2013 Off-Season
USA-Wrestling Cadet/Junior Central Regional Championships(Lawrence, Indiana)
Ben Darmstadt, Taylor Workman, Nico O’Dor, and Jesse Orantek all traveled to compete in the 2013 USA-Wrestling Central Regional freestyle championships. The Central Regional brings in some of the best wrestlers from Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Pennyslvannia, Kentucky, Tennesse, Indiana, and Illinois. The tournament wrestles to the top two in each pool , and from that point the winners of the pool wrestle for first, and the pool runner-ups wrestle for third. By placing in the top three you automatically make the national freestyle team for your state, and yu get to pick your own weight class.
Ben and Nico competed in the Cadet Freestyle Division. Taylor and Jesse competed in the Junior Division. Ben won the Cadet Freestyle 145 lb title. Ben went 5-0 in the event. Ben defeated wrestlers from Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indana to win his pool. In the finals Ben pinned his opponent from Illinois in the finals. Nico O’Dor competed in the 126 lb weight class. Nico opened the event losing a hard fought three period match to his opponent from Illinois. Then, Nico won his next three matches in a row. Nico lost a hard fought match to his opponent from Iowa. Nico finished third in his pool overall just missing wrestling for a top four placement. Taylor Workman went 6-0 winning the Central Regional Junior Freestyle Title at 170 lbs. Taylor defeated his opponents from Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan to win his pool. Taylor won in the finals over his opponent from Illinois. Jesse competed hard in the Junior 145 lb weight class. Jesse fell short of placing in his pool.
Highlights: Taylor Workman won his second central regional title (Cadet 171-2011), and Ben Darmstadt won his second as well (Schoolboy-2012). Nico O’Dor made the USA-Ohio Cadet Freestyle Team.
May 11th-12th USA-Ohio State Greco-Roman/Freestyle State Tournament (Elyria High School)
The USA-Ohio State Tournament brings in the best wrestlers from across the State of Ohio to compete to earn the right to represent Ohio on the Nationals teams for Cadet and Juniors that travels to the Cadet and Junior Nationals held in Fargo, North Dakota in July. The tournament is divided into two age groups Cadet (14-15 yr olds) and Juniors (16-18 yrs old). This tournament is one of the most entertaining to compete in and experience.
Freestyle Tournament day 2
Armando Torres won his first two bouts of the day to make his second trip to the Junior Finals. Armando won his frist USA-Ohio Junior Division state title at 120 lbs. with a 1-1, 1-0 victory over his opponent from Liberty High School (Columbus). Armando lost in the finals last year at 113l lbs. Taylor Workman won his opening bout of the day in rematch from last years Cadet Freestyle State Tournament in three periods. Taylor advanced to the third place match. Taylor dropped a hard fought match to a D2 State Runner-up to finish in 4th place at 170 lbs. Ben Darmstadt opened the day winning his first three matches to make the finals at 145 lbs. Ben won his pool final over his opponent from St. Eds in two periods. Ben lost a hard fought match in the finals to a D3 State Runner-up. Nico O’Dor won two straight bouts to finish in second place in his pool to advance Nico to the third place bout. One of Nico’s wins was over a kid from Waynedale who beat Nico at the Elyria Qualifier. Nico lost a hard fought match to a D2 State placer from Walsh Jesuit who beat Nico in a dual meet during the season.
Congrats to Torres on his second overall Freestyle State title and making his second Ohio Junior National Freestyle Team. Taylor Workman qualified for the Ohio Junior National Freestyle Team. Ben Darmstadt made the Cadet National Freestyle Team.
Freestyle Tournament day 1
Armando Torres opened up the USA-Ohio Junior division with a 7-0, 7-0 win in his only match of the day. Taylor Workman open his tournament by losing a tough match to the D1 State Runner-up from Brecksville. Taylor rebounded to won his next match that night in rematch from the opening rd of this year Cleveland State District Tournament in three periods to stay alive. In the Cadet Division: Nico O’Dor opened losing a tough match to the D3 106 lb State Champion. Nico rebounded from that loss by pinned his next opponent from Stow whohad beaten Nico twice during the high school season. Mike Dolan went 1-2 in a very tough 138 lb weight class in freestyle. Ben Darmstadt opened up his tournament with a tech fall, and pin fall.
GrecoTournament
Sophomore Mike Dolan competed in the Cadet Division of the USA-Ohio State Greco-Roman State Tournament. Mike opened the tournmanet with a tough 3 period loss in his opening match. Mike rebounded to win his next two matches both in dramatic fashion. Mike finished second in pool placing him in the third place match. In his third place match Mike won the opening period, and was winning in the second period but, lost a scramble and was pinned. For Mike efforts he earned a spot on the 2013 USA-Ohio Cadet Greco-Roman team.
Chronicle telegram newpaper article from Satuday’s Day 1 results:
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2013/05/12/wrestling-three-from-area-earn-berths-in-greco-roman-nationals-in-fargo-n-d/
Chronicle Telegram newspaper article from Sunday’s Day 2 results:
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2013/05/13/wrestling-elyrias-armondo-torres-torches-field-wins-freestyle-state-championship/
May 4th-Greco-Roman/Freestyle State Qualifiers
The Pioneers qaulified a total of nine wrestlers for the USA-Ohio Cadet/Junior Greco-Roman and Freestyle state tournament to be held at Elyria High School on May 11-12.
Greco-Roman: Mike Dolan (Cadet), Walker Snowden (Junior), and Dylan Reis (Junior).
Freestyle: Nico O’Dor (Cadet), Mike Dolan (Cadet), Ben Darmstadt (Cadet), Armando Torres (Junior), Jesse Orantek (Junior), Walker Snowden (Junior), and Taylor Workman (Junior).
