For the first time ever, the Saint Ignatius wrestling team is hosting the Catholic Invitational Tournament.
Thus far (knock on wood), the tournament is running smoothly.
For the Wildcats, four wrestlers won in the second round. Entering the second round, eight Wildcats will wrestle in the quarterfinals.
In case you're interested in following along, click here for live results from Track Wrestling. You can click here for the tournament schedule.
The tournament started on a positive note for the Wildcats. Johnny Novak kicked off the action at 106 pounds with a victory for the hosts in a second round match. Novak opened up a 4-1 lead by the end of the first period, and stretched the advantage to 8-3 early on in the second. Novak’s dominance continued in the second, resulting in an 18-3 win by tech fall over his opponent from Dayton Chaminade Julienne.
The Wildcats then suffered a defeat at 113. Following a first round bye, Jack Bush was pinned with 44 seconds left in the 2nd period in the second round. Padua’s Jimmy Balazy advanced to the quarterfinal round, sending Bush to the consolations.
With Matthew Whipkey receiving a bye to the quarterfinals at 120, Anthony Santagata took the mat at 126 for the Wildcats. The match did not start off well for the freshman, typically a 120 pounder. Santaga suffered a takedown, falling behind early on in the match. However, the youngster stayed composed and used an escape and a reversal to gain positioning on his foe from Cleveland Central Catholic. Santagata then pinned his opponent at 126 pounds, quite a feat for the freshman.
Like Whipkey, Patrick McGraw drew a bye in the first and second rounds at 132. Following a short break, Zach Tomford matched up with Elder’s Adam Klaserner in the second round. Tomford fell behind early on, but the match was close the whole way through. Tomford and Klaserner battled hard the whole match. Klaserner’s decision to take bottom to start the third proved to be critical, as Elder’s 138-pounder used an escape to notch two decisive points. Tomford could not escape in the final seconds, despite a big effort with three seconds left, receiving a 6-5 loss.
Mario Rini was the next challenger at 145 for the Wildcats. Rini ran into some trouble with Keegan Moran of Bishop Hartley, falling into a deficit. Moran fell behind by 10 before Moran clinched the match with a pin at 3:55 of the match.
The Wildcats also experienced a defeat by pin at 152. Zach Morgan battled hard but X-xaiver Weathersby of Elder. The Panthers’ quick grappler won via fall at 2:42, sending Morgan to the third round of the consolation bracket.
A rebound was in order at 160. Najee Lockett roared out to a hot start against Trinity’s Gabriel Nevmerzycki. Lockett started the match aggressively, firing out of his stance in a flash. Lockett kept the pressure for the duration of the match, methodically but aggressively working his opponent. Lockett found an opening in the second period, winning by pin at 2:51.
The Wildcats’ second-to-last match before the tournament’s lunch break pitted Logan Toth against Rocky Stark of Dayton Chaminade Julienne. Stark and Toth battled the whole way through, with Toth enjoying a slight upper-hand. Closely following the directions of his coaches, Toth used his positioning to build a 4-2 lead. Toth then kept the upper positioning in the third period to notch a couple more points and hold on for a 7-2 decision.
While Toth battled his foe, Tommy Gill quickly earned a pin just 22 seconds into his 182 pound match, ending the first session on a positive note.
Off the mat, Michael Drobnick and Toby Engel advanced to the quarterfinals via bye.
After the break, the championships quarterfinals will take place, along with the third round and fourth rounds of the consolations.