The Wrestling Stars

VASJ's Phil Wellington.

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The Observer’s “Wrestlers of the Year” include three matmen from the Euclid High Panthers’ team and two from Villa Angela-St. Joseph. They are:

            EUCLID:

            Rynell Roper (junior, 160 pounds) – Chosen as the team’s most valuable wrestler, Roper placed third in the Division I district tournament to become Euclid’s first state qualifier since 2003. He compiled a 43-8 season record, winning 18 of his matches by pins. He also led the team in takedowns with 111. At the Panthers’ wrestling awards dinner, he received a specially embroidered jacket denoting his “state qualifier” status. He also earned second-team All-LEL honors.

            Zak Adkins (senior, 145 pounds) – One of five Panther district qualifiers, Adkins posted a 37-9 season record. He led the team in pins with 26 and in escapes with 28. He also chalked up the most near-fall points with 51. An All-LEL third team selection, Zak’s performance during the post-season tournaments was hampered by a severe case of the flu.

            Dylan Norwood (senior, 171 pounds) –Named Euclid’s “most improved” wrestler this year, Norwood compiled a 40-8 season mark and won titles in two invitational tournaments. He won 25 of his matches with pins and tied with Roper for most reversals. Second on the team in takedowns with 80, he was a first-team All-LEL selection.

            The three wrestlers listed above were among the chief architects of the Panthers’ turnaround this year as they finished with a 14-8 dual meet mark, compared with 3-20 the previous winter. At the recent team banquet, head coach Mike Turk said: “I haven’t smiled this much in a long time!”

            VASJ:

            Phil Wellington (senior, 189 pounds) – Chosen as the Vikings’ “most valuable wrestler,” Wellington placed fourth in the state meet after earning third-place honors in the Division III district tournament. He finished the season with a 35-6 record. “At the state meet, Phil wrestled five great matches,” says head coach Bob Mullin. “He took it right to the wire against the state runner-up before losing a hard-fought 3-2 battle.”

            DiAnte Jackson (junior, 215 pounds) – Selected to receive the “outstanding junior” award at the Vikings’ awards banquet, Jackson also qualified for the state tournament. He compiled a 27-13 record and was coming on strong late in the season, earning runner-up honors in the district meet. In the district finals, he had his opponent—Ken Smith of Chanel—in pinning combinations several times; however, Smith struggled free and won the district title with a pin of his own.

          Mullin, who was named one of the “coaches of the year” by the Greater Cleveland Wrestling Coaches and Officials Assn., reports that Wellington and Jackson were invited to compete in a national tournament in Virginia Beach, Va., in late March.

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Others selected for our wrestling All-Star team are:

EUCLID:

Lamar Gunter (senior, 189) – Posted an admirable 30-16 record, despite battling Lupus, a disease that often sapped his energy. Lamar qualified for the district meet and was third on the Panther squad in takedowns. At the team banquet, he was recognized with an award for “overcoming adversity.”

Darsheed Mustafa (sophomore, 130) – Also a district qualifier, Darsheed posted a 22-15 season record and was second on the team in escapes with 27.

VASJ:

Mato Vunak (sophomore, 119) – A district qualifier, Vunak finished the season with a 15-7 record.

Chris Pokorny (junior, 125) –  Increasing his intensity on the mats this season, Pokorny recorded a 19-13 season mark.

 Ryan Gallagher (senior, 145) – A district qualifier, Gallagher compiled an admirable 25-10 season record and provided leadership as the Vikings stepped up their overall team performance against  tough