Takedown Report

Dave Mariola Jr. steps down at Barberton to take over wrestling program at Walsh Jesuit

Dave Mariola Jr. will step down as Barberton wrestling coach after 20 seasons to take over the wrestling program at Walsh Jesuit. Mariola has 31 years of coaching experience. He is in his 28th year as a physical education and health teacher, and will remain a teacher at Barberton.

Previous Walsh coach Tom Milkovich will be on Mariola’s staff along with Louden Gordon, Louie Iacoboni and Larry Vance. Milkovich was a three-time high school Ohio state champion at Maple Heights, a four-time Big Ten champion at Michigan State with an undefeated record in conference matches, an NCAA champion and a veteran coach. “I am extremely proud and honored to be able to take the reins of this program and feel very blessed to have a staff including Tom Milkovich,” Mariola said. “Tom has been a longtime mentor and fried of mine in the sport of wrestling and it will be great to sit in the coaching chair next to him. Additionally, with Louden, Louie and Larry, who were all high school Ohio state champions and have many years of experience coaching wrestling, we feel that we will have one of the best high school wrestling staffs.”

Mariola won a Division II state title at 155 pounds during his senior year in 1983 at Bedford St. Peter Chanel High School, and proceeded to wrestle on scholarship at Michigan State before graduating in 1989. He received All-American honors as a redshirt sophomore in 1986 when he placed fifth at 177 pounds in the Division I national tournament. Mariola taught at Nordonia from 1994-1999 and was the Knights wrestling coach. He has an overall dual meet record of 302-129-2 (48-16-2 at Nordonia and 254-113-0 at Barberton). “When Dave Mariola arrived at BHS, he had seven wrestlers in the high school program and leaves the program with over 30 high school wrestlers, a strong middle school team and an organized and competitive youth program,” Barberton Athletic Director John Sabol said. “He has taken the Rest of the story in the Akron Beacon Journal at https://www.ohio.com/sports/20190331/high-school-notebook-dave-mariola-jr-steps-down-at-barberton-to-take-over-wrestling-program-at-walsh-jesuit?mc_cid=79c4ac01bf&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b

April 5, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized