Elijah Gervins guides City Series champion Akron North into OHSAA sectional tournament
Akron North wrestler Elijah Gervins is enjoying a memorable senior season.
Gervins has North's school record for career wins (115) and career pins (64), and last Saturday he led the Vikings to their first City Series team championship on the mat since 1991.
Gervins placed first at 132 pounds and was named the City Series Wrestler of the Year.
He will be in action with his teammates Saturday in a Division I sectional tournament at Perry High School.
"Winning the City Series team championship is a really great accomplishment for us," Gervins said. "We come in everyday and stay focused with the goal that every time we step on the mat we are going to win and dominate whoever we can to the best of our ability. Staying focused and staying calm is important."
When asked what makes the 5-foot-4 Gervins a successful wrestler, North coach Shane Reed said "his drive."
"Elijah has a great drive," Reed said. "He refuses to give up. He hasn't been pinned since his sophomore year. Last year, he went to his back, like, twice, and it was incredible the effort that he gave to get off his back, and then ended up pinning the kid.
"Once he has a task at hand, he really focuses on it. He is willing to adapt his style this year, which has really helped him out. The last couple of years he has been able to dominate in different situations. This year, he is adjusting and adapting to the stronger opponents and the more skilled opponents. For the most part, he has been able to beat them."
Gervins has a 115-39 career record. He set two single-season school records last season as a junior with 42 wins and 22 pins.
Gervins is 29-3 with 20 pins this season. He has been strictly at 132 pounds, and also placed first in tournaments at Green and Wellsville. He was named the Wellsville tournament MVP. Additionally, he was second in tournaments at Madison, Hudson and Garaway.
"Everything is going well," Gervins said. "I have had great tournaments against good competition. I'd say the level of competition right now is pushing me to be better for myself and for my teammates so I can make them better in our wrestling room."
Reed, who was named the City Series Wrestling Coach of the Year, said he was 2 years old in 1991 when North won its last league wrestling title.
North won the league title with 205 points, Garfield was second with 168 points, host Firestone took third with 122 points and Ellet was fourth with 95 points.
North's other individual champions were senior Karuna Rai (106), senior Sanjil Magar (120), sophomore Tao Tak Non (126), junior Dipesh Chuwan (138) and senior Moris Corbitt (285). Vikings who placed second were sophomore Avinash Mongar (113), junior Dev Bhujel (126), sophomore LaDanian Hughes (175) and junior Anne Ruble (215).
"They came out and they dominated," Reed said of his wrestlers. "... They wrestled really well, and a majority of our wins, I think all but three or four, were pins. I was extremely proud of their efforts. It was amazing to watch."
The other individual champions in the City Series were Garfield's Curtis Cooper (150), Pryce McGhee (157), James Thompson (175) and John Gill (190); Firestone's Ezra Manns (113) and Kenney Scott (144); Buchtel's Demetrion Duvall (165); and Ellet's Marcus Henderson (215). Duvall was named City Series Wrestler of the Tournament.
Michael Beaven can be reached at mbeaven@thebeaconjournal and is on Twitter at @MBeavenABJ.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Elijah Gervins guides City Series champion Akron North into postseason
