PIAA Class AA Individual Wrestling Championship Results and Recaps

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, March 9, 2013 | 11:10 PM

Three WPIAL wrestlers captured gold medals at the PIAA Class AA Individual Wrestling Championships at the GIANT Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon. As expected, Kittanning’s Jason Nolf and Burrell’s Dakota DesLauriers won four straight matches over the three days of competition to capture their respective weight class crowns. But it was Derry’s George Phillipi’s championship performance that turned out to be the pleasant surprise for District 7.

Nolf defeated Keystone Oaks’ Nick Zanetta, 4-2, in the 132-pound championship final. It was the third week in a row that Nolf defeated Zanetta, a senior Pitt recruit, winning 3-0 at the WPIAL Class AA Championships two weeks ago and 8-6 at the PIAA Southwest Regional in Johnstown last Saturday. Zanetta took the lead in the championship match on the strength of an early first period takedown, but the Kittanning junior escaped and scored a late takedown of his own to lead 3-2 heading into the second period. Nolf then scored a quick escape and rode out Zanetta the entire third period for the two point win.

Nolf is now a two-time state champion, having also won the 103-pound title in 2011 as a freshman. He also finished in third place last season at 113 pounds. He now boasts an incredible 132-1 career mark. Nolf finishes this season as an undefeated state champion (45-0), as he also did his freshman year. Ironically, this is the second year in a row that Zanetta has lost to a fellow WPIAL opponent three weeks in a row at the end of the season. Last season Zanetta’s nemesis was Derry’s Jimmy Gulibon, a four time state champion now wrestling at Penn State. The only other Kittanning wrestler to win a state gold medal was Chamie Hooks in 1995.

DesLauriers successfully completed his four year ascent up the podium ladder with a 3-1 win over Troy Hembury, a senior from Muncy and a Columbia recruit, in the 182 pound title bout. Following a scoreless first period, the wrestlers traded escapes in the second and third periods. With the score tied 1-1 late in the third period, the match appeared headed for a sudden victory overtime period. But DesLauriers struck, scoring the bout’s only takedown, a spin behind with just 12 seconds remaining in regulation time.

DesLauriers finished in seventh and third place at 171 pounds his first two seasons. Last year he had to settle for a runner-up finish at 182 pounds. The Bucs’ senior finished his season a perfect 36-0. His career record is 152-14. DesLauriers, a Mercyhurst recruit, is Burrell’s fifth wrestler to win a state championship. Other Bucs to stand on top of the podium are Joel DesLauriers (1997, Dakota’s uncle), Joe Makara (2002, 2003), Travis McKillop (2011), and Jordan Shields (2007).

Phillipi completed his phenomenal freshman season with a 1-0 decision over South Fayette senior Seth Carr in the 113-pound championship final. Phillipi scored an escape to start the second period and rode out Carr the entire third period for the victory. Phillipi also defeated Carr by an identical 1-0 score in the 113-pound final at the WPIAL Championships two weeks ago. Phillipi (42-4) is the fourth Derry wrestler to win a state championship. In addition to Gulibon’s four year run from 2009-12, Mike May (1999), and Troy Dolan (2005 and 2006) were also past gold medalists for the Trojans.

Chartiers-Houston’s Garrett Vulcano, the WPIAL and Southwest Regional champion, came up short in his bid to win a 195-pound state championship. Vulcano (45-3) ran into a buzz-saw, Milton senior Ryan Solomon, a Pitt recruit and a defending state champion at 215 pounds last year. The four-time medalist scored a 7-0 win over the Bucs’ senior and also finished his season undefeated at 40-0. Vulcano finishes his wrestling career as Chartiers-Houston’s career win leader with a 154-38 record.

Jefferson-Morgan senior Dustin Conti defeated Mike Fetchet, also a senior from South Fayette, for the third straight weekend by a single point. Fetchet was called for stalling for the second time with just six seconds remaining in the bout, giving Conti a penalty point and a 2-1 win. Conti, a Clarion recruit, had previously defeated Fetchet, 4-3, at the Southwest Regional and also at the WPIAL Championships, 7-6. Both of those wins were in the second tie-breaker overtime. Both wrestlers improved on fifth place finishes last season at Hershey, Conti at 170 pounds and Fetchet at 160.

