The Streetsboro Rockets’ wrestling team announced themselves as the top team in Portage County in a big way, winning the Portage County Tournament by crowning five champions to score 227 points last Saturday at James A. Garfield High School.
“We came in to win that tournament and wanted to make a statement winning that tournament that this team is extreme,” said Coach Mark Skonieczny. “We had one senior on this team yesterday. We are going to be here for a while.”
It marked the first time since 2009 that the Rockets won the Portage County Tournament and were fueled by a squad that fielded seven freshmen in the starting line-up. As far as the third-year coach is concerned, the Rockets will not be going anywhere for a long time.
The Rockets’ first champion was junior 106-pounder Johnny Bollinger, who went 3-0.
“There were some good kids in that weight class too, but Johnny wrestles and he is not giving you anything,” noted Skoniezny. “He is going to keep pouring it on you. He is going to get that takedown and he is going to start digging for back points and if he can’t get those back points, you are stalling it out, he is going to put you back up on your feet and take you right down again.”
Bollinger dispatched Rootstown freshman Trevor Lott by pinning him only 20 seconds into the first period, then earned a championship berth when he pinned freshman Colt Thompkins at the 1:31 mark of the second period of the semifinal and wrapped up his day by pinning Southeast senior Nick Coffman with 23 seconds left in the third period.
Reigning 2025 Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II 106-pound state champion Jarreau Walker earned first place in the 120-pound weight class with a 4-0 record.
He advanced to the quarterfinals with a bye in the first round and won his first match decisively by a 17-2 technical fall against sophomore Kayne Smith from Waterloo to advance to the semifinal, then overpowered Southeast freshman Vincer Kelly with another technical fall victory, this time 18-2.
In the championship, Walker clinched the title by defeating Crestwood sophomore Tyler Devlin by a 21-4 technical fall.
“He is growing up,” Skonieczny said of Walker. “He is working harder in the room; he is a competitor and is one of those guys that is a silent kid and is a competitor. He wants to be the number one guy in the country and having him around all of these young freshmen and seeing what he can do, he is a silent leader.”
Senior 150-pounder Cam Rogowski made his first appearance in the annual PCT and conquered his bracket with a 4-0 record to become Streetsboro’s third champion.
Having advanced to the quarterfinals with a first round bye, Rogowski pinned Garfield junior Max Bultrowicz with 57 seconds remaining in the first period, then dominated junior Nick Lukart from Crestwood, winning by a 19-3 technical fall to advance to the championship.
Rogowski capped off his day by pinning G-Men senior Keaton Ellison with 1:14 remaining in the first period.
Junior 157-pounder Jerry Benci took first place with a 3-0 record.
He overpowered Rootstown senior Jake McGowan by pinning him with 15 seconds remaining in the second period, then pinned senior Tobias Brunner from Kent Roosevelt only 43 seconds into the first period of his semifinal bout.
Benci ended his day by besting junior Cole Porter from Garfield, pinning him with 19 seconds remaining in the second period.
The Rockets’ final champion was 175-pound freshman Avery Conroy, who went 3-0 in his debut at the PCT.
Conroy pinned Field freshman Will Henson only 44 seconds into the first period of his first-round match, then pinned freshman Noah Catanese with 56 seconds remaining in the first period of the semifinal.
Conroy overcame a 10-1 deficit against Crestwood junior Tye Berquist, sealing his championship by pinning Berquist with 14 seconds remaining in the second period.
“He is just a freshman, but he has a cradle that if he locks this thing in on you, it is game over and he has six minutes to get this thing,” said Skonieczny. “He got out, got the takedown and hit that cradle and put him right to his back and ended the match. It was a sight to see. It was incredible.”
Sophomore 113-pound Jayden Kittle took third place with a 4-1 record, sophomore Brayden Kittle placed third in the 126-pound bracket by going 4-1, freshman 144-pound Nolyn Dufala wrapped up third place with a 5-1 record and freshman Lucian Mazzoco earned third place in the 165-pound weight class with a 2-1 record.
Following a road double dual against Metro Athletic Conference foes Norton and Akron Springfield on Thursday night, the Rockets will compete in the Brad Bauer Tournament at Ravenna High School on Saturday at 9 a.m.
