Fallsnewspress.com - Woodridge wrestling's top duo advances to districts

by Michael Leonard

Sports Editor

Woodridge wrestling coach Mike Massey expected his top duo of Donny Montoney and Zach Bickel would be able to reach districts, but he was hoping for more.

A solid field at the Division II sectional tournament at Walsh Jesuit had other ideas.

Back at Division II for the postseason for the first time in years, Woodridge finished sixth in the team race at Walsh with 104.5 points. Woodridge managed to get seven wrestlers on the podium.

The problem was only two -- Montoney and Bickel -- finished in the top four spots which advanced to districts.

"We put seven in that consolation semifinal round and got one through," Massey said. "Our kids were either too inexperienced or too immature. We told them 'If you don't get the job done, you go home' and six went home.

"It was a tough tournament, but I think we could have wrestled better and I expected to get more through," Massey said.

Montoney was the one thing that went exactly as planned for Woodridge on the weekend. Seeded first at 145 pounds, Montoney pinned Tallmadge's Jose Rodriguez in 1:40 and Ravenna's Nathan Moore in 2:39 to reach the final.

In the final, Montoney took the title with a 4-0 win over Benedictine's Troy Henderson, whom Massey called a quality opponent.

"Donny has a looked as good as he's ever looked over the last three weeks," Massey said. "Physically, he's ready to go. He's got to be looked at as one of the guys to beat at districts.

Bickel also advanced to districts, but his road at 140 pounds was not without controversy. After defeating Tallmadge's Anthony Paonessa 6-0, Bickel dropped a 6-5 decision to Aurora's Mark Korosec when he was called for fleeing the mat late in the third period.

"He beat Korosec at the Hudson Invitational," Massey said. "They made a fleeing call with 17 seconds left in the match. They should have at least let it go to overtime. He's got to be able to come back from those matches and he did."

The loss infuriated Bickel, who promptly took out his frustrations by pinning Streetsboro's Jeremy Braynard in 49 seconds and taking third by pinning Kenston's Patrick Hanlon in 2:17.

"We're looking to get both of them out of districts," Massey said.

The Division II district meet at Akron Firestone was scheduled to take place Feb. 26 and 27, but results were not available at press time. The top four placers in each weight class at districts advance to the Division II state meet, which begins March 4 at Value City Arena in Columbus.

Massey said he wasn't sure how much of a step up in competition it would be moving from a Division III district to a Division II districts.

"Coming out of Maple Heights [district] with CVCA and St. Peter Chanel, that was a tough district," Massey said. "I think I've got two guys who have a chance to get through."

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