State Wrestling: Short Takes

Despite winning a state championship last year, CVCA’s Nathan Tomasello, said that he’s not feeling any pressure this time around.

Ranked No. 1 in the country, the sophomore easily won his opening match Thursday night at Value City Arena.

‘’It’s not much pressure; I’m just going out and trying to wrestle my match that I’ve been wrestling, the whole year.  I’m not trying to focus on all the rankings and all of that,’’ he said.

But for someone who didn’t sound fazed by what was going on around him, he was serious about the task in front of him and his team.  But there is something else to it.

‘’Because it’s so important, it makes it fun,’’ he said.

His coach, Don Lorence, agreed.

‘’This is exciting.  This can be an exciting three days. Blood’s flowing, every match is important, every bonus point is important,’’ Lorence said.

Tomasello wasn’t above criticizing himself in his opening match that he one with a pin.

‘’It felt a little bit sloppy in the beginning, but I think calmed down as the match went on,’’ he said.

He won it at 2:28 in the match.

***

Upset of the day:  Clay Wenger loses a decision to Derek Spangler of Sidney 8-6.  Wenger had been projected to finish in the top three.

Quote of the day:  Wadsworth’s Nick Tavanello on defending the state championship:  ‘’We’re not protecting it.  We already won that one last year. We’re just trying to win another one.’’