Chardon wrestling team gets new coach

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Zach Barry, Team A Staff Writer
November 18, 2011
Filed under Sports

Chardon wrestling is a great opportunity to get in great shape. The teams head coaches are Chardon Middle School teacher, Mr. Salatino and a new addition to the team, coach Massiello. Coach Salatino puts a lot of pride and hard work into the Chardon wrestling program. The wrestling team consists of five seniors: John Connick, Marcus Mytro, Matt Dirosa, Tommy Turk, and Nate Hunter. Last season, there were two Chardon wrestlers that went to the state tournament Connick and alum Matt O’Hara. Matt O’Hara wrestled a strong tournament and placed sixth in the state at 171 pounds. Connick wrestled well, but ended with a 0-2 record at state and overall was 41-9. There is a lot of history through Chardon wrestling with Lee Kemp. Lee Kemp was the best wrestler Chardon has ever had. Kemp was a three-time World Champion. The Chardon wrestling room is even named after him.

Wrestling at Chardon takes a lot of commitment due to practices everyday even on Christmas Eve and Thanksgiving. “I love the sport. I love the time and dedication I put into it,” Connick said. “The only thing I don’t like is cutting weight. I can’t eat what I want,” he added. In the sport of wrestling, it can also be hard to maintain the required weight. The season goes right through Thanksgiving and Christmas, making it especially hard. For Christmas every weight class gets two pounds added. “Who doesn’t like eating turkey and Christmas cookies? But I can’t to keep my weight,” said Dirosa.

The Chardon wrestling team has seven matches and five tournaments. All the tournaments and matches they have scheduled are against tough opponents. “This year is a tough schedule, but I have confidence we will do well” said Tommy Turk. The wrestling team is a good core of guys, and have all been wrestling for a while. The whole team is looking forward to the three days in March and to see how many of the wrestlers from Chardon can make it to the state tournament. The season is now here and the guys are starting to work hard in the heated wrestling room to take P.A.C and win the tournaments.