CUYAHOGA FALLS — Canfield’s Georgio Poullas became the first Mahoning Valley wrestler in history to win the prestigioius Walsh Ironman Wrestling Tournament at Walsh Jesuit High School.

Poullas, a Division II state champion in 2015, beat Andrew Merola of Blair Academy (N.J.), 7-4, in the finals of a tournament that’s widely regarded as the toughest in the country. Poullas, ranked as high as 16th in the country, won the 160-pound weight class by beating the 12th-ranked Merola.

Poullas, who also beat the 10th-ranked Luke Troy (Martin Luther King, Cali.) and 20th-ranked Eric Byelick (Lake Highland Prep, Fla.), was the only local wrestler to place. Teammate Mason Giordano came up one match short, losing in the quarterfinal round.