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No one is going to accuse Clay's wrestling team of taking on an easy early-season schedule this year.
First-year coach Ralph Cubberly wants to get his wrestlers prepared to compete at the state tournament in March, and competing against the best in the state is one way to reach that goal.
“We have wrestled a very, very tough schedule,” Cubberly said. “Coach (Troy) McLaughlin and I sat down and put this schedule together. We tell the kids, 'if you want to climb the mountain, you have to know how high the mountain is.' Now, we can start climbing.”
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Clay wrestlers Brian Henneman and state qualifier Jared Davis tangle during
practice in Clay's refurbished wrestling room. (Press photo by Ken Grosjean) |
This year's Eagles again have two varsity squads, the Gold and the Green. Cubberly has 57 wrestlers, including 30 returning lettermen and seven returning district qualifiers.
“We have some pretty good guys back,” Cubberly said.
Last weekend, three Clay wrestlers competed at the Ironman tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School. The Ironman, considered the toughest prep wrestling event in the nation, included representatives from 80 schools and was by invitation only. The Eagles took 39th place.
Seniors Mike Screptock, at 126 pounds, Angelo Amenta (138) and heavyweight Garrett Gray competed and did well at the Ironman. Screptock won half of his four matches, while Amenta went 3-3 and placed eighth and Gray went 4-2 to place fifth.
“They wrestled the best competition in the country in their weight classes,” Cubberly said. “They wrestled hard and did very well. The guys they lost to are all ranked in the country.”
Clay has also competed in three dual meets, beating Delta and losing to Lakewood St. Edward, the top-ranked team in the nation, and Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy, one of the top Division II teams in Ohio.
The Eagles lost to Wauseon last Friday night without the services of Screptock, Amenta and Gray, who were competing at the Ironman.
Cubberly, who took over the program last June, said the transition is going well.
“It's a little bit of a change for the kids and for me,” he said. “For me, there are a lot more kids so there's a lot more paperwork involved. Wrestling-wise, wrestling is wrestling and we're getting the kids to buy into what we've done. They're working hard and I think they're wrestling very well.”
Sophomore Jared Davis is the Eagles' starter at 106 pounds. Davis was a state qualifier and the City League champion at 103 last year.
“He is very coachable and dedicated to the sport,” Cubberly said. “He wants to be real good.”
Freshman Richie Screptock (113) and junior Brian Henneman (120) are next in the lineup, followed by Mike Screptock at 126. Screptock, the 2011 CL champ, is a returning state placer – he was fourth at 112 last season – and is a two-time state qualifier.
“He's a very sound technician and a very hard worker,” Cubberly said. “He's a real hard worker and very coachable.”
Senior Jacob Conine is the starter at 132 and Amenta follows at 138. Amenta is a two-time CL champion and was a state placer at 119 pounds last season.
“He's a physical wrestler,” Cubberly said. “He's already signed to wrestle at Columbia. He's a team captain and a good, hard worker.”
The rest of the Eagles' lineup includes sophomore Nick Stencel at 145, juniors Damon Dominique (152), Charlie Amenta (160), Eddie Silva (170) and Reed Siler (182), sophomore Donnie Summers (195), junior Jared Gray (220) and Garrett Gray at heavyweight.
Garrett Gray took sixth at 285 at last year's state tournament.
“He's big, strong and very athletic for his size,” Cubberly said. “He's a full-sized heavyweight. He's strong and very quick - very athletic for a big man.”
The coach said senior Jacob Conine, who did not wrestle last season because of a back injury, will be in the mix at 132 as well. Conine was a CL champ in 2010.
Clay, which is now a member of the Three Rivers Athletic Conference, competed in the 20-team Bowling Green Duals this weekend.
“Your first goal is always to be the conference champion,” Cubberly said. “We want to win the sectional and send as many guys to state as we can. Our ultimate goal is top 10 in the state.”
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