Kiski Area wrestling takes down defending champ Nazareth in PIAA quarterfinals

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, February 9, 2018 | 5:15 PM

HERSHEY — Kiski Area wrestling coach Chris Heater told his team this weekend's trip to the PIAA Class AAA team tournament wasn't a three-day vacation, it was a business trip.

The Cavaliers must be good listeners; they were all business against returning state champion Nazareth in the quarterfinals.

Kiski Area trounced Nazareth, 40-21, to send shockwaves through the Giant Center with how easy the Cavaliers made it look.

The Cavaliers (22-1) got wins from Sammy Starr (106) and Dom Giordano (113) to begin the match, and then a big win from Noah Levett at 138.

They also got pins from Jack Blumer (152), Nick Delp (170), Danny Starr (220) and Isaac Reid (285). Logan Pollick (182) won a major decision.

“We got bonus points and didn't give up many bonus points,” Heater said. “I feel bad for a kid like Jared Curcio. He doesn't get a win, but he wrestled his butt off and prevented bonus points. That's the type of effort we're getting from everyone.”

Kiski Area will wrestle in the semifinals at 8 p.m. against Seneca Valley (19-2), which defeated Spring-Ford, 36-26. The WPIAL third-place Raiders are enjoying the ride after getting back into the WPIAL tournament last week when Hempfield discovered it used an academically ineligible wrestler in a quarterfinal victory over Seneca Valley. The Raiders went on to lose in the WPIAL semifinals but bounced back to defeat Waynesburg in the consolation match.

Canon-McMillan (14-2) lost to Erie Cathedral Prep, 40-18, in the quarterfinals Friday. The Big Macs will face District 3 champion Cedar Cliff in the consolation bracket.

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

Tags: Canon-McMillan, Kiski School, Seneca Valley