D2 Central District seeding/draw meeting

• Dad4Sports

  The D2 sectional draw meeting will take place a week from today. However, the actual seeding will be done on-line later this week and will be completed before the coaches actually meet for the draw. As such, none of the coaches will get a chance to "make their case" in front of the other coaches. So let's start some discussion (please let's keep it clean). I'm curious how everyone thinks things should fall......here is one man's opinion....
  
  EDIT.....thanks to KSIG for reminding me that Sparta Highland is now D2....I apologize, complete oversight on my part....I have added them
  
  1. Olentangy - clearly the choice is obvious here. The Braves were a power in D1 and have not missed a beat in their drop to D2. They have wrestled a solid D1 schedule and done very well....IMO should be no discussion here....Braves are very deep and very good!!
  
  2. Canal Winchester - Defending sectional champs have also wrestled a very challenging schedule. They were hampered early by injury/illness but now have everyone back (including Rosch) and are rolling. Yesterday they topped D1 #2 Teays Valley, D1 St. Charles, and lost 39-38 to D1 #8 Hilliard Davidson. At least half the line-up has been bumped up a weight class and will make the drop for the post-season, so this squad will get much tougher.….only 3 seniors…team to really watch next season
  
  3. Licking Valley - This choice may surprise some of you...however the Panthers have done well against a decent schedule...coming off a win yesterday in the Jon Alder tourney. This up and coming team is loaded and is positioned to really make a run the next few years. This squad is very deep....yet they have the studs to score well in the post-season. LV has been somewhat "under the radar" this season...don't let that fool you.
  
  4. Jonathan Alder - The Pioneers have had a dream season so far...winning everything in sight (until yesterday). However, they have not wrestled much of a schedule...rarely venturing out of the area and rarely tangling with the "big boys". Victorious at New Albany among their tourney wins and are solid top to bottom...should do very well.
  
  5. London - Before the season, everyone was touting the Red Raiders squad...transfers from the SWCS fiasco added to an already solid core is a recipe for success. And London has not disappointed. This squad is not deep and they do not have a full lineup, but their "star power" should score well in a tournament format.
  
  6. Bishop Hartley – The Hawks have had a fine year in making the jump to D2. I think they only have a couple of Seniors, and are maybe a year away from being a real player in the Central District. Hartley always wrestles a tough schedule….finished behind DeSales at the CIT but were not at full strength…recently just lost by 2 points to a solid St. Charles team….another team to watch next year.
  
  7. Sparta Highland - The Fighting Scots are not really built to be a dual team. I believe they have quite a few weight classes open. But what they lack in depth, they certainly make up with quality. They have the hammers to be a solid tournament team. Like Licking Valley, "they have been out of sight out mind" in the coaches poll. This group could really surprise...lost to CW (54-30) early in the season.
  
  8. DeSales – Normally the Stallions would be at the top of this list. However they were hit hard by the combination of graduation and
  a deeper than normal Central District D2 landscape. Still you can't overlook the DeSales tradition...Stallions wrestled a good schedule and potentially have some very high post-season point scorers.
  
  9. Big Walnut - This is the "season that never was" so far for the Eagles. This team has been absolutely decimated by injury after injury. But the tide has turned and the Eagles are getting healthy at the right time, so there is still time to salvage things and make a run in the post-season....went toe-to-toe with DeSales in a dual yesterday...don't fall asleep on Big Walnut.
  
  10. Licking Heights - The Hornets may not have a great dual team, but can't be discounted when the post-season arrives. They have a few studs who will score very well. Remember Westerville North a couple of years ago....LH may not be at that level, but you get the idea. Personally, here's hoping Wolfe finally makes his trip to the Schott, no one deserves it more.
  
  11. Hilliard Bradley - First year school has done very well. This is an extremely young squad (no Seniors) that may emerge as a power in the near future. Like Licking Heights above, the Jaguars have some anchors who will do very well come sectional time.....look for Bradley's stay in D2 to be short, but no reason the Jags cannot join the area's D1 elite in the future.
• USMCdevil05

  

  I would say you hit it pretty close. Only thing I might change would be moving London to 3rd. Nice rankings though dad4sports!
• ksig489

  OK...my two cents as we have seen many of these teams already and will be seeing some more soon:
  
  
  Olentangy - No one is even close to this team. They do have a couple weak spots...but I see them taking 10 to district.
  