WPIAL wrestlers finishing in fourth place were Nate Reckner, South Side (120), John Demaske, Jefferson-Morgan (126), Phil Marra, Burrell (145), and Jake Temple, Avella (220).

In another all-WPIAL match-up, this one for fifth place at 138 pounds, Nick Gavazzi, a senior from Charleroi, scored a dominating 8-0 win over Burrell’s Steve Edwards, avenging a 3-1 win by Edwards last Saturday in Johnstown. Southmoreland sophomore Austin Griffiths also finished fifth at 106 pounds by edging Tristan Law of Forest Hills, 1-0. Griffiths finished in third place at 106 pounds last season at the state tournament.

WPIAL wrestlers with sixth place finishes were Boe Bonzo, Freedom, senior (152), Terrell Fields, Valley, junior (182), Zac Croyle, Kittanning, senior (195), and Cody Jacobs, West Greene, senior (220).

Jared Walker, a two-time WPIAL champion and a sophomore from South Fayette recorded an escape with just 35 seconds remaining in regulation time to tie his 160-pound seventh place match at 1-1 with Cole Shirey of Redbank Valley. Walker then took just 10 seconds to take down and pin Shirey in the sudden victory overtime period.

The other two WPIAL wrestlers to make the podium in eight place and finish as All-State athletes were Jake Rothka, a 113-pound junior from Bentworth, and Jake Wentzel, South Park, freshman (132).

In all, seven Class AA wrestlers finished as undefeated state champions on Saturday. Other undefeated gold medalists joining Nolf, DesLauriers, and Solomon were Zain Retherford, Benton, senior (138), Michael Racciato, Pen Argyl, senior (145), Cody Law, Forest Hills, senior (160, Penn State recruit), Pete Renda, Brandywine Heights, senior (170, North Carolina State recruit). Racciato, a Pitt recruit, earned his third state title, while Retherford, a Penn State recruit, is a two time champion. Bethlehem Catholic senior Darian Cruz (120) also won his second state title. Cruz will wrestle for Lehigh next season.

Ryan Diehl, Trinity (District 3) won his second Pennsylvania state title at 126 pounds with a pin off of a headlock just 46 seconds into the first period over Bethlehem Catholic’s Zeke Moisey. Diehl is the only wrestler to defeat Nolf during his high school career in the 113-pound semifinals at Hershey last season. Diehl, a senior Maryland recruit, also won two West Virginia state titles as a freshman and sophomore.

Wrestlers joining Phillipi as first time state champions were Devin Brown, Saegertown (106), Austin Matthews, Reynolds (152, Clarion recruit), Ray O’Donnell, Saucon Valley (220), and Sam Breese, Lakeview (285).

Bethlehem Catholic won the team competition for the second straight season with 94.5 points. Benton finished second with 70 points, while Saegertown was third with 46. The top WPIAL team was Burrell. The Bucs tied for fourth place with District 3’s Trinity with 44.5 points. South Fayette finished in eighth place with 39 points.

First Place Championships

106  Devin Brown, Saegertown pinned Luke Karam, Bethlehem Catholic, 6:12 SV
113  George Phillippi, Derry Area dec. Seth Carr, South Fayette, 1-0
120  Darian Cruz, Bethlehem Catholic major dec. Ryan Easter, Bedford, 16-4
126  Ryan Diehl, Trinity (District  3) pinned Zeke Moisey, Bethlehem Catholic, 0:46
132  Jason Nolf, Kittanning dec. Nick Zanetta, Keystone Oaks, 4-2
138  Zain Retherford, Benton dec. Seth Lansberry, Line Mountain, 5-0
145  Michael Racciato, Pen Argyl dec. Colt Cotten, Benton, 8-2
152  Austin Matthews, Reynolds dec. Kyle Bova, Coudersport, 4-2
160  Cody Law, Forest Hills dec. Evan Delong, Kane, 5-3
170  Pete Renda, Brandywine Heights dec. Tristan Sponseller, Bermudian Springs, 5-2
182  Dakota DesLauriers, Burrell dec. Troy Hembury, Muncy, 3-1
195  Ryan Solomon, Milton dec. Garrett Vulcano, Chartiers-Houston, 7-0
220  Ray O'Donnell, Saucon Valley dec. Brandon Smith, Lewisburg, 2-0
285  Sam Breese, Lakeview dec. Nicholas Budd, Port Alleghany, 3-1

