83rd ANNUAL STATE WRESTLING INDIVIDUAL

OWOA 50 Year AwardsIn the past it was highly unusual for officials to receive 50 Year recognition, however even more unusual is to have 3 in the same year.All three have been state officers in the Ohio Wrestling Officials Association. All three are members of the Ohio Wrestling Officials Hall ofFame.Jeff CrosbyJeff is from Bellevue and the South Shore Wrestling Officials Association where he served as secretary of that group for over 25 years. Healso is a past president of the OWOADan CutcherDaniel L. Cutcher of the Central District has served the OWOA asPresident, Secretary, Treasurer, and currently Historian and Hall ofFame Chairman. Dan is a past president of the Central District Wrestling Officials as well as secretary for 14 years. He also was a twotime President of the Central District Officials CommitteeRalph FarmerRalph Farmer from Cincinnati served as Secretary of the OWOA andhas mentored new officials and taught officiating classes for over 20years

Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches AssociationMedia Service Award RecipientChris Easterling - Massillon IndependentChris Easterling’s career covering wrestling for the Massillon Independent startedrandomly enough, with a season preview being thrown at him last minute in 1999.That was introduction to a sport which he never participated in growing up, yet hasbecome one of his favorites to cover.This marks his 20th consecutive state wrestling tournament. In the two-plus decades he’s been covering the sport, he’s been fortunate to document 40 individualstate champions, more than 100 state placers and innumerable individuals simplyachieving a life-long goal of reaching the state tournament.Chris began his career in 1994 as a correspondent for The Independent whilestill a senior at Canal Fulton Northwest High School. After attending the University of Kentucky, Chris began working full-time for the paper in 1998. Through hissports writing career, he has covered University of Kentucky football and basketball, the Cleveland Indians, multiple NCAA basketball tournaments, the last twoNCAA Wrestling Championships, along with hundreds of high school games.He would like to thank all of the Stark County coaches and wrestlers over theyears who have been of great assistance to him, including but certainly not limitedto Dave Riggs, Dan Michel, Dan Staats, Mike Mattingly, Chase Horvath, Dave Tolarchyk, Brent McBurney and Nate Carr. He would also like to thank all of his mediabreathren, specifically Josh Lowe, whose encyclopedic knowledge of the sport isalways seemingly accessible.He would also like to thank his family for their support, even his younger brotherJ.R., who is the former head wrestling coach at Akron Manchester High Schooland currently is a OHSAA wrestling official.Finally, and most importantly, he would like to thank his daughter Brianna,an eighth-grade student at Northwest Middle School in their hometown of CanalFulton.Since 1995, a media member has been honored at the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournaments for his or her outstandingdedication and service in covering the sport of interscholastic wrestling. The honoree will also be presented a plaque inceremonies prior to the third session on Friday evening.For the first two years of the award, the honoree was selected by state tournament management. Beginning at the 1996state tournament, a system was established whereby media members covering the state finals select the winner for thefollowing year. The previous winners have 2004:2005:2006:2007:Mike Massa (deceased), WVIZ-TV, ClevelandBrian Brakeman, The Brakeman Report/WVIZ-TVMilan Zban (deceased), Akron Beacon JournalPat Galbincea, Cleveland Plain DealerPete Carrothers, WBTC-Radio, UhrichsvilleJudie Asp (deceased), Elyria Chronicle-TelegramBob Preusse, Freelance ContributorTim Warsinskey, Cleveland Plain DealerDan Fickel, Wrestling USATom Gaffney, Akron Beacon JournalKelly Ducey, WMTR-Radio, ArchboldMel Peters, WBTC-Radio, UhrichsvilleJason Skoda, Lorain Morning 6:2017:2018:2019:2020:Brad Bournival, Medina County GazetteJamie Baker, Findlay CourierChuck Martinez, Defiance Crescent-NewsKermit Rowe, Springfield News-SunJim Thomas, Canton RepositoryJosh Lowe, IntermatWrestle.comJohn Cummings, Dayton Daily NewsJon Spencer, Mansfield News JournalKarl Yunker, Napoleon WNDH RadioShaun Bennett, Elyria Chronicle-TelegramAndy Morrison, Toledo BladeJohn Kampf, Willoughby News-HeraldChris Easterling, Massillon Independent

