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Clay junior Angelo Amenta is taking a more positive approach into this year's state wrestling tournament in Columbus.
Last March, Amenta lost his first-round match at 130 pounds but regrouped to win in the second round. A loss in his next match prevented Amenta from reaching the awards podium. This time, Amenta vowed, things will be different.
“I'm more mentally prepared than I was last year,” he said. “Last year was my first time and I was nervous and jittery. I think I was satisfied with just being a qualifier at that point. Now I know what I'm capable of and I'm going to go out and wrestle one match at a time. I realized I could have done much better and I've been working to change that ever since.”
Amenta, who is still at 130 pounds, and three Clay teammates will compete in the Division I state tournament Thursday through Saturday at the Schottenstein Center. Amenta, the son of former Waite wrestling coach Carmen Amenta, will be joined by Eagles freshman Jared Davis (103 pounds) and juniors Mike Screptock (112) and Garrett Gray (285).
Amenta has a 42-8 record this season, while Davis is 29-5, Screptock is 35-6 and Gray is 36-8. Those four helped Clay take fourth place at last Saturday's Division I district tournament at Lorain.
Amenta, who has a 111-20 career record, enters the state tourney with 16 pins and eight technical falls this season. He captured the City League title at 130 and also won the Maumee Bay Classic and took fourth at the Ironman.
“It's been going good so far,” Amenta said. “I ended up losing in the first round at sectionals and districts, so I'm just trying to rebound at the state tournament and end the season on a high note. I've had a good season, not great, and I'm not satisfied yet.”
Clay coach Gerry Anthony said Amenta became a much better wrestler as the season progressed.
“He's gotten more offensive and more aggressive on his feet, ever since the middle of the season,” Anthony said. “I think he knows that in order to be a state champion – that's his goal, to be the first state champ in Clay history - he has to develop offense on his feet. The only way he's lost is not being offensive on his feet. He's really turned it on and beaten some good people.”
Amenta is considered a “scrambler” in wrestling terms. Anthony described Amenta's technique as “kind of a funk style.”
“It's like, if a guy shoots in on him and they think they've got him, he grabs their ankle and throws it over their head and comes out on top,” Anthony said. “He does that probably nine times out of 10. It is unique and it makes it so opponents are afraid to even shoot on him, because he's so good at it.”
Amenta has been perfecting that wrestling style with Clay assistant coaches Kyle Holliday and James Schuller. Holliday placed second at 103 pounds for Waite at the 2004 state tournament, and Schuller was a state tourney runner-up at 112 for Central Catholic that same year.
“Kyle is big on the scrambling style, to never concede takedowns and never stop moving until the whistle blows,” Amenta said. “I never stop scrambling until I get the takedown, no matter who shoots. Schuller is big on pushing the tempo and working my offense, so I get both aspects of wrestling. I get the best of both worlds. I'm comfortable. In practice I get one style and then another style, and it's really helped me and pushed me in practice all year long.”
Perfecting those styles, along with the experience he gained last year in Columbus, gives Amenta all the confidence he needs this weekend.
“My goal for sure is to win a state title,” he said. “I don't want to settle for anything lower than that. You always have to push to be the best, and a state title is the ultimate goal.”
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