Derry wrestling defeated at PIAAs

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 9, 2018 | 8:45 PM

HERSHEY — Derry coach Mike Weinell couldn't believe what he was watching Friday at the PIAA wrestling championships.

As he sat in his chair, he put his hands on top of his head and shook it in disbelief as he watched his team battle Huntingdon at Giant Center.

It was about the time when junior Dom DeLuca, ranked No. 1 in Class AA in the state, got pinned by Huntingdon's Landon Fisher.

Derry (21-4) was eliminated from the tournament, falling short to District 6 runner-up Huntingdon, 36-30.

It was a match Derry should have won despite falling behind 30-0 early.

“We didn't come out ready to wrestle,” Weinell said. “We didn't have a proper warm-up, and it showed. It wasn't a good starting point for us.”

Derry lost two close matches to begin that bout, and after DeLuca got pinned, the Trojans had dug a deep hole.

Pins by Colton McCallen (106 pounds), Ty Cymmerman (120) and Shawn Broadway (126) helped close the gap to 30-18, but Izac Benson's win at 132 gave Huntingdon a 36-21 lead. When Onreey Stewart (138) and Dom Jellison (145) were unable to pickup bonus points, the Trojans comeback ended.

Weinell let his team know he was not happy with the effort after a good one Thursday against Chestnut Ridge.

It was Derry's first trip to Hershey as a team.

“I told them they should have won the match because they were the better team,” Weinell said. “The lower weights did a good job getting us back in the match.

“The close losses and Dom's pin were the difference. Dom is wrestling with a sore shoulder, and he should be prepared for tough matches like this.”

Even though the 160- and 170-pounders lost, Weinell said they did their job because they didn't give up bonus points.

And Weinell wants his team to build on the experience of wrestling in Hershey.

“We have a lot of juniors,” he said. “We'll have to replace a lot of wins from Shawn, but we're capable of coming back. Our goal was to win a match, and we didn't.

“But I want this to be an annual trip. I want them to feel they belong here. We're a good team, (but) if we don't wrestle offensively and don't come prepared, it won't make a difference. Hopefully they learned their lesson.”

WPIAL champion Burrell (13-6) still can attain its goal, a top-four finish, after rebounding from Thursday's loss to Muncy.

Burrell defeated District 1 champion Faith Christian Academy, 54-15, and then avenged a Jan. 20 loss to Brookville by rallying for a 29-27 victory. Brookville won the first meeting 39-23.

Austin Mele's win in the final bout sealed the win. The Bucs rallied from a 21-0 deficit.

“There are too many guys to mention who came through,” Burrell coach Josh Shields said. “I told them it was the best match I've seen them wrestle. We need to continue to wrestle that way if we want to reach our goals.”

Kiski Area hammered returning PIAA champion Nazareth, 40-21, in the quarterfinals and defeated upstart Seneca Valley, 42-26, in the semifinals.

The Cavaliers (23-1) dominated. Jack Blumer (145), Nick Delp (160), Danny Starr (220) and Isaac Reid (285) had pins against Nazareth.

Seneca Valley advanced to the semifinals by defeating District 1 runner-up Spring Ford, 36-26. Canon-McMillan, the WPIAL runner-up, couldn't hold an early lead and lost to District 10 champion Erie Cathedral Prep, 40-18.

Canon-McMillan defeated District 3 champion Cedar Cliff, 59-9, in the consolations.

Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.