High School Wrestling Tied to Professional Wrestling?Submitted by Dan CutcherIn 1920, Ohio State University appointed Al Haft Head wrestlingcoach, the second year Ohio State had a wrestling team. As anarmy hand-to-hand combat instructor during World War I, Altaught thousands of young soldiers wrestling moves that couldsave their lives. One of his early wrestling recruits was HarrySteele, a farm kid from East Sparta, Ohio. Harry became anNCAA champion and was the Gold Medalist in the 1924 Olympics. He was the last wrestling gold medalist from Ohio Stateuntil Kyle Snyder in 2016.The depression hit a few years later and collegiate andinterscholastic wrestling was put on the back burner. In 1947Casey Fredericks, a 1932 National Champion from Purdue and aprofessional wrestler, was named as the new Head coach at OhioState. He too had been a hand to hand combat drill instructor. Atthe time, millions of soldiers were returning home to start families, and there was considerable interest in wrestling.During this time, Al had owned several gyms aroundColumbus and had become a professional wrestling and boxingpromoter. Haft had brought greats to Columbus: Joe Louis,Jack Dempsey, Jim Corbette, Jess Williard, Gene Tunney WRESTLING, Farmer Burns, Ed “Strangler”Lewis, Joe Stecher,Zbyszko brothers, John Pesek, Mildred Burke, Gorgeous George,and Nature Boy Buddy Rogers. He and Casey knew that in orderfor both High School and Professional wrestling to grow, the fanbase need to be extended with young athletes introduced to thesport. They went on the road, traveling throughout Ohio, puttingon demonstrations, talking to local Boards of Education, Athleticbooster clubs, Kiwanis, Rotary clubs, anyone who would listen.By 1957, the number of High schools with wrestling programsgrew from 14, to 257.Both Al and Casey had an interesting group of peoplethey recruited to help. Al employed is brother in law, GeorgeWoodland, to referee both professional boxing and wrestling.Bob’s son, Don Woodland, was given the task to start a newprogram at Pleasantview, one of the first central Ohio Schoolsto have wrestling outside of Worthington and Arlington. WhenFranklin Heights was built, Don and his assistant coach, BobMowery started wrestling there. Don moved on to become thehead coach at Capital University, and later became a state senatorand liquor commissioner. Don also helped start the programat Ready High School where his son Eric was a two time statechampion. If you have ever stopped in at a Donerick Lounge inColumbus or Dublin, they were started by Don and Eric.As the sport expanded, the practice of having thecoaches referee the matches became problematic. Casey talkedhis long time assistant coach at Ohio State, Tony Montonaro,into writing the rules and mechanics for officials. Tony traveledthe state with his notebooks and assisted groups in organizingand training officials. With the backing of the Ohio High SchoolAthletic Association, Tony tried to bring consistency throughoutthe state by setting up a series of local associations. In 1965, therewere still no written rules for the conduct of matches, and theNCAA and National Federation of High Schools invited Tony toa meeting in Chicago to develop the rules book. Tony’s notebookwas the basis of the first official book published in 1966.Bob Mowery became the first president of the Central DistrictWrestling Officials Association and also served as its secretary.Casey Fredericks and Al Haft were inducted into the Ohio Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1970,Tony Montonaro in 1971, and DonWoodland in 1978. Bob Mowery was inducted into the OhioWrestling Officials Hall of Fame in 1995.I’d like to Acknowledge Mike Zim for the research onthe professional side and pictures and Mike Nichelson, of theSchottenstein Center, for help with the OSU researchCasey Fredericks, JamieKaser, DonWoodlandTony MontonaroAl Haft, Circa 1912Al Haft overlooking outdoor arena in GoodalePark 1956. Admissionwas 50 Cents onSaturday nightGeorgeWoodland,Wild BillZim, PromoterBob Holtand FrankSexton

