Published: Saturday, March 3, 2007
State title in sight for area wrestlers
Tony Jameson, Nathan Sharp, Justin Powell and Ross Tice each need one more win.
BY ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS — Defending a state wrestling championship is a tall task, especially when you're expected to do so. But for Fitch High's Tony Jameson and West Branch's Nathan Sharp, the pressure is easy to bear.
The pair of defending state champions is just one victory away from claiming the top prize after winning their semifinal matches Friday night at the state tournament at the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State.
Jameson, wrestling at 135 pounds in Division I, dominated St. Ignatius freshman David Habat 13-1 in the semis. It was a rematch of last week's district semifinal bout, which Habat won 5-3.
Losing last week to Habat might turn out to be the best thing that has happen to Jameson if he goes on to win his third straight state championship.
Primed for title
"The difference this week is that I wasn't even in the match last time," said Jameson, who will face Brunswick's Richie Spicel in tonight's final bout. "I'm just being a lot more aggressive and bringing my offense. It's a lot more fun for me wrestling this way. I always bring my 'A' game to state.
"I felt like he was nervous in the first 30 seconds, but then he mixed it up a little bit. I just wanted payback from last week. He ended my streak and I just wanted to get back on track. I got up early and took his offense away."
Jameson's next opponent, Spicel, is no stranger to the pressure of a state title bout. The senior won a state title in 2005 as a sophomore. He won the Division I Perry district last week.
"I know he's the best with a lead," said Jameson, regarding Spicel. "I just have to wrestle my match and keep things close and keep pushing him for points. The finals is all about momentum; you get it early, then you just keep it."
One win away
Sharp, the Div. II defending heavyweight state champ, advanced to the final with a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over East Liverpool's Eric DiAgosta.
He will meet John Hiles of Columbus St. Francis DeSales in the finals. Hiles won by pin in the semifinals.
The West Branch senior has lost just one match this year, to Alliance's Matt Walker.
Sharp is a projected state champion by Brian Brakeman.
Jameson and Sharp will be joined in the championship finals by Boardman's Justin Powell (215) and Brookfield's Ross Tice (160).
Powell, also a projected state champ, moved into the Division I state finals via a 3-2 win over Harrison's Andrew Tumlin.
He will meet a familiar opponent in Barberton's Adam Cogar, whom Powell beat in the district semifinals last week.
"I'm not happy with that last match, but a win is a win here," said Powell.
"He was stalling out and it's hard to have offense when he's just sitting there. I pushed him and pushed him and he was finally called for stalling.
"Having wrestled my next opponent last week helps a lot because I don't have to wonder all day what he's going to try to do. I know his weaknesses and what he wants to do, so I can just relax, watch some other matches and get focused. I really want to win this thing and this is the year."
Much improved
Tice is primed to improve drastically on last year's seventh-place state showing.
The senior won 6-2 in the semifinals and will face Marion Pleasant's Steve Wilson for the Division III 160-pound title.
The three-time state qualifier knew when he saw his bracket that the road to the finals was an attainable one.
"I liked my draw," said Tice, who was a projected state champion in 2006.
"I was on the opposite side of Wilson and I didn't know anything about anyone in my side and they didn't know me.
"First is all I want. It's going to take all I have and I'll just go after him. He's just another guy that I think I can beat. It's my last year and it feels good to be in the finals; I just need to go out and win one more."
The championship finals will be contested tonight at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Tony Jameson, Nathan Sharp, Justin Powell and Ross Tice each need one more win.
BY ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS — Defending a state wrestling championship is a tall task, especially when you're expected to do so. But for Fitch High's Tony Jameson and West Branch's Nathan Sharp, the pressure is easy to bear.
The pair of defending state champions is just one victory away from claiming the top prize after winning their semifinal matches Friday night at the state tournament at the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State.
Jameson, wrestling at 135 pounds in Division I, dominated St. Ignatius freshman David Habat 13-1 in the semis. It was a rematch of last week's district semifinal bout, which Habat won 5-3.
Losing last week to Habat might turn out to be the best thing that has happen to Jameson if he goes on to win his third straight state championship.
Primed for title
"The difference this week is that I wasn't even in the match last time," said Jameson, who will face Brunswick's Richie Spicel in tonight's final bout. "I'm just being a lot more aggressive and bringing my offense. It's a lot more fun for me wrestling this way. I always bring my 'A' game to state.
"I felt like he was nervous in the first 30 seconds, but then he mixed it up a little bit. I just wanted payback from last week. He ended my streak and I just wanted to get back on track. I got up early and took his offense away."
Jameson's next opponent, Spicel, is no stranger to the pressure of a state title bout. The senior won a state title in 2005 as a sophomore. He won the Division I Perry district last week.
"I know he's the best with a lead," said Jameson, regarding Spicel. "I just have to wrestle my match and keep things close and keep pushing him for points. The finals is all about momentum; you get it early, then you just keep it."
One win away
Sharp, the Div. II defending heavyweight state champ, advanced to the final with a thrilling 6-5 overtime win over East Liverpool's Eric DiAgosta.
He will meet John Hiles of Columbus St. Francis DeSales in the finals. Hiles won by pin in the semifinals.
The West Branch senior has lost just one match this year, to Alliance's Matt Walker.
Sharp is a projected state champion by Brian Brakeman.
Jameson and Sharp will be joined in the championship finals by Boardman's Justin Powell (215) and Brookfield's Ross Tice (160).
Powell, also a projected state champ, moved into the Division I state finals via a 3-2 win over Harrison's Andrew Tumlin.
He will meet a familiar opponent in Barberton's Adam Cogar, whom Powell beat in the district semifinals last week.
"I'm not happy with that last match, but a win is a win here," said Powell.
"He was stalling out and it's hard to have offense when he's just sitting there. I pushed him and pushed him and he was finally called for stalling.
"Having wrestled my next opponent last week helps a lot because I don't have to wonder all day what he's going to try to do. I know his weaknesses and what he wants to do, so I can just relax, watch some other matches and get focused. I really want to win this thing and this is the year."
Much improved
Tice is primed to improve drastically on last year's seventh-place state showing.
The senior won 6-2 in the semifinals and will face Marion Pleasant's Steve Wilson for the Division III 160-pound title.
The three-time state qualifier knew when he saw his bracket that the road to the finals was an attainable one.
"I liked my draw," said Tice, who was a projected state champion in 2006.
"I was on the opposite side of Wilson and I didn't know anything about anyone in my side and they didn't know me.
"First is all I want. It's going to take all I have and I'll just go after him. He's just another guy that I think I can beat. It's my last year and it feels good to be in the finals; I just need to go out and win one more."
The championship finals will be contested tonight at 5:30 p.m.
Saturday, March 3, 2007
Defending a state wrestling championship is a tall task, especially when you're expected to do so. But for Fitch High's...
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