With the state dual wrestling tournament on the near horizon, many teams have started scouting their matchups for next weekend’s bouts. The Perry and West Geauga squads didn’t have to look very far for their scouting reports. Since both programs wrestled in this weekend’s Chagrin Valley Conference tournament, their scouting reports were one or two mats away — if not staring them in the eye in the circle at Berkshire on Jan. 25. With 322.5 points and seven individual champions, Perry won the overall CVC title as well as the Valley Division championship. With 240 points and three individual champions, West Geauga finished second overall while taking home the Chagrin Division crown. The Pirates and Wolverines will face each other next Saturday, Feb. 1, in the Division II state duals’ regional tournament at Perry. Perry enters as the second seed, while West Geauga is the No. 7 seed. The winner will move on to face the winner of second-seeded Benedictine and sixth-seeded Padua to advance to the following weekend’s state championships. Because of the CVC tournament, Perry and West Geauga know how they square up against each other in a tournament setting. How they match up in a head-to-head dual remains to be seen. “We’re really excited,” Perry coach Dan Trentanelli said. “We were hoping we’d get to host the first round. We’ve gotten to see West Geauga at the CVC, and I know they looked pretty good in Alliance. It’ll be a good test for us. They’re up and coming. It’ll be cool to face those guys.” Perry finished fourth in the D-III state duals. This year the Pirates are back up to D-II and — if the CVC tournament is any indication — appear to be loaded for a return trip with most of its roster returning from last year (except for longtime coach Dave Rowan, who retired at season’s end). But West Geauga is ready for its shot, too. Chance Schlauch of Perry works from the top position against West Geauga’s Quentin Artino at the CVC wrestling tournament at Berkshire on Jan. 25. (Steve Hare – For The News-Herald) “The CVC was our first time seeing Perry all year,” Coach Joe Joltin said. “We were looking for a little bit of a preview this weekend. They are a very, very well-coached team. A very deep team with guys at every weight. … Everyone in the CVC is kind of chasing Perry. That’s our goal — to be at our best when we face them and see how we stack up.” Wrestlers from Perry and West Geauga faced off head-to-head in three weight classes at the CVC tournament, including: • At 126, where West Geauga’s Zander Joltin hung a 16-2 major decision on Perry’s Logan Rusnak; • At 144, where Perry’s Chris Bezzeg major-decisioned West Geauga’s Danny Sizler, 10-0. • At 175, where Perry’s Antonius Bertone major-decisioned West Geauga’s Austin Wheatley, 13-4. But three matches does not a dual make. Plenty of other Pirates and Wolverines had top-four finishes at the CVC tournament. Aside from head-to-head wins by Bezzeg and Bertone, Perry’s Jimmy Trentanelli (106) and his brother Anthony (132) each won conference titles by pin, with Lucas Spring (138) winning by decision and and Chris Bezzeg (144) winning by major decision. Drew Smith won by pin at 150 as well. Aside from Joltin’s title at 126, the Wolverines got championships from Brian Denamen (165) and Bryce Welker (215). Both teams had placers up and down the bracket, which should make for an exciting dual next weekend. “I don’t want my kids going out and thinking about what other kids are going to do,” Joltin said. “I want them to think, ‘How am I going to hit MY moves? How am I going to push MY pace? … It’s good to get eyes on Perry this week and see how we stack up against them and what we need to work on and strive for.” The Pirates are ready for the challenge, too. “Every year we sit down and set goals and is one of the first — to win the state duals,” Trentanelli said. Trinity finished third with 154 points and Madison fourth with 132. CVC Tournament at Berkshire Final round 106 pounds First: J. Trentanelli, Perry, pinned Ulatowski, Berk, :16; Third: Mikowski, Beach, dec. Aranda, Harv, 7-5. 113 pounds First: Williams, Trinity, pinned Wrobel, Crest, 5:47; Third: Meyer, Ind, dec. Williams, Gen, 1-0. 120 pounds First: Pearson, Trinity, dec. Kaleal, WestG, 7-5; Third: McCullough, Mad, dec. Schlauch, Perry, 4-2. 126 pounds First: Joltin, WestG, maj. dec. Rusnak, Perry, 16-2; Third: Davenport, Trinity, dec. Zellmer, Fairview, 8-6. 132 pounds First: A. Trentanelli, Perry, pinned Lewis, Jeff, 1:41; Third: Kucia, CHeights, dec. Meyer, Ind, 9-2. 138 pounds First: Spring, Perry, dec. Fourtounis, Ind, 7-2; Third: Peterson, Edge, dec. Paradise, West G, 4-3. 144 pounds First: Bezzeg, Perry, maj. dec. Sizler, West G, 10-0; Third: Clark, Fair, dec. Sayah, Orange, 3-2. 150 pounds First: Greenwood, Beach, maj. dec. Schlauch, Perry, 16-8; Third: Coup, Lake, dec. Artino, West G, 8-1. 157 pounds First: Smith, Perry, pinned Berquist, Crest, 3:13; Third: Ochoa, Edge, dec. Burlingham, Gen, 8-3. 165 pounds First: Denamen, West G, pinned Shinault, Lake, 3:25; Third: Palmisano, Gen, dec, Thomas, LWest, 4-3. 175 pounds First: Bertone, Perry, maj. dec. Wheatley, West G, 13-4; Third: Siler, Mad, tech. fall Garling, Berk, 22-6. 190 pounds First: Carter, Trinity, pinned Levy, West G, 5:35; Third: Thomas, Perry, pinned Webster, Jeff, 2:27. 215 pounds First: Welker, West G, dec. White, Mad, 4-3; Third: Leben, Perry, pinned Sublett, Harv, 1:12. 285 pounds First: Greenberg, Hawk, pinned Thomas, Orange, :47; Third: Mullins, Mad, dec. Taylor, Perry, 2-0.