  Canal Winchester - One of the few years we havent seen them at all. TJ always has this team ready though. I would only rank them this high simply because of results Ive heard. I would rather see them in action.
  
  Licking Valley - I have been telling people all year that this team is being overlooked. They can score at pretty much every weight class. Parsons is clearly their best and they may not have a lot of top 3 kids, but they probably lead the district in #4 kids.
  
  Jonathan Alder - Havent seen them since last year at districts. They have a few tough kids but Im not sure of their depth. They beat London in a close dual, but London gave up something like 24 points in forfeits.
  
  London - In tournament strength...this team is solid. We saw them this weekend at Heath and the are pretty good. With Colvin back in the lineup (not sure when) this team will just get better.
  
  Bishop Hartley – Way better than people think. You havent heard a lot of their names but they can score in several weights. They have enough studs to score big and a lot of auxiliary scorers.
  
  DeSales – Havent seen them yet (dual in 2 weeks) but they are always tougher in the post season due to their strength of schedule. They had kids who were 8-15 getting to district last year.
  
  Big Walnut - They werent full strength when we saw them...Brown and the White were still out. I have a hard time commenting because we beat them by 80 points in our tournament, but Im sure it would have been much closer with those two in.
  
  Licking Heights - We have an army of solid light weights. Price and Wolfe lead the way and 4 others have finalist potential in sectionals. 160 pound sophomore Yeager just beat Silvers from London at Heath to add to the list. We could have 6-8 kids in the district.
  
  Hilliard Bradley - Have no idea...Higgins is tough, Ive never seen the rest.
  
  Highland - Way better than people think. Maybe even a top 6 team. We will dual them the same day as Desales. They have 3 or 4 studs and a lot of scorers.
  
  Of the teams we've seen:
  
  1. Olentangy
  2. Licking Valley
  3. London
  4. Hartley
  5. Highland
  6. Big Walnut
  
  How would I rank them (not including my Hornets)
  
  1. Olentangy
  2. Canal
  3. Licking Valley
  4. London
  5. Hartley
  6. Highland
  7. Alder
  8. Desales
  9. Big Walnut
  10. Bradley
  
  If I were to put LH in there it would be either at 7 or 8...we will see when we wrestle Desales in two weeks.
• Dad4Sports

  Ksig.....thanks for reminding me that Highland is now D2
• 951123rd

  Olentangy
  Canal
  Licking Valley
  Alder
  London
  Hartley
  Big Walnut
  Licking Heights
  Desales
  Highland
  Bradley
  
  Dad.....I am right there with you on Wolfe.....great kid!!! Also, don't forget that little stud they have at 103, could very well make the trip this year too.
• 951123rd

  On a side note, does anybody know when the last time was that Desales did not win their sectional?
• Dad4Sports

  951123rd wrote: Dad.....I am right there with you on Wolfe.....great kid!!! Also, don't forget that little stud they have at 103, could very well make the trip this year too.

  I'm looking forward to a Fiorucci vs. Price possible District final.....just hope they get bracketed on opposite sides at Claymont. I think Fiorucci won round 1 (7-3)....next match-up should be a dandy
• cdva

  

  Dad4Sports
  
  I got myself a pair of those maroon glasses.(not quite as dark as yours)
  Nice weekend for the Canal team.
  
  #1 Olentangy
  #2 Licking Valley
  #3 Canal
  #4 Jonathan Alder
  #5 London
  #6 DeSales
  #7 Hartley
  #8 Big Walnut
  #9 Licking Hts
  #10 Highland/Bradley
  
  I hope you are right about #103, it would be nice to see an all central final in as many weight classes as possible.
• Little Darby Crk

  And here's a clearer picture ...
  1. Licking Valley
  1. Olentangy
  3. Jonathan Alder
  4. London
  5. Canal Winchester
  6. Hartley
  7. Big Walnut
  8. DeSales
• ksig489

  Wow...Im a believer in Valley...but no one in central d2 is on par with Olentangy. Ive seen both of them and unfortunately it isnt even close.
• cruiser_96

  

  I think this weeks Mason tournament showed the strength of the Braves of Olentangy. A runner-up finish tournament in front of both Marysville AND Pickerington North (both top in the area for DI) is impressive. From top to bottom, the Braves are good.
  