ALL‐TIMESCHOOLMISCELLANEOUSFACTS & FIGURES

MOST STATE PLACERS THROUGH 2019Lakewood St. EdwardSt. Paris Graham LocalMaple HeightsCuyahoga Falls Walsh JesuitWadsworthColumbus St. Francis DeSalesMassillon PerrySandusky St. Mary Central CatholicBedford St. Peter ChanelGarfield HeightsOak HarborMentor Lake CatholicDeltaCincinnati Archbishop MoellerUhrichsville ClaymontAkron St. Vincent‐St. MaryCleveland West TechElyriaBrecksville‐Broadview HeightsCuyahoga Falls CVCAAkron CoventryBeachwoodMilan EdisonCleveland John MarshallOregon Cardinal StritchSolonColumbus Bishop ReadyMayfield Village MayfieldRichmond HeightsSteubenvilleAuroraMedina HighlandChagrin Falls KenstonEuclid *MarysvilleShaker HeightsBedfordBridgeportMartins FerryOlmsted FallsClydeTroy ChristianRavenna SoutheastWest Chester Lakota WestCleveland WestMacedonia NordoniaWauseonFairfieldLakewoodNorth Canton HooverArchboldCleveland St. IgnatiusCleveland St. Joseph (VASJ)North 6766666665636158585757575656565454545454Akron Manchester53Cleveland John Hay52Parma Padua Franciscan52Pataskala Licking Heights52Ravenna52Shadyside5251Apple Creek WaynedaleGenoa Area51Liberty Center51Cincinnati Elder50Lisbon Beaver48Mechanicsburg48Cadiz47Middlefield Cardinal47Uniontown Lake47Worthington Thomas Worthington47Cleveland John Adams46Lewis Center Olentangy46Sandusky Perkins46Toledo Central Catholic46Toledo St. Francis a Crestwood44Marion Pleasant44Massillon Tuslaw44Mentor44Cincinnati LaSalle43Lorain Southview43Oregon Clay43Centerville42Cincinnati St. Xavier42Hilliard Davidson42North Olmsted42Brunswick41Canal Fulton Northwest41Eastlake North41Grandview Heights41Perrysburg41Sandusky41West Jefferson41Cuyahoga Heights40Perry40*When added with Euclid Shore, their total is 85.

MOST STATE FINALISTS THROUGH 2019Lakewood St. Edward187St. Paris Graham Local132Maple Heights79Cuyahoga Falls Walsh Jesuit74Columbus St. Francis DeSales52Garfield Heights52Massillon Perry52Cleveland West Tech48Wadsworth48Richmond Heights47Sandusky St. Marys C.C.47Cleveland West43Delta4342Bedford St. Peter ChanelColumbus Bishop Ready39Bedford38Akron Coventry36Elyria36Cleveland John Marshall35Euclid *35Beachwood34Medina Highland34Oak Harbor34Pataskala Licking Heights34Solon34Akron St. Vincent‐St. Mary31Cuyahoga Falls CVCA31Troy Christian30Cleveland John Hay29Shaker Heights29Genoa Area28Mentor Lake Catholic28Oregon Cardinal Stritch28Middlefield Cardinal26Brecksville‐Broadview Heights25Cleveland St. Ignatius24Cleveland St. Joseph (VASJ)24Macedonia Nordonia24Archbold23Lakewood23Toledo St. Francis DeSales23Bridgeport22Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller2222Cleveland John AdamsClyde22Mayfield Village Mayfield22Milan Edison22Twinsburg22Uhrichsville Claymont22Chagrin Falls Kenston21Lorain Southview21Ravenna Southeast21Aurora20Martins Ferry20North Canton Hoover20*When added with Euclid Shore, their total is 48.

MOST STATE PLACERSWITHOUT A STATECHAMPION THROUGH 2019MadisonSt. ClairsvilleReynoldsburgColumbus Bishop HartleyMount VernonFairborn *DoverHillsboroLaGrange KeystoneHilliard DarbyCanton SouthFranklinGarrettsville GarfieldSpringfield NorthwesternToledo St. John'sTallmadgeWarsaw River ViewBascom Hopewell‐LoudonDoylestown ChippewaGahanna LincolnJohnstown NorthridgeTiffin CalvertBataviaCadiz Harrison CentralCanton GlenOakChagrin FallsDelaware HayesHudsonLancaster Fairfield UnionMcCombByesville MeadowbrookColumbus Marion‐FranklinGates Mills HawkenHannibal RiverHicksvilleRiverside StebbinsShelbyHamiltonNew PhiladelphiaPort ClintonAkron BuchtelAttica Seneca EastAvonColumbus St. CharlesDelphos St. John’sNavarre FairlessNorth RidgevilleParma NormandySpringfield Kenton RidgeWest 1010101010*Fairborn has only 13. However, when added with theirconsolidated schools of Baker and Park Hills, their total is 20.MOST STATE RUNNER‐UPSWITHOUT A STATECHAMPION THROUGH 2019MadisonMcCombMount VernonBascom Hopewell‐LoudonColumbus Bishop HartleyDelphos St. John’sMantuaMassillonNew PhiladelphiaRiverside StebbinsSt. ClairsvilleToledo Macomber *Akron BuchtelAvonCanton GlenOakCleveland LincolnColumbus Walnut RidgeDayton RooseveltFranklinGahanna LincolnGates Mills HawkenHicksvilleHillsboroNavarre FairlessParma NormandyTallmadge85544444444433333333333333*When added with Toledo Macomber‐Whitney,their total is 5.

