Marinilli, Leskiv lead CHS wrestlers at D2 sectionals

Returning to the postseason stage after a one-year injury absence, CHS wrestling sensation Eddie Marinilli put himself firmly back on the radar as one of the state’s top contenders with an electric performance at last weekend’s Division 2 central sectionals.

Sophomore Yurii Leskiv took 3rd at 106 pounds. (Kylee Sheehan photo)

Competing in the 152-pound class, the Canton senior certainly proved himself worthy of the No. 1 seed as he tore through the bracket to claim his second career sectional title.

“In a word, dominant,” said head coach Brian Caffelle when asked to sum up Marinilli’s performance on Saturday.

All told, Marinilli needed just 4:39 of mat time to dispatch his four opponents, winning all four matches by pinfall. The only one to make it out of the first period was his finals opponent, No. 2 seeded Donald Muho of Walpole, who ultimately succumbed at the 2:35 mark.

“Not to take anything away from his opponents, but I just think he’s on a completely different level,” Caffelle said of Marinilli, a former All-State champion. “He just goes out there and it’s almost like he does what he wants. He wants the leg, he’s going to take the leg. He wants to turn you, he’s going to turn you.”

At the same time, Caffelle said Marinilli does not take anything for granted and is “all business” out on the mat. And after missing the entire 2019 postseason with an injury, he is more motivated than ever to finish on top in his final high school season.

“If Eddie doesn’t get injured last year, you can’t convince me that he doesn’t three-peat at sectionals for the first time in school history,” noted Caffelle. “But we have even bigger goals than just winning sectionals, and at this point in the year he’s locked in and ready to make a big run.”

Next up for Marinilli is the Division 2 state tournament, which he also won as a sophomore at 138 pounds. The action gets underway Friday morning at Milton High School, with the top six place-winners moving on to the All-State tournament next weekend.

Also joining Marinilli at states will be CHS sophomore Yurii Leskiv, who took third in the 106-pound division at sectionals.

Leskiv, one of the Bulldogs’ rising stars, showed remarkable resilience as he overcame an opening round pin by eventual champion Isaac Paulino to win his final three matches of the tournament.

“Next to winning the tournament, that’s the hardest thing to do in wrestling — to take third the way that he did,” said Caffelle. “He draws arguably one of the top wrestlers in the state at 106 in his very first postseason match and there’s no wiggle room after that. I think it says a lot about his character and what kind of mindset he has to be able to win out after that.”

Aside from Marinilli and Leskiv, the Bulldogs had one other place-winner in sophomore Luke Jones, who scored a win in the consolation bracket and finished sixth at 132 pounds.

Beginning the season as a backup, Jones stepped into the starter’s role after captain Jack Turano went down with a season-ending injury and made the most of the opportunity, impressing the coaching staff with his work ethic and fearlessness. He even faced an opponent at sectionals that had beaten Turano and “went right after him,” according to Caffelle.

“A lot of wrestlers in that situation would get spooked,” he said, “but Luke was putting points on the board and was in it right until the end before losing 10-6.”

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of the tournament for Canton was the lack of healthy bodies, as the Bulldogs did not have a competitor in four of the 14 weight classes. Among the missing were sophomore standout Zach Peters, a sectional finalist in 2019, and senior Jobi Michel, who had really started to come on in recent weeks.

“There were a number of guys that would have been a hard out if they were healthy,” lamented Caffelle. “While I don’t think we were in contention for a team title this year, we certainly would have been in the top half of the standings as opposed to the bottom half if we had all of our guys available. But it was not for a lack of effort as the guys who did compete gave a valiant effort.”

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Posted by Jay Turner on Feb 20 2020. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.