By AARON DORKSEN
Daily Record Sports Editor
MAPLE HEIGHTS -- It's Best Polo Shoes Online the last chance to dance for area seniors trying to become first-time state wrestling qualifiers at the Div. III Maple Heights District.
Winning two matches apiece on the opening night Friday were Waynedale's Jay Vitallo and Triway's Colton Zody, both 12th- graders, who moved one win away from becoming first-time participants at the "Big Dance" in Columbus next week.
"It's my senior year and hopefully I can make it to state," said Vitallo, who was quick on his feet in scoring four takedowns to defeat 10th-ranked Dan Collier of Bedford Chanel 8-5 in the 135- pound quarterfinals. "Now I've got two shots to go to state. I've worked year-round for this, I had to sit out football (with a shoulder injury) and it feels great to have success in this sport."
The seventh-ranked Vitallo (40-5) will take on third-ranked senior Tyler Powers (31-2) of CVCA in today's semifinals when wrestling begins at 10 a.m. The finals will be at 6:30 p.m.
"I just have to wrestle like I have been," said Vitallo, who lost in a state go-to match at the district last year. "Powers is a good kid. Even if that match doesn't go my way, I've gotta bounce back and keep my head on straight or I'll be sitting at home again and I can't have that."
Zody didn't even get the chance to wrestle at Maple Heights last year after breaking his left wrist in practice a few days before the district.
The ninth-ranked Zody (37-7) made up for lost time with 10-2 and 9-2 decisions last night, the latter a win over VASJ's Dan Kotula.
"It felt pretty good, especially since I wasn't even able to wrestle here last year," Zody said. "I was able to ride the legs pretty good both matches. I haven't been pinning anybody, but the coaches said it's still a pretty tight hold. It wore them down."
Vitallo and Zody were among 15 locals to reach the semifnals out of the 43 area qualifiers.
Tuslaw led the way among locals in the standings in second place behind CVCA.
Waynedale (fourth place) advanced three matmen to the semis, Triway had two and Northwestern, Norwayne and Loudonville moved on one each.
The most exciting weight for area fans to watch today will likely be 189, where all four qualifiers from the Northwestern Sectional reached the semis. It looks a lot like 215 last year, where Triway's Cory Akin and Northwestern's Josh Ewing wound up No. 2 and 3 at the state meet, respectively, and Waynedale's Jacob Beam went to Columbus as well.
Chippewa junior Justin Schafrath (42-10) won Replica Ulysse Nardin Watches his opener 8-6 in overtime over Chanel district champ Bill Barrett at 189 and then pinned in round two . That set up a matchup against the state's No. 1-ranked Kurt Schaefer of Northwestern. Schaefer (41-3) flattened opponents in 3:21 and 45 seconds.
Zody will meet Manchester's Mitch Klemp, who he's 4-1 against, in the other half-bracket.
The Chipps went 4-0 on the night as their only other qualifier, sophomore Bryson Hall, had a perfect night at 152.
"Justin and Bryson have both worked very hard for it," said Chipps coach Chris Osting. "It was a heartbreaker for Justin to just miss making (state) last year and he's been thinking about that all week,
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