April 27th- USA-Ohio Elyria FS/GR Qualifier
The Elyria USA-Ohio Qualifier was the final qualifier in Northern Ohio. The tournament featured numerous state qualifiers, state placers, state champions, NHSCA All-Americans, NHCSA National Champions, Fargo All-Americans, Fila-Cadet All-Americans, and two number one ranked seniors in the country.
In the Greco-Roman tournament: Mike Dolan finished in fourth place in the Cadet 138 lb weight class. Walker Snowden and Dlyan Ries both placed fourth and fifth in the Junior division. All three qualified for Greco-Roman State in two weeks.
In the Freestyle Tournament: Mike Dolan finished in second place in the Cadet 138 lb weight class. Mike became a double cadet state qualifier. Ben Darmstadt finished in second place in the Cadet 145 lb weight class. Nico O’Dor won the Cadet 126 lb weight class. Walker Snowden competed hard but, fell short of placing in the Junior 170 lb weight class. Jesse Orantek finished in second place in the Junior 145 lb weight class. Jesse lost in the finals to Dean Heil(4x SC, No.1 ranked sr 132 lb/ Oklahoma State bound). Taylor Workman won the Junior 182 lb weight class. Taylor opened the tournament by avenging a loss from earlier in the freestyle season. Taylor defeated a D1 state qualifier at 160 lbs for the second time this summer. Armando Torres won the Junior 132 lb weight class. Armando opened the tournament by defeating a state alternate from Massilon Perry. Armando defeated a 2x Fargo AA, 2x State finalist from Brecksville for the first time ever. Armando in the finals defeated a 2x state champ/3x state placer from Massilion Perry in the finals.
The Pioneers have qualified 9 wrestlers for the state tournament.
April 20th- USA-Ohio Lakota East FS/GR Qualifier
Walker Snowden and Ben Darmstadt both traveled to the Lakota East Qualifier (Cincinnati, Ohio). Walker competed at 170 lbs in the junior division. Walker open the event winning three of his first fourth matches by fall. Walker dropped a hard fought match in the finals to finish in second place. Ben competed at Cadet 145 lbs. Ben opened the tournament winning his first three matches. Ben dropped a hard fought match in his pool final. Ben rebounded to finish in third place.
April 14th- USA-Ohio Club Freestyle State Duals-Franklin, Ohio
Armando Torres, Ben Darmstadt, and Taylor Workman teammed up with several wrestlers from Brecksville High School, and other wrestlers from northeast ohio that they competed with to competed at the frist ever USA-Ohio Club Team Freestyle Dual State Champions. The won the event by going 5-0, and coming from behind to win the finals over team FoxFire (Toledo, Ohio). Taylor Workman went 5-0 in the event. Taylor had a huge second period fall in the finals. Ben Darmstadt went 3-0 in the event. Ben won a huge swing bout in the finals in three periods over a wrestler he beat twice at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament this year. Armando Torres went 3-1 on the day. Torres had a huge tech fall in the finals to help swing much needed momentum back to the team after they were down 13-5 after the first five weight classes.
April 6th- USA-Ohio Oregon Clay FS/GR Qualifier
Armando Torres and Ben Darmstadt both won individual weight class championships in freestyle at the Oregon Clay USA-Ohio FS/GR Qualifier. Torres won his title in junior freestyle at 132 lbs. Armando defeated two state placers on day going 5-0. Ben Darmstadt won the 145 lb cadet freestyle title. Ben went 2-0 on the day. Taylor Workman and Jesse Orantek both took 3rd place in junior freestyle. Taylor was 3rd at 182 lbs. Taylor opened the event with a three period victory over a D1 state qualifier. Orantek defeated a D1 state alternate in three periods. Walker Snowden placed 4th in junior freestyle at 170 lbs. Walker defeated a brecksville holiday tournament placer in the event. Nico O’Dor placed third in cadet freestyle at 132 lbs. All six are now qualified for freestyle state.
Mar. 30th USA-Ohio Copley FS/GR Qualifier
Dlyan Ries competed in Junior Freestyle. Dlyan finished in 8th place in the 182 lb weight class. Dlyan missed qualifying for state just finishing outside the top 6 in his weight class.
Mar.28th-2013
2013 Awards Banquet
2012-2013 award winners
Red Team
Wrestler of the Year- Armando Torres
Most wins, TD’S, Tech Falls- Torres
Most Falls- TJ Halstead
Most Improved- Darrion Overall
Ironman Award- Taylor Workman
Coaches Award- Alex Parker
Freshman of the Year- Ben Darmstadt
100 career wins- Brandon Egnor (105)
Armando Torres (101)
State Qualifier Awards- Torres and Darmstadt
White Team
Wretler of the Year-Jesse Orantek
Most TD’s, Falls, Tech Falls- Orantek
Most improve- Mike Dolan
Coaches Award- Flanigan
JV Team
Wrestler of the Year- Mike Dolan
Most wins-Caleb Arnold
Most falls-Mike Dolan
Coaches award- Darrian Meadows
Mar.23rd- 2013
Columbia Open Tournament results
Mike Dolan won the High School Division at the Columbia Open Tournament. Mike won all four of his matches on the day. Mike only allowed 1 pt all tournament. Kai White also competed at the Columbia Open. Kia finished in 5th place in his weight class.
Mar.9th-2013
Olmsted Falls Open Tournament results.
Simeon Lawrence won the 14 yr old division and finished runner-up in the high school division. Dan Brenner won the high school division. Darrian Meadows finished in second place in his weight class, and Kai White also finished in second place in his weight class. By finishing in the top four in their weight classes they all qualified for the Tournament of Champions in April in Columbus.