FC wrestling: Monroeville, Plymouth expected to contend

Ashland Crestview and its four returning district qualifiers and two conference champions was labeled the preseason favorites in the Firelands Conference by the head wrestling coaches in the league.The Cougars received seven first-place votes, while Monroeville in second in the poll received the other. Plymouth was projected third, followed by Mapleton, St. Paul, New London, Western Reserve and South Central.The Cougars are looking for a fourth conference championship in the past five seasons, as St. Paul claimed the crown in 2018. Four different programs have won FC titles over the past eight seasons since 2013.Three area FC teams will be in action this Saturday as Monroeville and Western Reserve head to the Edison Invitational, while Plymouth travels to Sandusky as part of a quad meet. New London and South Central open on Dec. 12 at the Clear Fork Invitational, then the Wildcats visit St. Paul on Dec. 16 in the first match of the season for the Flyers.Below is a glance at all eight teams, which are scheduled to meet at the FC championships on Feb. 6 at New London High School: Preseason coaches poll1. Crestview (7)2. Monroeville (1)3. Plymouth4. Mapleton5. St. Paul6. New London7. Western Reserve8. South Central CRESTVIEW Head coach: Steve HaverdillProjected lineup:106: Dakota Fiddler, so. (15-14, district alternate)113: Gabe Shank, fr.120: Jaden Hedrick, fr.126: Hayden Kuhn, so. (42-6, FC champion, district qualifier)132: Michael Mays, so. (15-12, district alternate)138: Kage Briggs, jr. (13-12, district qualifier)145: Connor Morse, jr. (18-11, FC champion, district qualifier)152: Clete Rogers, fr. (junior high state qualifier)160: Caleb Cunningham, fr. (junior high state qualifier)170: Wade Bolin, fr. (junior high state qualifier)182: Brier Godsey, jr. (25-18, district alternate)195: Chandler Harmon, sr. (injured, district alternate '19)220: Aidan Godsey, jr. (30-17, district qualifier)285: Hayden Morse, sr. (17-1)Outlook: The Cougars bring back wrestlers at eight weight classes who finished with winning records last season, led by sophomore Hayden Kuhn and junior Connor Morse, who are defending league champions and district qualifiers. With three incoming freshmen who were junior high state qualifiers last season, the Cougars are the clear favorites on depth alone. MONROEVILLEHead coach: Tyler NestorProjected lineup:106: Zander Brown, so. (6-15)113: Mickolas Takacs, jr. (11-25)120: Ashton Homan, fr. (junior high state qualifier)126: Alec Homan, jr. (46-13, state qualifier; sixth at state '19)132: Hunter Vogus, so. (49-11, state qualifier)138: Ben Seitz, fr.145: Owen Roeder, so. (12-10)152: Thomas Seitz, sr. (15-24)160: Brayden Schuller, jr. (20-19)170: Daniel Smith, sr. (37-17, two-time FC champion, three-time district qualifier)182: Malik Shaw, sr. (8-24)195: N/A&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;220: Peyton Barnhart, so. (11-24)285: Seth Stauder, so.Outlook: Bolstered by the return of Alec and Ashton Homan along with Hunter Vogus, the Eagles boast two returning state qualifiers on top of two-time defending FC champion Daniel Smith. The quartet is expected to rack up significant point totals at each event this season for Monroeville, which along with 13 potential weight classes filled, should keep it within striking distance of the Cougars in the conference title picture. PLYMOUTHHead coach: Jeremiah BalkinProjected lineup:106: Nick Roberts, jr. (37-8, district qualifier)113: Cameron Wagers, fr. (junior high state qualifier)120: Andrew Miller, so. (21-17)126: Jacob Kilgore, so.132: Coe Wentz, jr.138: Noah Trimmer, sr. (35-14, district qualifier)145: Shae Sparks, so. (40-8)152: Jacob Robinson, jr. (24-12)160: Colton Sparks, so. (39-12)170: Gabe Cox, jr. (26-12)182: Jason Swank, sr. (23-15, district qualifier)195: Jacob Jones, sr. (8-9)220: Adler Horne, sr. (32-11, FC champion, district qualifier)285: Caleb Porter, so.Outlook: The Big Red are another program that has the ability to fill all 14 weight classes, and also bring back four district qualifiers and a conference champion among that group. Nick Roberts, Noah Trimmer, Jason Swank and FC champion Adler Horne all reached the district last season. Shae Sparks at 145 brings back 40 wins and Colton Sparks at 160 is coming off a 39-win season to help keep the Big Red in contention. MAPLETONHead