The Streetsboro Rockets’ wrestling team continues to increase the number of state qualifiers each year. The Rockets had three wrestlers earn state bids at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division II Kenston district and finished in eighth place as a team by scoring 65.5 points last weekend in Bainbridge Township.
“It is an amazing feeling that we can add numbers to each year and what is special all three are underclassmen, so I get them back next year and as a coach it drives you to the next season,” said Coach Mark Skoniciezny. “We had seven district qualifiers and two alternates and out of those nine, eight of them were underclassmen so the program is definitely heading in the right direction.”
The Rockets will send junior Johnny Bollinger, junior Jarreau Walker and freshman Avery Conroy to the OHSAA Division II state meet at The Ohio State University’s Schottenstein Center beginning on Friday at 1 p.m.
After dominating the 106-pound weight class for the past two years, Walker captured his third straight district championship by going 4-0 in the 113-pound bracket last weekend.
“He is a businessman when it comes to these sectionals, districts and states,” said the third-year coach.” He stays focused and he handles his business. I cannot say enough about this kid, he just gets the job done.”
On Friday, Walker went 2-0 to reach the semifinal round by pinning Buckeye sophomore Zack Simmons only 29 seconds into the first period of his first-round duel and then defeated Metro Athletic Conference sophomore Landen Wojciechowski from Woodridge by a technical fall of 17-2 in the quarterfinal.
On Saturday, the reigning OHSAA Division II 106-pound champion returned to the mat and clinched his third straight district title by pinning Madison senior Jordan McCullough at the 1:24 mark of the first period in the semifinal and triumphed against freshman Nolan DeShon from St. Vincent-St. Mary 6-4 in the championship match.
Conroy netted his first career Division II state bid when he went 3-1 to finish as the district runner-up in the 175-pound bracket.
“The kid is going to be amazing,” noted Skonieczny. “I told Avery before the tournament; you know there are only seven people in the State of Ohio who believe you can get out. He looked fantastic. This is a14-year-old freshmen at 175 pounds and his big match was the Padua kid. He handled business and beat him by three points.”
On Friday, Conroy went 2-0 to reach the semifinal round after pinning junior Graydn Sillman from Northwest only 24 seconds into the first period of his first-round bout, then secured a 9-6 sudden victory in overtime against Padua senior Jimmy Zarzeczny in the quarterfinal.
According to Skoniezny, Conroy prevailed after having a potential match-winning pin called with one second remaining in regulation overturned by the referee.
On Saturday, Conroy earned his state berth when he pinned Geneva sophomore Dominic Palmisano 34 seconds into the second period of his semifinal match.
Despite surrendering a three-point takedown in the final seconds of the first period, Conroy bounced back by assuming control in the second period by taking the top position and putting Palmisano on his back.
Conroy fell short of a district title when he lost to senior Ian Bee from Tallmadge by a 15-9 decision in the championship.
Bollinger also became a first-time state qualifier, compiling a 3-2 record to take fourth place at 106 pounds.
“That was a special moment for that young man,” Skonieczny said. “I was so proud of that kid. If any kid in the State of Ohio deserves to be at this state tournament, there is nobody that deserves it more than Johnny Bollinger.”
On Friday, Bollinger became a semifinalist by going 2-0, pinning Benedictine freshman Kyle McNeely just 16 seconds into the first period of his first-round duel and edged sophomore Maximilian Holley from Copley by a 1-0 decision.
On Saturday, the Streetsboro junior was ousted from the semifinals when he was pinned by St. Vincent-St. Mary freshman Cole Palma with 45 seconds remaining in the second period.
Bollinger captured a state berth in the blood round when he overcame an early 3-0 deficit to prevail 4-3 against senior Jaden Weaver from Maple Heights in the consolation semifinal.
“That made that match even more special that you are going into that second period down 3-0, this kid has momentum, and you are starting to get doubt here and Johnny found a way to win, he hung on at the last and punched his ticket,” said Skonieczny.
In a rematch against Holley in the consolation championship, Bollinger lost by a 9-1 major decision.
Bollinger will face Beaver freshman Jordan Bates in the first round; Walker will duel senior Ethan Lewis from Roger Bacon in his first-round bout and Conroy will grapple against Groshen junior Gage Croley in his state debut.
