The ruby edition of the Brakeman Report is out and Medina’s wrestling team finds itself in rare air.
The 40th annual report came out late Wednesday night and the Bees were ranked eighth as a team in Division I.
The program has never been ranked in the top 10 before, according to Medina coach Chad Gilmore, and it’s a tribute the Bees don’t take lightly.
“It’s a big honor,” Gilmore said. “It’s hopefully a good motivator for guys to push through.
“You can’t judge a season on rankings because there are a lot of teams that haven’t been ranked that overachieve. But it’s nice to see that others are looking at our team and seeing good things.”
Brian Brakeman, who ranks individuals in each weight class for all three divisions, likes what he sees out of Medina County.
The prognosticator has 27 individuals ranked in his report and expects 22 state qualifiers and 16 placers.
Among them are predicted D-I state champions in Kagan Squire (125) and Nick Tavanello (215) of Wadsworth and runners-up in Highland’s Dan Mirman (135, D-II) and Medina’s Teddy Hammer (152, D-I).
As they have in the past, the Grizzlies lead the way with 11 ranked individuals, nine of which Brakeman expects to get to state and eight of which he expects to place.
The reigning D-I state champions are picked to finish third behind St. Edward and Massillon Perry and are ranked in the top 10 for the fifth year in a row.
Also making their presence known are the Hornets, who are projected to finish fourth as a team.
Highland has six individuals listed on the report and is expected to place four.
The squad has been ranked in the top 10 three of the last four years.
“I think it’s great that there’s enthusiasm for the report,” Hornets coach Paul Casey said. “For the guys that he has listed, it’s nice to have that.
“As we move through the season, these guys are looking for motivation to keep going. For someone like Lazar Vilimonovic (ranked 24th), I’m not sure it helps, but someone like Daniel, who wants to be No. 1, that shows that he has been recognized.”
Last year, Brakeman correctly predicted the Wadsworth trio of Brad Squire, Tavanello and Ben Buzzelli to walk away with individual championships, as well as correctly seeing the Grizzlies winning a state title.
This year, he has Squire and Tavanello joining teammates Clay Wenger (3rd, 145), Sheldon Brandenburg (3rd, 160), Alfredo Gray (4th, 130) and Nate Ball (6th, 140) on the podium.
In addition to Mirman, Highland’s Tyler Bloniak (3rd, 152), Adam Kluk (6th, 171) and Colin Rininger (7th, 140) are also predicted to place.
Caleb Curtis (4th, 189) is the lone representative for Brunswick, while the Bees are forecast to have Mike Griffith (3rd, 135) and Matt Hammer (7th, 140) join Teddy Hammer as placers.
“I don’t pay much attention to the rankings,” Gilmore said. “I look at it more as an opportunity to see the individuals we need to beat to move on.
“It gives you an idea of who is out there as your competition. It doesn’t mean the No. 3 will always win when he faces the fourth-ranked kid. But it’s definitely a good feeling to be on the list. We know what we do in the room. It’s nice to see we’ve been recognized.”
The 40th annual report came out late Wednesday night and the Bees were ranked eighth as a team in Division I.
The program has never been ranked in the top 10 before, according to Medina coach Chad Gilmore, and it’s a tribute the Bees don’t take lightly.
“It’s a big honor,” Gilmore said. “It’s hopefully a good motivator for guys to push through.
“You can’t judge a season on rankings because there are a lot of teams that haven’t been ranked that overachieve. But it’s nice to see that others are looking at our team and seeing good things.”
Brian Brakeman, who ranks individuals in each weight class for all three divisions, likes what he sees out of Medina County.
The prognosticator has 27 individuals ranked in his report and expects 22 state qualifiers and 16 placers.
Among them are predicted D-I state champions in Kagan Squire (125) and Nick Tavanello (215) of Wadsworth and runners-up in Highland’s Dan Mirman (135, D-II) and Medina’s Teddy Hammer (152, D-I).
As they have in the past, the Grizzlies lead the way with 11 ranked individuals, nine of which Brakeman expects to get to state and eight of which he expects to place.
The reigning D-I state champions are picked to finish third behind St. Edward and Massillon Perry and are ranked in the top 10 for the fifth year in a row.
Also making their presence known are the Hornets, who are projected to finish fourth as a team.
Highland has six individuals listed on the report and is expected to place four.
The squad has been ranked in the top 10 three of the last four years.
“I think it’s great that there’s enthusiasm for the report,” Hornets coach Paul Casey said. “For the guys that he has listed, it’s nice to have that.
“As we move through the season, these guys are looking for motivation to keep going. For someone like Lazar Vilimonovic (ranked 24th), I’m not sure it helps, but someone like Daniel, who wants to be No. 1, that shows that he has been recognized.”
Last year, Brakeman correctly predicted the Wadsworth trio of Brad Squire, Tavanello and Ben Buzzelli to walk away with individual championships, as well as correctly seeing the Grizzlies winning a state title.
This year, he has Squire and Tavanello joining teammates Clay Wenger (3rd, 145), Sheldon Brandenburg (3rd, 160), Alfredo Gray (4th, 130) and Nate Ball (6th, 140) on the podium.
In addition to Mirman, Highland’s Tyler Bloniak (3rd, 152), Adam Kluk (6th, 171) and Colin Rininger (7th, 140) are also predicted to place.
Caleb Curtis (4th, 189) is the lone representative for Brunswick, while the Bees are forecast to have Mike Griffith (3rd, 135) and Matt Hammer (7th, 140) join Teddy Hammer as placers.
“I don’t pay much attention to the rankings,” Gilmore said. “I look at it more as an opportunity to see the individuals we need to beat to move on.
“It gives you an idea of who is out there as your competition. It doesn’t mean the No. 3 will always win when he faces the fourth-ranked kid. But it’s definitely a good feeling to be on the list. We know what we do in the room. It’s nice to see we’ve been recognized.”
Contact Brad Bournival at sports@medina-gazette.com.
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