Last year, the Garfield G-Men wrestling team returned no state qualifiers but were still fueled by a talented sophomore class. The 2027 class will once again be the strength of the team, as they aim to build off last year when they qualified two wrestlers to the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division III State Tournament.
“We had the sophomores that were the backbone of our team last year and now that they are upperclassmen,” said Coach Dan Andel. “I believe we only lost two wrestlers and we have one senior this year, but then we have that group of sophomores and then hopefully Ryder Cain. Our team is getting a little older, but we are not senior-heavy. We are still young.”
After two-time Division III state champion Keegan Sell graduated last year, the G-Men relied heavily on their sophomore class and had five wrestlers qualify for the districts, including a pair of sophomores, and two of them advanced to the Division III State Tournament.
Only one of Garfield’s district qualifiers graduated, so the G-Men return four wrestlers with significant postseason experience and will once again be a stout force in the middle and upper weight classes.
“We have some studs with Landon Andel, Luke Kaufman, Logan Sell and Ryder Cain,” noted the 11-year coach “Everyone that made it to the district meet except for Harper is back in our line-up and we picked up a couple more freshman, so I think we are strung out across the board.”
Senior Cameron Lewicki and junior Landon Abel, the two wrestlers who became state qualifiers each return this season seeking to return to the state meet with the goal of securing a state placement this time.
For Lewicki, the expectation is that he will return to compete as a 113-pounder after posting a 33-12 record last year en route to his first Division III state berth.
“When you are an upperclassman, you are occupying one of those weight classes that are traditionally freshmen and sophomores,” said Andel. “Some of those weight classes are tough to gage but he is a big, strong kid and he is not going to struggle with strength so I think that will be to his advantage.”
Off the heels of earning his first state berth and following in the footsteps of his older brother, Hunter, who was Garfield’s first state champion in school history, Landon will move up to the 150-pound weight class after competing at 138 pounds and amassing a 39-9 record last year.
“I think Landon is right there. It could be this year or maybe next year we could have another state champion in the room for sure,” Coach Andel said. “Landon has what it takes but he just has to get focused to have a good run.”
Having taken sixth at last year’s district tournament and being one victory away from being a state alternate, the junior 138-pound Kaufman returns after posting a 32-12 record on the season in the 126- pound weight class,
Another wrestler who is seeking a deeper postseason run after an early exit last year is the junior 165-pound Logan, who was a district quarterfinalist last season, posting a 27-13 record.
“Logan is a good wrestler and wrestling is his sport,” said Coach Andel. “He wrestled in the postseason and was a Fargo qualifier. He qualified for the Ohio National Team to go to Fargo. He put some time in during the offseason and if he is mentally dialed in and he commits he will be on the podium at Columbus next year.”
The G-Men will also be strong in the heavyweights, with sophomore Ryder Cain expected to return after being a district alternate with a 19-15 record in the 165-pound weight class. According to Coach Andel, he sees Cain filling in a huge hole at either 175 or 190 pounds.
“He was 14 last year in a bigger weight class as a 14-year-old, that is almost impossible so coming back and the maturity is going to boost him way up,” he added. “I look for him to potentially get on the podium in his first time getting down there on the upper weight for sure.”
The G-Men will also feature a freshman in the upper weight this year similar to how they relied on Cain last year, with freshman Parker Hill expected to be a valuable contributor in the 190-pound weight class.
The G-Men’s season will begin when they host a dual meet against Portage County rival Rootstown in Garrettsville on Dec. 11 at 6 p.m.
