160
    Projected College Weight Class: 165/174

    Analysis: Mark Martin may have the most upside of any wrestler in this class. Still raw and physical in many ways he has a lot of room for growth. Martin won his first state title last year after taking second the year before. This summer he took fourth out at Fargo at 160. This is just a sign of things to come for Martin who is poised for a breakout year.

    10. Felipe Martinez (Genoa)
    Projected 2011-2012 High School Weight Class: 152
    Projected College Weight Class: 149/157

    Felipe Martinez will be looking for his fourth state title in 2012 (Photo/Kevin Schlosser, BuckeyeWrestling.com)
    Analysis: Entering freshman year Martinez was an Internet sensation thanks to a viral video of him wrestling David Taylor in the Graham room. Now fast forward three years and Martinez has transferred from Graham and looked less than impressive in holding on for his third state title last year. There remains doubts on whether he will continue onto the next level but make no mistake he still has all the physical tools and ability to be the best. If not for the transferring out last year and missing all but the state tournament series he would be the best in this class.
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