ALLIANCE — Staring at the ceiling of Alliance’s gymnasium, West Geauga’s Danny Sizler had plenty of time to formulate a learning experience. Ankle-picked right off the opening whistle, West Geauga’s junior 144-pounder found himself ever too close to being pinned in his quarterfinal match against Huntington’s Jeff Hood. Somehow — miraculously? — Sizler avoided getting pinned, but still was staring at an 11-1 deficit after one period. “This,” Sizler thought to himself, “is why Coach brought us here. To see what we’re made of.” Turning the tables after nearly being pinned in the first period, Sizler pinned Hood 15 seconds into the second period. The win, which sent Coach Joe Joltin and the West Geauga faithful into a frenzy, put Sizler into the semifinal round Jan. 18, where he will face Minerva’s Jason Sivy. “I just stayed in it and never gave up,” Sizler said. “He caught me off-guard with the ankle pick. I didn’t see it coming. I just had to keep wrestling my match.” Chardon’s Alexander Ash puts the finishing touches on a technical fall win at the Top Gun tournament in Alliance on Jan. 17. (John Kampf – The News-Herald) The annual Top Gun Tournament is — in educational terms — an interim report kind of tournament. With exactly one month remaining before the OHSAA’s sectional tournaments begin Feb. 17, the Top Gun serves as a gauge to show wrestlers exactly where they are kind of like a midterm grade does before finals approach. What did Sizler learn? “That I can compete with all these other kids,” he said confidently. Sizler is one of 16 News-Herald coverage area wrestlers still alive for podium spots at the loaded Top Gun tourney. Five of that group remains in the championship bracket, meaning they are two wins from the top step of the podium. That group, aside from Sizler, consists of: • West Geauga’s Bryce Welker, who will face Brecksville’s Riley McPherson in a 215-pound semifinal. • Mayfield’s John Harris, who will face Harrison’s Grant Dallo in a 215-pound semifinal. • Chardon’s Dylan Kick, who will face Tallmadge’s Ian Bee in a 150-pound semifinal, and • Hawken’s Will Greenberg, who will face Minerva’s Hatcher Sabatin in a heavyweight semifinal. Seven of the 16 are from West Geauga. Still alive in the consolation bracket are Caiden Kaleal (120), Zander Joltin (126), Brian Denamen (165), Austin Wheatley (175) and Nasir Levy (190). Wolverines coach Joe Joltin said he entered his team at Top Gun to increase the team’s schedule strength and test the wrestlers. Day 1 in Alliance suggests the test is being passed. “It’s all about the kids seeing a deeper tournament with a lot of competition,” he said, “not just seeing a good kid in the finals. We need better competition where we’re seeing good kids in the quarterfinals, semifinals and all the way through. We’re seeing that here.” His son, Zander, won his 100th career match in a 5-4 consi match win over Massillon Perry’s Brandon Veno. And while Denamen lost his quarterfinal match, his previous match — an 11-8 sudden victory over Alliance’s Quinn Callock — came after rallying from a late deficit to force overtime. “Just never give up or doubt yourself,” Denamen said. “I think I’ve always had that mindset. Never doubt yourself or give up. A match is only eight minutes, usually only six. I can survive that long.” Hawken’s Greenberg is the top-seeded heavyweight in the tournament. The reigning Division II state runner-up, Greenberg said he spent the summer getting stronger and quicker. That speed showed up when Greenberg was trailing his quarterfinal, 2-0, only to turn it around with a speedy six-point move that paved the way for victory. “I know I belong here,” said Greenberg, who committed to Bucknell for college wrestling this offseason. “I’m the top seed for a reason. I’m looking to build off that and prove why I’m the No. 1 seed.” Aside from Kick in the 150 semis, Chardon has Caden Foley (144), Alexander Ash (157) and Logan Webster (215) in the consolation bracket. Coming off a second straight All-Ohio season in football, Ash said he is bent on “leaving it all on the mat” in his final season with the Hilltoppers. “I’m just trying to improve every single match,” Ash said. “This is my last year to show everything I’ve got. My goal is to make it to the podium in Columbus. I’m going to give it all it takes.” Others still alive in the consolation bracket are Mayfield’s Asibek Anvarov (120), Riverside’s Alex Weiss (190) and University’s Doyle Grosz (132).