PPT Slide
Thursday, February 10, 2005
Panthers want to take whole lineup to districts
There is a giant shadow looming over the Division I sectional wrestling tournament this weekend at Hoover High. That shadow is the Perry Panthers. “We don’t and can’t ignore them,” Jackson coach Dan Funk said. “They’re certainly a presence and a top-notch program. You can’t help but see how we compare to the best public school program in the state. It’s a blessing in disguise to have a program like that in your league and sectional. Certainly, they’re the favorite.” But Perry isn’t just looking to once again capture the sectional championship, something it has done for the last several years running. No, the Panthers have their eyes set on doing something they have never done before: send all 14 wrestlers to next week’s district tournament, which will be held in their own gymnasium. “Absolutely we want to get all 14 to district,” Perry coach Brian Dolph said. “We’re obviously strong in several areas. With the experience and the competition our guys have faced, they’re more than ready. We’re all ready to step up and try to achieve that goal.” A year ago, the Panthers fell two wrestlers short of sending their whole team to district. This year, even the other coaches aren’t questioning whether Perry has the guns to do it. “I know their goal is to get all 14 kids to district,” Funk said. “That’s everybody’s goal. They have a very realistic shot at doing that.” If there is one team that could emerge as a dark horse to finish in the spot behind Perry in the team standings, it’s Funk’s Polar Bears. Jackson has five wrestlers – Dante Rini (103 pounds), Mike Filicky (119), Ben Johnson (125), Adam Haas (130) and Jared Tentler (145) – who are ranked in the Brakeman Report, and the team itself was ranked ninth in Division I by the report. “Certainly a lot of the wrestlers have individual goals as far as sectionals, district and state,” Funk said. “As a team, we just want to try and get everybody to the next level. Obviously, that’s not always possible, but it’s a goal.” Massillon will also be looking to get as many as possible to district, with its heavier weights – Mike Petrarca (171), Lorenzo Grizzard (189), Ladrekus Burford (215) and Brock Grimsley (heavyweight) – as the most likely candidates. “It’s what we really strive for all year long,” Massillon coach Gil Donahue said. “We’re looking for big things to happen. The kids just have to believe in themselves.” There’s little doubting the confidence of the Perry wrestlers. The Panthers, despite suffering their first Federal League dual match defeat in 50 matches last week to GlenOak, are brimming with confidence as they prepare for what they hope is a significant challenge to Lakewood St. Edward’s vise grip on the Division I state championship. “I think we’ve had experience in tournaments at several levels,” Dolph said. “I would relate this tournament to what we saw at (the Columbus DeSales Classic in early December). There are some good teams and individuals. But I think we’ve gotten experience at a different level than most. Plus, confidence level is important also. That means more than anything.”