coach: Corey KlineProjected lineup:106: Hayden Kidney, fr.113: Taylor Kramer, jr.120: Brock Durbin, fr. (junior high state placer)126: Bryce Case, jr. (17-23, FC third place)132: Andrew Sas, jr. (33-10, FC champion, district qualifier)138: Seth Case, jr.145: Camden Kline, sr. (30-21, district qualifier)152: Mark Miller, fr.160: Bryar Ramey, sr. (10-24)170: Sean Gast, jr. (19-21)182: Grady Kline, jr. (12-26)195: Landon Sword, so. (9-7)220: N/A285: Joe Shoup, jr. (18-13, district qualifier)Outlook: Another trend among the top half of the FC, the Mounties fill all but one weight class entering the season and also bring back FC champion Andrew Sas among three returning district qualifiers, two of which posted 30-plus wins each from last season. ST. PAULHead coach: Jesse GrossProjected lineup:106: Casper Caizzo, fr. (junior high state qualifier)113: Brianna Fablela, fr.120: Harley Stoll, jr. (33-14, FC champion, district qualifier)126: Aiden Naseman, jr. (37-16, FC champion, district placer)132: Chase Rospert, so. (4-10)138: Ryan Gross, so. (36-12)145: Will Stieber, jr. (40-14, district placer)152: Andy Meyer, so. (11-21)160: Thomas Pearce, sr. (10-25)170: N/A182: Ben Meyer, sr. (21-14, district qualifier)195: N/A220: N/A285: N/AOutlook: The Flyers are filling 10 of a possible 14 weight classes, and return six strong contenders that includes a pair of FC champions in Harley Stoll and Aiden Naseman. Those two join Will Stieber and Ben Meyer as returning district qualifiers, with Naseman (sixth) and Stieber (fifth) both placing at the district a year ago. Ryan Gross at 138 is a fourth wrestler that won 30-plus matches last season for the Flyers, as he and Stieber were both also second place at the FC championships. Junior high state qualifier Casper Caizzo helps anchor the lower weights. NEW LONDONHead coach: Jeremy AmburgyProjected lineup:106: Chris Vandersommen, fr.113: Markell Mitchell, fr. (junior high state qualifier)120: Kaden Kidd, so. (13-19, district qualifier); Wyatt Harrison (8-23)126: Carter Downs, fr. (junior high state qualifier)132: Allydia Byard, jr. (4-18)138: Peyton Gatzmeyer, so.145: Kenyon Cathey, sr. (24-12, district qualifier)152: Michael Dalton, sr. (18-17)160: Dakota Pearce, sr. (6-23)170: Owen Lee, sr. (2-21)182: Chris Cleary, fr.195: Kojac Velasquez, sr.&emsp;&emsp;220: N/A&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;285: N/AOutlook: Senior football standout Kenyon Cathey anchors a New London lineup that will have 12 weight classes filled. He is joined by district qualifier and sophomore Kaden Kidd, as both grapplers placed third at the FC championships last season. Promising freshmen Markell Mitchell and Carter Downs were junior high state qualifiers. WESTERN RESERVEHead coach: Brad PerkinsProjected lineup:106: Cole Palagyi, so.113: Kelsey Lasch, fr.120: Ty Glavich, fr. (junior high state qualifier)126: N/A132: Jake Elkin, so. (11-5)138: Sadina Munroe, so. (6-27)145: Marcus Witherspoon, fr.152: Skyler Burdyshaw, sr.160: Gavin Smith, so.170: Austin Rosemark, so. (2-16)182: Preston Ehrnsberger, so. (8-15)195: Paul Owens, fr.&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;&emsp;220: N/A285: N/AOutlook: The Roughriders fill 11 weight classes entering the season, but with the loss of Tyler Ramage, the team will be very green to start the season. Just one senior is among the 11 weights, while those returning with 15-plus matches under their belts from a year ago includes four sophomores. Freshman Ty Glavich is coming off a junior high state qualification as well for the 'Riders. SOUTH CENTRALHead coach: Ken JohnsonProjected lineup:106: N/A113: N/A120: Jayden Strickland, sr. (26-3, state qualifier)126: Dashawn Tyus, so. (8-19)132: N/A138: N/A145: N/A152: N/A160: Brandon Smith, so. (23-17)170: Hayden Berry, so.182: N/A195: N/A220: N/A285: N/AOutlook: Numbers continue to be an issue for the Trojans, but they again will have at least one standout among a trio back in senior Jayden Strickland. Despite a lack of depth, South Central has had five state placers — including two state champions — in the last 10 years. Like everyone last March, Strickland was denied that opportunity to place at state last season, but he returns at 120 pounds to make one last run at the podium, and win his weight class at the FC meet again after finishing first as a freshman and sophomore and second last season.