7 WPIAL wrestlers advance to PIAA Class AA semifinals
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Friday, March 6, 2020 | 2:03 PM
Frazier’s Thayne Lawrence wrestles against Gavin Garcia of Southern Columbia in the 160 pound quarterfinal bout in class AA in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Burrell’s Ian Oswalt wrestles Adam Jacob of East Pennsboro in the 132 pound quarterfinal bout in class AA in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Derry’s Ty Cymmerman wrestles under David Evans of Tunkhannock in the 126 pound quarterfinal bout in class AA in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
McGuffey’s Nate Yagle wrestles Luke Fegley of Middletown in the 132 pound bout in class AA in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Frazier’s Thayne Lawrence wrestles against Gavin Garcia of Southern Columbia in the 160 pound quarterfinal bout in class AA in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Freedom’s Kenny Duschek wrestles in 138 pound bout against Hughesville’s Luke Gorg in class AA in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Shane Kemper of Burgettstown wrestles Bryce Enders of Halifax in the 152 pound bout in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Burrell’s Ricky Feroce wrestles Dane Csencsits of Saucon Valley in the 182 pound quarterfinal bout in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Ellwood City’s Austin Walley wrestles Line Mountain’s Jacob Feese in the 182 pound quarterfinal bout in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Freedom’s Trent Schultheis wrestles Kane’s Teddy Race in the 170 pound quarterfinal bout in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Connor Brown of Littlestown struggles underneath South Park’s Joey Fischer in the 113 pound quarterfinal bout in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Burrell’s A.J Corrado howls in pain in the moment he lands on the mat twisting his leg against Palisades’ Ben Haubert in the 152 quarterfinal bout in the PIAA state wrestling championship on Friday, March 6, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
HERSHEY — Friday has gone a lot better for WPIAL Class AA wrestlers at the PIAA individual championships at the Giant Center.
But can the evening session make it a great day for the WPIAL.
Seven wrestlers advanced to the semifinals, which will begin at 7:15 p.m.
The group includes Burrell juniors Ian Oswalt (132 pounds) and AJ Corrado (152). Both pulled out one-point victories in the quarterfinals Friday morning. Oswalt defeated East Pennsboro senior Adam Jacob, 2-1, and Corrado overcame a twisted knee to nip Palisades junior Ben Haubert, 3-2.
Oswalt (44-6) will face the second seed at 132, Brockway senior Anthony Glasi (37-1), in the semifinals, while Corrado (44-7) battles Penns Valley junior Malachi DuVall (36-5). Corrado edged DuVall, 3-2, in the PIAA Southwest Regional on Feb. 22. Corrado used a first-period takedown to secure the win.
“I was disappointed that I got called for stalling,” Oswalt said. “The kid laid there and I was doing all the work. But a win is a win.”
Also advancing to the semifinals were South Park junior Joey Fischer (113), Elizabeth Forward senior Ryan Michaels (120), Frazier senior Thayne Lawrence (160), Freedom junior Trent Schultheis (170) and Ellwood City senior Austin Walley (182).
Fischer (43-2) rolled to a 14-3 win against Littlestown junior Connor Brown. He’ll face Brookville sophomore Owen Reinsel (36-5).
Michaels (33-3) pinned Reynolds senior Cole Bayless for the second consecutive year at the state tournament. After giving up an early takedown, Michaels rallied and took command of the match.
“I came out a little slow, giving up the first takedown,” Michaels said. “Then I took control and took him down a couple times. I was able to finish him off with a pin.”
Lawrence, who is looking to become a three-time champion, gave up the first takedown, but rallied to defeat Southern Columbia sophomore Gavin Garcia. A takedown and nearfall points were taken away from Lawrence early in the first period.
It was the first takedown Lawrence (23-0) allowed in more than a month.
He’ll face Commodore Perry junior Gage Musser (35-2).
Schultheis (38-4) squeezed past Kane senior Teddy Race, 4-2. He’ll face the top seed, Saucon Valley senior Matt Arciuolo (43-1).
Walley (43-1) defeated Line Mountain senior Jacob Feese, 5-2. He’ll face Penns Valley senior Andrew Sharer (22-3).
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Burrell, Elizabeth Forward, Ellwood City, Frazier, Freedom, South Park
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