As this year's tournament - which starts today at 2 p.m. and runs through Tuesday - begins the next 20 years, first-year Tornado coach Chad Long sees the chance not only to wrestle at home, but to get an idea of where his team needs to go in the weeks before the postseason.
"This will definitely tell us how far we've come to this point," said Columbian coach Chad Long, whose team welcomes 17 others to the event. "It'll be a chance to see how my coaching philosophy is working with the kids, and it'll tell us if we're getting better or worse and what kind of job we're doing as coaches.
"It's a very important meet for us. We'll see some tough competition, and we'll get a chance to see exactly where we're at."
Columbian and Upper Sandusky return to the meet, and Fostoria joins the 18-team field this season. Huntington (W. Va.), Toledo Whitmer, Toledo Central Catholic, Toledo St. Francis, Sylvania Southview, Margaretta, Elida, Lexington, Groveport Madison, Maysville and Miami Trace are back in Tiffin, and Franklin Heights, Springfield Greenon, Otsego and Collins Western Reserve are new to the competition.
"It's a tough job, because John leaves some very big shoes to fill," said Tournament Director Scott Will of former TC coach John Tomaszewski, who had directed the Wendy's since its inception. "We'll try to do it as close to how he did as we can, because he turned it into one of best tournaments around. We've got a great officiating crew and a great group of people helping make this happen.
"I think it's great for Columbian. The school has a great tradition in athletics, and in the last few years hosting playoff games and tournaments, I think Columbian's been put on the map by the class of its people and the ability to do things like this."
After starting the season at the St. Paris Graham Invitational, a number of Upper Sandusky's wrestlers were pinned by the flu bug. With many of his starters just returning to health, Rams coach Bill Thornton is just as curious as the next guy about what he's going to see on the mats from the orange and black the next two days.
"We were practicing the day before Christmas break, and I realized that it was the first time we'd had everybody healthy and back in quite a while," Thornton said. "The Graham Invite, the kids wrestled very well, and then the sickness set in, so it's tough for us right now to tell who's where they're supposed to be and who isn't.
"The Wendy's has always been a very good tournament. One of my starters is out with a knee injury, but everyone else is in the lineup, and they'll be competing against very good competition. It always kind of sets the tone for the rest of the year."
Columbian opened the season by placing third at the Ashland Crestview Invitational, followed by a loss to Mohawk and win over Upper Sandusky in a home tri and win on the road against Mansfield Madison. Mike Swartz (135) has a pair of pins in the three duals, as does Brandon Frankart (171). Two wins each in the duals have come from Matt Frankart (189), Chris Steinmetz (145), Dan Omlor (130), J.R. McDole (119) and Dayne Williams (140).
While the dual success has been nice, Long knows the Wendy's will be a much better indicator for his young team.
"I think this is by far a tougher tournament that the teams we've faced in the duals, and we've got a tough tournament next weekend in Norwalk, so we'll see how our kids adapt to that change in competition," Long said. "I think this will be a good tournament for the Frankart boys. They're the two toughest kids I have in the wrestling room right now, and it'll be exciting to see how well they step up to this level of competition.
"I think in the next two tournaments, we'll get a real good idea of where we stand right now in the NOL, and where we want to be by sectionals and districts. It's a chance to build up some confidence for us by competing against some strong teams."
