Fallsnewspress.com - Falls grapplers complete division sweep vs. Knights

RPC Photo / Robert J. Lucas Falls 145-pounder Dylan King, top, attempts to keep a hold of Woodridge’s Donny Montoney during their match earlier this season at The Bill Dies Memorial Tournament.

by Michael Leonard

Sports Editor

Cuyahoga Falls wrestling coach Tim Humbert approached his team's final dual meet of the season Jan. 28 at Nordonia with a lot of caution.

Humbert noted the Knights had been a powerhouse for years and were capable of upsetting the Black Tigers.

As it turned out, Humbert's troops made sure he had little to worry about.

Coming off a 12-day rest from The Bill Dies Memorial Tournament, Falls looked in good form as it scored a 52-21 win at Nordonia to close out the dual meet portion of the schedule.

The victory gave the Black Tigers the dual meet title in the Northeast Ohio Conference Lake Division for the second straight year. Falls finished 5-0 in the division.

"We actually wrestled very good that night," Humbert said. "We were very happy with the results. Nordonia is doing some rebuilding, but they've got some good wrestlers on the that team."

Humbert lauded 152-pounder Dylan King for wrestling a solid match against defending NOC champion Matt Benson. Benson won the match 10-6, but King gave a good account of himself in defeat.

The marquee match of the night took place at 130 pounds, as Falls' Collin Taylor and Nordonia's Mark Gupko wrestled the final match of the dual meet.

"He was down 3-2 heading into the third period and he ended up getting the pin," Humbert said. "That was big. Anytime that we can beat Nordonia we've done something good."

Humbert said he was overjoyed to have the Black Tigers win their second straight division title, noting the NOC always will be a challenging league.

"Brush has got that young team, Hudson is young as well," Humbert said. "They're kind of where we were a few years ago. Our division is going to get tough again. You're not going to hold Stow down. You're not going to hold Nordonia. They've got great coaches and they've always got a lot of kids."

Speaking of the NOC, Falls was set to compete in the Northeast Ohio Conference Tournament Feb. 5 and 6 at Garfield Heights, but results were not available at press time.

Humbert said winning the team title was something for Falls to reach for at NOCs, but he expects a tought fight.

"It is a realistic goal, but it's all about the draws," Humbert said. "Who gets who first is going to matter. We're going to have some kids that are going to do well, but it's going to come down to who does well in the consolations."

"Coming out ahead of Twinsburg at the Dies was a huge accomplishment. But it doesn't mean we're the better team."

Falls will next see action at the Division I sectional tournament at Medina Feb. 20 and 21.

Humbert said he'd love to make up for a season ago when Falls was shut out of states. However, with state powers Wadsworth and Brecksville along with several other strong programs at Medina, Humbert knows the road will be tough.

"It is the sectional from hell," Humbert said. "But if your ulitmate goal is to be on the podium, you've got to beat the kids eventually. Some of our best kids are sitting in some of the best weight clases.

"We could easily send six or seven kids on to districts and the same number on to Columbus, or we could send nobody to states."

E-mail: mleonard@recordpub.com

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