Buckeye's Eddie Neitenbach tops No. 2 in the nation at Ironman to highlight area wrestlers

CUYAHOGA FALLS — Success in high school wrestling is all about that base.

The best ones find that foundation and build a path that leads to greater success.

That’s what Buckeye’s Eddie Neitenbach (175 pounds), Wadsworth’s Jaxon Joy (150), Perry’s Aidan Fockler (285) and Brecksville’s Rylan Seacrist (113) took out of Saturday’s 30th annual Ironman Tournament.

None of them won the star-studded event, but then again no one from Ohio took home a title from the most prestigious regular-season tournament in the nation.

Neitenbach finished third, Joy was fourth, Fockler was fifth and Seacrist finished sixth.

“I wrestled really well this weekend,” Neitenbach said. “It’s the best I’ve ever wrestled. It was my weekend.”

Eddie Neitenbach's Ironman weekend was incredible

Neitenbach’s weekend included wins over Oregon State recruit and national champion Hudson Rogers of Meridian, Idaho, and Ironman placer Dominic Federici of Wyoming Seminary.

Florida state champ Elijah Penton of Winter Springs didn’t stand a chance and neither did Missouri commit Peyton Westpfahl of Liberty, Mo.

The third-place match brought Tyler Eise of Ponderson, Col., the second-ranked wrestler in the nation and top seed, and even the Nebraska commit couldn’t figure out Neitenbach, who tallied eight wins over the weekend.

“The coaches kept telling me to climb the podium, and that’s what I kept doing,” said Neitenbach, who is committed to Wyoming.

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Success is no stranger to Joy, who owns two state titles and is a runner-up finish. He placed third in freestyle at Junior nationals and at the Super 32 and was a returning Ironman placer.

Although fourth place wasn’t what he was looking for, the fact it took an ultimate tiebreaker for Kollin Rath of Bethlehem Catholic, Pa., the second seed in the nation, to beat him for third says a lot.

His other setback was to Wyoming Seminary’s Vince Bouzakis, who won the tournament. The two losses came by a combined two points against two Ironman champions.

“I’m not where I want to be right now, so I’ve got a lot of work to do,” said Joy, who is a Cornell pledge. “… I’m not where I want to be, but I know I’m close.”

Fockler is a Central Michigan recruit who missed last season’s Ironman.

The reigning state champion is now a two-time Ironman placer after wins over three Ironman placers and a state runner-up.

“This was a big tournament for me,” Fockler said. “It was a huge confidence booster for me to let everyone know I’m still around. I’ve still got it. I didn’t go anywhere. I lost two matches to two top-six ranked guys in the country. I finished out with a top-10 win.”

It can be argued that Seacrist had the biggest win of area wrestlers when he beat World champion Dom Munaretto of St. Charles East, Ill., in the quarterfinals.

An unfortunate injury in his match with Hunter Taylor of Liberty, Mo., ended in a 7-4 defeat and the returning state runner-up had to medical forfeit his way to sixth.

“Anytime you’re knocking off someone who has an Ironman title and a World title you start to realize you’re pretty dang good,” Brecksville coach Todd Haverdill said. “You’re in the conversation. He’s wrestling in the semifinals and gets the first two takedowns and unfortunately gets injured.

“… It’s one of those things where his coaches have been telling him he’s one of the best in the country, but until you get evidence and data there’s always some doubt. I’m thinking that win took away some of that doubt.”

Ironman team standings

1. Wyoming Seminary, Pa., 268; 2. Blair Academy, NJ, 174.5; 3. Edmond North, Okla., 146; 4. St. Edward 120.5; 5. Bishop McCort, Pa., 120.5; 6. Malvern Prep, Pa., 113; 7. Faith Christian Academy, Pa., 107; 8. Stillwater, Okla., 104.5; 9. Lake Highland Prep, Fla., 83.5; 10. Perrysburg 78; 11. Brownsburg, Ind., 77; 12. Mt. Carmel, Ill., 76.6; 13. St. Charles East, Ill., 74; 14. Perry 70; 15. Dublin Coffman, Liberty 66.6; 27. Brecksville 42; 36. Buckeye 34; 40. Wadsworth 32; 69. Aurora, Highland 17; 82. St. Vincent-St. Mary 11; 122. CVCA 2

Ironman individual standings

106: Bachmann (FCA) d. Regan (WS), 5-3; 113: Motyka (WS) d. Taylor (Lib), 1-0; 113: Dickman (Brow) by ff. Seacrist (Bre); 120: DeLuca (BA) d. Jordan (Stil), 3-2; 126: Lilledahl (WS) d. Forrest (MC), 2-1; 132: Davino (SCE) d. Blaze (Per), 3-2, UTB; 138: Bassett (BM) d. Ayoub (DC), 5-1; 144: Manville (SC) d. Consiglio (MP), 7-2; 150: Bouzakis (WS) d. Routledge (EN), 3-2; Third: Rath (BC) d. Joy, 3-2, UTB; 157: Sommer (Still) d. Stewart (WT), 3-2, UTB; 165: Ferrari (Mel) d. Sealey (WS), 3-2, UTB; 175:  Wright (PS) p. (Mt. Carmel), 4:52; Third: Neitenbach (Buc) d. Eise (Pon), 5-3, OT; 190: Ziola (SC) p. Dailey (WS), 4:44. 215: Correa (WS) by ff. Lawrence (Frz); 285: Neves (BA) m.d. Stilwell (SMA), 8-0; Fifth: Fockler (Per) d. Effendian (FCA), 6-0.

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: National champs go down at hands of area wrestlers at Ironman