Alumni Night Special – St. Edward vs. St. Ignatius

Eagles celebrate 25 state titles with 64-4 win over rivals

Bob Tuneberg; The Villager Paper & www.buckeyewrestling.com

The T-Shirts said it all…..

“Tradition – 25 Team State Titles” on the front.

“89 and Counting” on the back.

The messages celebrated Alumni Night as the St. Edward High wrestling team tackled St. Ignatius in the classic west side rivalry at the Ed’s gym Thursday, Dec. 17.

Yes, St. Edward High has crowned 89 individual state champs to go along with its 25 team titles over the years.

Head Coach Greg Urbas welcomed back dozens of the celebrated alums who gathered in the packed-out gym to watch the ’09-‘10 Eagles wallop an undermanned and injury plagued Ignatius squad, 64-4.

Before each match, the P.A. announcer introduced each wrestler with the name of corresponding great from Ed’s celebrated history.

And many of those greats were in attendance for the meet, including current Ohio State University senior starter and three-time All-America Lance Palmer and brother Colin. Both were four time state champs for Ed’s.

Fittingly, a CYO meet served as the opening act, showing that the Ed’s tradition has no plans to slow down. It all served as good news for Urbas, who is pleased with the progress of this season’s underclassmen like Alex Moore and Ty Walz, who earned pins, and fellow sophomore Mark Martin (112) who scored a tech fall. It is a solid line up behind seniors Anthony Salupo (145), Ironman champ Nick Sulzer (160), and Chris Cvetic (189). Ignatius, however, was without defending state champ Dave Habat (skin infection), Ryan Hoyt and Jerome Robinson.

The Ed’s concession stand sold out of the special commemorative T-shirts fast, and the night was one of celebration for the legendary program. Where else would you find a class reunion of state champs spanning decades as they exchanged handshakes and holiday greetings? “This is something,” said Urbas before the meet. “But we still have Wadsworth down the road.”

View the Photo Gallery From the St Edward vs. St Ignatius Dual

View the Photo Gallery From the St Edward vs. St Ignatius Dual