ALL‐TIMESTATE PLACERSPER SCHOOL

All-Time State Placers by School (Alphabetical)SchoolAdaAdena Buckeye WestAkron BuchtelAkron Central HowerAkron CoventryAkron EastAkron ElletAkron FirestoneAkron GarfieldAkron HobanAkron KenmoreAkron ManchesterAkron NorthAkron SouthAkron SpringfieldAkron St. Vincent-St. MaryAllianceAlliance MarlingtonAmanda ClearcreekAmeliaAmherst SteeleAndover Pymatuning ValleyAntwerpApple Creek WaynedaleArcadiaArcanumArchboldAshlandAshland CrestviewAshland MapletonAshland St. John SchoolAshtabulaAshtabula EdgewoodAshtabula HarborAshtabula LakesideAshville Teays ValleyAthensAttica Seneca EastAtwater WaterlooAuroraAustintown-FitchAvonAvon LakeBainbridge Paint ValleyBaltimore Liberty Union-ThurstonBarbertonBarnesvilleBascom Hopewell-LoudonBataviaBatavia Clermont NortheasternBay Village BayFirstSecond 111331911451921316511231133215312274213Fifth Sixth Seventh 13423

All-Time State Placers by School kBedfordBedford St. Peter ChanelBellaireBellaire St. John CentralBellbrookBellefontaineBellefontaine Benjamin LoganBellevueBellville Clear ForkBelmont Union LocalBeloit West BranchBelpreBereaBerea-MidparkBergholz SpringfieldBerlin Heights Thomas EdisonBethel-TateBlanchesterBloomdale ElmwoodBlufftonBowling GreenBrecksville-Broadview HeightsBridgeportBrilliantBrilliant Buckeye yrusBurton BerkshireByesville MeadowbrookCadizCadiz Harrison CentralCaldwellCaledonia River ValleyCambridgeCamden Preble ShawneeCanal Fulton NorthwestCanal WinchesterCanfieldCanton GlenOakCanton GlenwoodCanton LehmanCanton McKinleyCanton OakwoodCanton 3Sixth Seventh 6611141629414527124713271316841644132115116

All-Time State Placers by School (Alphabetical)SchoolCanton TimkenCardington-LincolnCareyCarlisleCarroll Bloom CarrollCarrolltonCasstown Miami EastCastalia MargarettaCedarvilleCelinaCentervilleChagrin FallsChagrin Falls KenstonChardonChardon Notre Dame-Cathedral LatinChesterland West GeaugaChillicotheChillicothe SoutheasternChillicothe UniotoChillicothe Zane TraceCincinnati Summit Country DayCincinnati Academy of Phys. Ed.Cincinnati AndersonCincinnati Archbishop MoellerCincinnati ColerainCincinnati Deer ParkCincinnati ElderCincinnati FinneytownCincinnati Forest ParkCincinnati Glen EsteCincinnati Green HillsCincinnati Hills Christian AcademyCincinnati HughesCincinnati Indian HillCincinnati LaSalleCincinnati MadeiraCincinnati MariemontCincinnati McNicholasCincinnati Mt. HealthyCincinnati North College HillCincinnati NorthwestCincinnati Oak HillsCincinnati PrincetonCincinnati Purcell MarianCincinnati Roger BaconCincinnati St. XavierCincinnati SycamoreCincinnati TaftCincinnati TurpinCincinnati Walnut HillsCincinnati Western th Seventh 299442171324

All-Time State Placers by School (Alphabetical)SchoolCincinnati Winton WoodsCincinnati WithrowCincinnati WyomingCirclevilleCircleville Logan ElmClarksville Clinton-MassieClayton NorthmontCleveland BenedictineCleveland Cathedral LatinCleveland Central CatholicCleveland CollinwoodCleveland HeightsCleveland John AdamsCleveland John F. KennedyCleveland John HayCleveland John MarshallCleveland LincolnCleveland RhodesCleveland SouthCleveland St. IgnatiusCleveland St. Joseph (VASJ)Cleveland WestCleveland West TechClydeColdwaterCollins Western ReserveColumbia Station ColumbiaColumbianaColumbiana CrestviewColumbus BeechcroftColumbus BexleyColumbus Bishop HartleyColumbus Bishop ReadyColumbus BrookhavenColumbus CentennialColumbus EastColumbus EastmoorColumbus Franklin HeightsColumbus GroveColumbus Hamilton TownshipColumbus Marion-FranklinColumbus MifflinColumbus NorthColumbus NorthlandColumbus SouthColumbus St. CharlesColumb

Division II combined Central and East District team runner-up. As a wrestle at West Liberty State College from 1988-1992, Tank was a three-time heavyweight All-American. He is married to his wife Crystal and the