“I want to be a finalist at districts, and I want to be top six at the state,” said Jackson Milton junior wrestler Alex Tomaino.
Tomaino’s cousin and senior wrestler Anthony Tomaino chimed in: ”State Qualifying and hopefully state placing.”
“I was thinking about fourth and up,” junior Johnny Matasic added. “And senior year, I was going to try to win it.”
Jackson Milton Wrestlers set hefty goals for themselves this season, and they have every reason to believe they will achieve them.
Alex Tomaino said the team comes to each match mentally and physically prepared. The team’s condition is always great and they’re looking for a championship, he said.
Matasic said their secret, aside from hard work, is to push each other and train each other.
Countless hours of hard work and practice have translated into success on the mat. Coach Dave Tomaino increased strength of schedule, so his wrestlers could be the best.
Junior Tim Wiseman said he enjoys the challenge, and has been learning more. Anthony Tomaino also finds the increase valuable.
“We’re going against a lot tougher competition and it makes everything else that we do in the season a lot easier in the end because we’ve already faced some of the toughest kids in the nation and state,” Anthony Tomaino said.
Wrestling together for more than 13 years, the team placed eights at states last year, and return three state qualifiers, two district qualifiers; each with their own style.
“I like to go all three periods, get more of an adrenaline rush running through there,” Wiseman said. “I don’t like to get it done fast because then you’re sitting there for a while waiting for the next one.”
“I go out there and be aggressive and try to go for the pin or tech fall. Either one,” Matasic said.
“I’m more of a brawler on my feet,” Alex Tomaino said. “I like double legs. I like to rack the score up rather than pin.”
No matter what the strategy, it seems to be working. Jackson Milton is 6-3 going into the Josh Hephner Memorial Tournament at Austintown Fitch High School. The event features 28 area teams, beginning at 4:30 Friday. The finals will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday.
