The Beachwood wrestling team really made their school proud at this weekend’s state wrestling tournament in Columbus. The Bison sent four wrestlers to the tournament with three making it into the top three in their classes.
Grant Blumenthal, David Shapiro, Ryan Harris and Sammy Gross all made it to this weekend’s state tourney. Ryan Harris and David Shapiro finished third while Sammy Gross brought home the state title for the Bison.
Ryan Harris lost his first match in the 138-pound weight class at the state tournament before he went on a winning streak all the way into the third place match, which he won 2-1. David Shapiro won out until the semifinals where he was defeated 3-1 in overtime by eventual state runner-up Aaron Yonker. Shapiro then won the consolation semifinal, tech-falling his opponent 18-3 before he won his third place match 9-6. Grant Blumenthal made it into the second day at 152-pounds, before he lost two matches in a row, ending his hopes of a championship.
The real story for the Bison was 113-pounder Sammy Gross. Gross went undefeated in the sectional tournament, undefeated in the district tournament and then undefeated in the state tournament, winning his state final 3-1. Ever since losing in the first round of the state tournament last year,6-3, Gross has won ten straight matches in Columbus. After making it to the state tournament, Gross was picked to win the title, which can sometimes make winning the championship even harder. Sammy certainly didn’t have it easy as three out of his four wins en route to the title came by less than two points. He won his first match 6-5, his second match was the only one that he had some breathing room in, winning 16-9, and he won his third match 4-2 before finally winning the championship 3-1.
Wearing warm-ups honoring the memory of the three students who lost their lives in the recent shooting at Chardon High School, the Bison wrestlers put forth a fine performance. It is very fitting that Beachwood’s smallest wrestler, Gross, would win the state championship, honoring the loss of former Beachwood High School wrestling coach Dom Immarino’s grandson, Daniel Parmertor, who was one of the three students who passed away following the Chardon shooting. Immarino was a fine wrestler and coach in his career, and being a smaller man, he must see some of himself reflected in Gross and his run to the state championship.
As a team Beachwood finished 6th overall scoring 56 ½ points. The Bison were hoping to do even better, but with a state champ and a third place finisher returning to the team next season, there is a positive outlook for the years to come. Seniors Grant Blumenthal and David Shapiro will not be returning next year and the Bison will be sad to see them go. We salute them for their fine efforts and the wonderful careers that they put together in their time as Bison wrestlers.
