ALLIANCE — It’s a good thing the Mentor wrestling team took a bus to the Top Gun tournament this weekend. If the Cardinals’ wrestlers had to drive themselves to Alliance this weekend — well — let’s just say Coach Ray LaManna wouldn’t have many guys in singlets. That’s because eight o f the 14 wrestlers Mentor has competing at Top Gun this weekend are freshmen and sophomores and aren’t yet old enough to own a driver’s license. For more than a dozen years, LaManna has been the head coach of Mentor’s team. It is by far the youngest team he has ever put on the mat for a high-caliber tournament like Top Gun. But it’s also one of the highest-ceiling teams. “There are a couple of tournaments you’re obviously going to stay away from when you’ve got a young team like this,” LaManna said. “I know this is a tough tournament and is probably the toughest one on our schedule this year. But we’re hanging in there. I’m not putting anything past our kids — they’re really getting after it.” Impressive seeing that four of his starters — JJ Hoynes (106 pounds), Mason Noga (113), Isaac Opatrny (126) and Corbin Bissett (157) — were wrestling an eighth-grade schedule a year ago, while four others — Frankie Noga (120), A.J. Childs (138), Jalen Johnson (175) and Eli Tandler (285) — are only two years removed from that level. But anyone looking past the Cardinal contingent based on their birth certificates does so at their own peril. “Everyone being so young means in experience in high school tournaments,” Hoynes said, “but it brings us all together because we can work through this together. We’re learning together at the same pace.” Since many (if not most) of the lower weights are in weight classes in close proximity with one another, drilling in the practice room literally means they’re working through things together. Hoynes, Mason Noga and Opatrny are also veterans of the junior high state tournament, so big-stage tournaments aren’t foreign to them. Which is both a blessing and a curse, LaManna said. “There’s a desire to win,” he said. “The negative some of the time is the desire to rely too much on what they did in junior high. A lot of things work then because of the level you’re at. Once we get past that, it’s going to be a big jump.” Results on Day 1 of the Top Gun tournament were mixed for the young Cardinals. Most of the young Cards got at least one win on the first day of the tournament, but only Hoynes remains in contention out of all the youngsters. He and junior Colten Pollock (144) are still alive in the consolation bracket and can place as high as third. The rest gained valuable experience in a rugged tournament that is topped off on the leaderboard by Clovis North and Brecksville. “You have go to out there believing you’re going to win and try your best to do that,” Tandler said after pinning his first foe in the consolation bracket. “All of us are giving everything we have.” LaManna said he’s seen so much growth from his young team — led by senior captain Santino Stark and junior captain Colten Pollock — that the rest of the 2025-26 season has a brighter future than he or many might have thought at season’s start. And it’s only going to get better down the road. “I think the future is really bright,” Tandler said. “We have amazing wrestlers, especially in the freshman class. Next year and my senior year, we’re going to have a really good team.” Heading into the second day of action, the News-Herald coverage area has six wrestlers in the semifinal round — Mayfield’s Ansilbek Anvarov (120) and John Harris (215), Kenston’s brotherly tandem of Carter (126) and Brady (144) Baran, West Geauga’s Brian Denamen (165) and Riverside’s Ben Hanzey (157). Kenston’s evening round was impressive beyond the Barans. JJ Strano (120) and Teo Triscaro (120) also won consolation matches. All four Bombers beat state-ranked foes. “That’s probably the best round we’ve had in a long time,” Kenston coach Ricky Deubel said. Anvarov said his appearance in the semifinal round of the tournament is a product of hard work and motivation. He won his quarterfinal, 19-10. “It feels good,” Anvarov said. “Everybody always doubts me. Last year was not my best year as a freshman. I went to districts but had a hard road. I think I’m better now.” Aside from the six wrestlers in the quarterfinals, 13 others are in the consolation bracket. Among them are four West Geauga wrestlers — Caden Kaleal (120), Zander Joltin (138), Danny Sizler (144) and Maveric Milnar (285). Those four, plus Denamen in the championship bracket, have West G in ninth as a team after one day. University’s Doyle Grosz won his consolation quarterfinal as well, which gave him his 100th career victory. Mayfield has Jordan Fragoso (138) and Chayce Roberts (144) in the consi bracket. Luke Vucetic (144) of Chardon and Kamauri Jordan (120) of Riverside are also still alive for podium spots. Action on Jan. 17 begins at 9 a.m., with the girls tournament and 9:30 with the rest of the boys tournament. Finals are tentatively set for 3 p.m. Alliance Top Gun Team standings (top 10): Clovis North 167.5, Brecksville, 133, Harrison 125, Olentangy Berlin 112.5, Claymont 102, Austintown-Fitch 99, Ripley 89.5, Tuslaw 82, West Geauga 80, Cincinnati LaSalle 77 Semifinal pairings 120: Ansilbek Anvarov, Mayfield, vs. Carmello Kolb, Hudson WRA; 126: Carter Baran, Kenston, vs. A.J. Bergeron, Granville; 144, Brady Baran, Kenston, vs. Chris Arreola, Clovis North; 157, Ben Hainzey, Riverside, vs. Logan Haer, Tuslaw; 165, Brian Denamen, West G, vs. Chase Cone, Olentangy Berlin; 215, John Harris, Mayfield, vs. Guhner Eberhardt, Tuslaw ...read more read less