WPIAL Class AAA wrestlers shine, Class AA struggles on Day 1 of PIAA tournament
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Thursday, March 5, 2020 | 11:14 PM
Mt. Lebanon’s Mac Stout wrestles J.P McCaskey’s Andrew Vogelbacher in the 170 weight class in the PIAA state wrestling tournament in class AAA on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Norwin’s Kurtis Phipps wrestles Andrew Harmon of Beth Catholic in the 136 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Greater Latrobe’s Vincent Kilkeary is brought down by opponent Dominic Flatt of Solanco in the 106 weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Franklin Regional’s Carter Dibert wrestles Connellsville’s Mason Prinkey in the 113 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Greater Latrobe’s Gabe Willochell wrestles Northampton’s Ethan Szerencsits in the 138 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Mt. Lebanon’s Mac Stout and Kiski Area’s Jack Blumer, right, prepare to take on their bouts in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Kiski Area’s Nick Delp wrestles North Penn’s Jarret Niedosik in the 170 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Seneca Valley’s Chanz Shearer wrestles on top of Central Dauphin’s Bryce Buckman in the 138 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Hempfield’s Ethan Berginc wrestles Javien DeLeon of Liberty in the 113 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Hempfield’s Ethan Berginc walks off the mats after winning against Javien DeLeon of Liberty in the 113 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
North Hills’ Sam Hillegas, left, wrestles Lower Merion’s Christian Hodges in the 138 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Franklin Regional’s Mason Spears wrestles Sam Hayes of Council Rock North in the 145 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Hempfield’s Ty Linsenbigler wrestles atop Penn Manor’s Dylan Coleman in the 145 weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Kiski Area’s Jack Blumer wrestles Lower Merion’s James Lledo in the 160 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Kiski Area’s Jack Blumer wrestles Lower Merion’s James Lledo in the 160 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Kiski Area’s Sammy Starr wrestles against Nazareth’s Nathan Stefanik in the 152 pound weight class in class AAA during the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Canon-McMillan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis is announced winner after wrestling against Hazleton’s Jake Marnell in the 182 pound weight class in class AAA in the PIAA state wrestling tournament on Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Elizabeth Forward’s Ethan Cain waits to wrestle opponent Eric Johnson of Brockway in the 195 weight class consolation match in class AA wrestling Thursday, March 5, 2020 at the Giant Center in Hershey.
HERSHEY — You couldn’t ask for a crazier day for WPIAL wrestlers than Thursday at the Giant Center.
Talk about your polar opposites.
The WPIAL Class AAA wrestlers shined, as 34 of 56 competing advanced to the PIAA quarterfinals. Class AA wrestlers didn’t do very well, as only 11 of 29 moved on in the winner’s bracket.
In fact, only one Class AAA wrestler didn’t win a match — Thomas Jefferson senior Brendan Finnerty, who suffered two one-point losses.
Five WPIAL wrestlers upset seeded wrestlers.
Hempfield junior Ethan Berginc (113 pounds) and Waynesburg sophomore Cole Homet (132) took out No. 2 seeds, Seneca Valley junior Chanz Shearer (138) beat a third seed, Connellsville sophomore Jared Keslar (145) took down a fourth seed and Norwin junior John Altieri (138) beat a fifth seed.
Waynesburg had a perfect day as all five of its wrestlers won — freshman Mac Church (106), freshman Rocco Welsh (126), Homet, junior Wyatt Henson (138) and junior Luca Augustine (160).
Homet stunned many by defeating Altoona senior Matt Sarbo, 9-6. He used a five-point move in the third period to pull off the win.
“Looking back now, it was like my blood round match last year,” Homet said. “Once I got that first takedown, I knew I could take him down a couple times. I was dead tired after the match.”
The Raiders are tied for third place in the team standings with Central Dauphin with 23 points behind Bethlehem Catholic (33.5) and Nazareth (30).
Seneca Valley has three wrestlers in the quarterfinals — two-time PIAA champion Alejandro Herrera-Rondon, state runner-up Dylan Chappell (120) and Shearer.
Hempfield also advanced three wrestlers, including Berginc who defeated Cumberland Valley senior Ben Monn, 3-2.
Mt. Lebanon’s Stout brothers — Mac (170) and Luke (195) — advanced along with returning state champions Carter Dibert of Franklin Regional (113) and Canon-McMillan senior Gerrit Nijenhuis (182).
While Class AAA has 53 wrestlers still competing for medals, Class AA is down 21.
Those still alive in Class AA include returning two-time champion Thayne Lawrence of Frazier (160).
Also in the quarterfinals are South Park junior Joey Fischer (113); Elizabeth Forward senior Ryan Michaels (120); Derry junior Ty Cymmerman (126); Burrell juniors Ian Oswalt (132) and AJ Corrado (152) and senior Ricky Feroce (182); Freedom junior Trent Schultheis (170); Ellwood City senior Austin Walley (182); and Quaker Valley sophomore Patrick Cutchember (182).
Class AA action resumes at 9 a.m. Friday, and Class AAA continues at 2:15 p.m.
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, Canon-McMillan, Connellsville, Derry Area, Elizabeth Forward, Ellwood City, Franklin Regional, Frazier, Freedom, Hempfield, Mt. lebanon, Norwin, Quaker Valley, Seneca Valley, South Park, Waynesburg
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