Most wrestlers refer to their practice facility as “the wrestling room” or sometimes just “the room.” Caleb Greenwood isn’t like most wrestlers. He calls the Beachwood practice facility “the lab” — because that’s where research and testing is done to achieve perfection. A year afte r winning the Division III state championship at 150 pounds, Greenwood has spent a lot of time both in “the lab” and in high-caliber wrestling tournaments so as to better his chances to win back-to-back state titles for the first time in program history since Ryan Harris and Sammy Gross achieved that plateau in 2013-14. Wrestling in this weekend’s Chagrin Valley Conference tournament at Hawken, Greenwood went 2-0 on Day 1 of the tournament with a pair of pins to improve his season record to 30-3 with 15 pins. “Life’s not much different (after winning a state title),” Greenwood said after decking his first CVC foe in 29 seconds. “I’m still in the lab working hard and pushing myself to be better. … I’m still hunting everyone down. Nothing has changed.” Well, something HAS changed this year from last year — Greenwood’s slate of opponents. In an effort to better his chances at winning another state title, Beachwood coach Jimmy Greenwood (Caleb’s father) ratcheted up the competition. For instance, when Greenwood won the state title last year, he did so by absorbing three total losses all year. Greenwood entered this weekend’s CVC tourney with three losses already. But two of those losses came at the toughest high school tournament in America — the Walsh Jesuit Ironman — and the other came at arguably the top holiday tournament in America — the Brecksville Holiday Tournament. Greenwood lost to Bruno Cassiopi of Hononegah, Ill., and Royce Lopez of Warren Township, Ill., at the Ironman. He then lost to Columbus DeSales’ Joel Welch at Brecksville. “Those losses showed me flaws and areas I can improve on,” he said. “I’ve been in the lab working on them so I don’t get any more losses.” Aside from taking losses at two high-caliber tournaments, Greenwood has won four other tourneys, including one in Perrysburg and one at his own school. All in the quest to get back to the top step of the podium March 15 in Columbus. He is the top-ranked Division III 165-pounder in Ohio per borofanohio.net, but he’s wrestling at 157 pounds in this weekend’s CVC tournament and will stay at that weight for the remainder of the season. “My priorities are the same,” Greenwood said. “I’m still trying to get better and improve. There’s never a time to slack. I feel that might put a little more pressure on me, but I’m going to keep doing me.” Heading into the second day of the CVC meet, Greenwood is on a collision course to meet Perry’s Chance Schlauch in the title bout. Schlauch was a fifth-place finisher at the state tournament last year and is fifth-ranked D-II 150-pounder in the state per borofanohio.net. Schlauch bumped up from 150 this weekend so as to better hone his skills in an anticipated match with Greenwood. Greenwood welcomes the challenge, as he has all season. “If you wrestle a not-so-tough schedule, it might look good on paper, but I want to see how I look against the best competition,” Greenwood said. “With this schedule, what I’ve learned is I can take anyone down. I have to stay on my offense. I’ve worked on my defense and getting out from the bottom. Those are two areas I needed to work on, and I think I’ve improved on them.” Greenwood said “it’s hard to believe” his four-year high school career is coming to an end. He’s had plenty of college looks so far, but said finishing off this season how he wants is the most important thing right now. That means another CVC title and a second straight state title. With that in mind, it’s time to get back to “the lab.” “I want to show everybody I have what it takes,” Greenwood said, “keep proving why I’m No. 1 and why I’m going to get another state title.” ...read more read less