CHS Chopek wins thriller over Michigan champion

By Randy Lefko

Posted 6/27/18

KISSIMMEE – Among the elite wrestlers of Florida, Clay High’s state runner-up Steve Chopek has piled up a handful of day one and day two wins at the AAU Scholastic Duals National High School …

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CHS Chopek wins thriller over Michigan champion

Staff photo by Randy Lefko Clay High wrestler Steve Chopek, on top, pictured here in 2018 season action for Blue Devils is lending his Class 1A runner-up talent to the Spec Ops team at the Disney Duals in the All Stars division. At press time, Chopek had just one loss in eight matches with two more possible matches with Spec Op team in championship quarterfinals on Tues., June 26.

Posted Wednesday, June 27, 2018 12:00 pm

By Randy Lefko

KISSIMMEE – Among the elite wrestlers of Florida, Clay High’s state runner-up Steve Chopek has piled up a handful of day one and day two wins at the AAU Scholastic Duals National High School Wrestling Championships held June 23-28 in Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports.

Chopek, second in Class 1A for Clay at 120 pounds, is now wrestling with the Spec Ops team that is chockful of state title holders and medalists including Tampa Prep’s Anthony Artolona (1A state champ 152) and Ben Buhler (1A state champ 113)and Tallahassee Lincoln’s Justin Grant (third in 2A, 170).

In day two action on Monday, Chopek won by pin over South Dakota Blue’s Dane Christopher; then won a major decision 9-1 over Jared Kuhns of Contender Elite Legend of Pennsylvania in round two action. Spec Ops won both matches decisively; 69-9 and 41-17.

In day one action on Sunday, Chopek won his first match 7-3 over Iowa Black’s Caleb Fuessley, in a 36-25 win for Spec Ops. Match two was a 68-3 blowout of Roughhouse Boys of Tennessee with Chopek winning by pin.

Spec Ops got a loss to Michigan Blue Pittbulls, 24-22 with Chopek winning a tough 8-7 match over Derek Giallombardo, a Michigan state champion at 125 pounds with a 55-3 high school season record.

In their final match, a 37-22 win over US Wrestling Academy of Missouri, Chopek lost a 4-3 match to Jack Lenox, a Missouri state qualifier with a 53-8 season record.