  BTW: London and Licking Valley will both be at The Cruiser Invitational this weekend.
• Dad4Sports

  Little Darby Crk wrote: And here's a clearer picture ...
  1. Licking Valley
  1. Olentangy
  3. Jonathan Alder
  4. London
  5. Canal Winchester
  6. Hartley
  7. Big Walnut
  8. DeSales

  
  You're certainly welcome to your opinion, but I think you are way off base.....Olentangy is clearly at the top....all by themselves! No comparison......
• bdad123

  cruiser_96 wrote: I think this weeks Mason tournament showed the strength of the Braves of Olentangy. A runner-up finish tournament in front of both Marysville AND Pickerington North (both top in the area for DI) is impressive. From top to bottom, the Braves are good.
  
  BTW: London and Licking Valley will both be at The Cruiser Invitational this weekend.

  Pickerington North only wrestled 12 wrestlers and took third place.
• Varsityfan32

  what weight classes were they missing bdad123 ?
• Cthelites

  bdad123 wrote:

  cruiser_96 wrote: I think this weeks Mason tournament showed the strength of the Braves of Olentangy. A runner-up finish tournament in front of both Marysville AND Pickerington North (both top in the area for DI) is impressive. From top to bottom, the Braves are good.
  
  BTW: London and Licking Valley will both be at The Cruiser Invitational this weekend.

  Pickerington North only wrestled 12 wrestlers and took third place.

  Is 19 Will still out?
• Little Darby Crk

  Thanks for your opinion Dad4sports. But I've seen all teams that I've listed here except DeSales, and until Olentangy and Valley dual, this is the way I see it.
  1. Olentangy (there, I listed Olentangy as the first #1) haha
  1. Licking Valley
  3. Jonathan Alder
  4. London
  5. Canal (one good weekend out of how many weeks???)
  etc...
• bdad123

  Varsityfan32 wrote: what weight classes were they missing bdad123 ?

  119 and 125
• bravesman

  Olentangy will most likely be going to Licking Heights...
• huntergreen

  Little Darby, I realize Canal has not had many great weekends, but you have to look at their lineup and look at their point scoring potential.
  
  Brady will win matches at districts, Hutchins is a state placer, Tulius has a great shot to get to state, Rosch is a state placer once he is 100%, Bllomy is ranked #14 by Brakeman and it is hard to see him not getting out of districts, and Pressley will no doubt win 2-3 matches at districts if not qualify. I'm sure I am forgetting someone, but they are real good.
  
  Onto the point of this thread though, where is everyone heading for sectionals. I have heard some rumors but no concrete decisions.
• Little Darby Crk

  I haven't heard anything either as to where teams are going. And I'm sure coaches won't make up their mind 'til their name is called at the meeting and they see where everyone else has gone in front of them.
  Good luck!!!
• Dad4Sports

  I predict that Licking Heights will go to Licking Heights
• Cradleman

  Dad4Sports wrote:
  London: SWCS fiasco added to an already solid core is a recipe for success.
  

  Jonathan Alder has benefitted as well, they have at least four SWCS kids in their lineup, from Westland 135 Rigney, 171 Riley, 152 Palmer, and from Franklin Hts, 160 Baugess.
• JonAlder

  Nope, only 3 kids from the SWCS district are on the team; and only 2 of them have been varsity all year.
• huntergreen

  When I was in high school, we had a super sectional. Not sure of the amount of teams, but the top 8 in the sectional advanced to the district. I was in the Dayton area, so we would match up with the top 8 from the Cincinnati sectional.
  
  I wish the Central District would go to this. It would assure that the best 8 go in each weight class. The current system allows for some kids to squeak by in a weaker sectional. While I don't think there is a possibility for a "weak" sectional this year, it has happened in the past. This would make things a lot less complicated, a lot more fair, and the tournament would be tough as nails. The qualifiers would be battle tested and ready to move on to the next week.
• Cthelites

  huntergreen wrote: When I was in high school, we had a super sectional. Not sure of the amount of teams, but the top 8 in the sectional advanced to the district. I was in the Dayton area, so we would match up with the top 8 from the Cincinnati sectional.
  
  I wish the Central District would go to this. It would assure that the best 8 go in each weight class. The current system allows for some kids to squeak by in a weaker sectional. While I don't think there is a possibility for a "weak" sectional this year, it has happened in the past. This would make things a lot less complicated, a lot more fair, and the tournament would be tough as nails. The qualifiers would be battle tested and ready to move on to the next week.

  How would you do D1?
  Take the top 12?