Third Place Consolations

106  Collin Glorioso, Huntingdon dec. Jacob Wasser, Palisades, 1-0 TB
113  Korbin Myers, Boiling Springs dec. Justin Patrick, Ligonier Valley, 4-2
120  Matt Welliver, Benton dec. Nate Reckner, South Side Beaver, 5-1
126  Kyle Shoop, Boiling Springs dec. John Demaske, Jefferson-Morgan, 8-3
132  Ian Brown, Hanover dec. Austin Harry, Lake Lehman, 5-0
138  Michael Bonner, Sharon dec. Brock Zacherl, Brookville, 5-3
145  Blake Bowman, Tri-Valley dec. Phil Marra, Burrell, 5-1
152  Ryan Preisch, Milton dec. Kyle Barnes, Hughesville, 3-1
160  Ty Walter, Mifflinburg dec. Taylor Fox, Fort LeBoeuf, 1-0
170  Dustin Conti, Jefferson-Morgan dec. Mike Fetchet, South Fayette, 2-1
182  Adam Mackie, Brandywine Heights dec. Dylan Reynolds, Saegertown, 7-2
195  Adam Geiger, Trinity (Dist. 3) tech. fall James Stodart, Moshannon Valley, 20-5, 3:27
220  Cam Cyphert, Cochranton dec. Jake Temple, Avella, 3-2 UTB
285  Trevor Stover, Biglerville pinned Brent Sterner, Susquenita, 1:36

Fifth Place Consolations

106  Austin Griffiths, Southmoreland dec. Triston Law, Forest Hills, 1-0
113  Josh Brown, Claysburg-Kimmel dec. Caleb Bordner, Tri-Valley, 4-2 OT
120  Joshua Patrick, Ligonier Valley pinned Matt Williams, Pen Argyl, 2:03
126  Jarray Norris, Sharon dec. Kent Lane, Southern Columbia, 10-5 OT
132  Michael Comunale, Pius X dec. Dalton Zimmerman, Brookville, 5-1
138  Nick Gavazzi, Charleroi major dec. Steve Edwards, Burrell, 8-0
145  Zach Vroman, Brookville by forfeit over Billy Barnes, Williamson
152  Ty Herzog, Northern Lehigh dec. Boe Bonzo, Freedom, 11-6
160  Ty Schoffstall, Tri-Valley dec. Jeric Kasunic, Benton, 8-6
170  Tim Vargo, Union City pinned Alexander Gular, Port Allegany, 5:58 OT
182  Stephen Loiseau, Lancaster Catholic dec. Terrell Fields, Valley, 1-0
195  Josh Alpha, Bethlehem Catholic dec. Zac Croyle, Kittanning, 2-1 TB
220  Evan Daley, Fort LeBoeuf major dec. Cody Jacobs, West Greene, 8-0
285  Austin Buttry, Chestnut Ridge major dec. Andrew Dunn, Bethlehem Catholic, 10-2

Seventh Place Consolation

106  Tyshawn White, Bishop McDevitt dec. Cameron Newman, Line Mountain, 3-1 OT
113  Willis Gruver, Redbank Valley dec. Jake Rothka, Bentworth, 6-2
120  Bryan Israel, Saucon Valley by injury default Tyler Vath, Saegertown
126  Andrew Schutz, Wyoming Area dec. Nick Monico, Saegertown, 3-0
132  Cole Walter, Mifflinburg dec. Jake Wentzel, South Park, 4-1
138  Ryan Todora, Bethlehem Catholic dec. Hunter Harner, Tri-Valley, 2-1 TB
145  Levi Stoyer, Reynolds dec. Briton Shelton, Bermudian Springs, 5-1
152  Andrew Doak, Blairsville dec. Blake Marks, Southern Columbia, 3-2
160  Jared Walker, South Fayette pinned Cole Shirey, Redbank Valley, 6:10 TB
170  Tyler Dibert, Chestnut Ridge pinned Josh Asper, Biglerville, 2:41
182  Jamar Henry, Reynolds dec. Garrett Wesneski, Canton, 8-6
195  Skylar Ebner, Muncy dec. Jacob Nickelson, Somerset, 5-4 TB
220  Jacob Ludwig, Moshannon Valley dec. Dennis Atiyeh, Notre Dame Green Pond, 7-3
285  Mitchell Hall, Tussey Mountain dec. Morgan Selepack, West Branch, 11-6