Reynolds High products Nick Sommerfeld and Matt Dunn copped crowns for Columbia University at the recent New York State championships.
Senior 197-pounder Sommerfeld and sophomore 157 pounds, along with teammate Anthony Constatino (149) led the Lions, who finished 4th at the University at Buffalo, with 116 team points, a half-point behind 3rd-place Cornell.
The United States Military Academy at West Point (152) and host University of Buffalo (147.5) ended 1-2 during the 2-day, 18-team tournament.
Via an escape and subsequent takedown, Sommerfeld scored an early 3-0 lead in his championship match against top-seeded Jimmy Hamel. According to Columbia University’s sports information office, Hamel, who defeated Sommerfeld this season at the Mat Town Open, battled back to draw even at 3, but Sommerfeld was awarded one point for riding time, clinching the title, 4-3.
“Sommerfeld did a good job. He followed the game plan and wrestled a smart match,” noted Columbia head coach Brendan Buckley.
Dunn decisioned Army’s Sean Joyce, 2-0, in the title tilt. Leading 1-0, Dunn added an insurance bonus point for riding time en route to his 1st New York State championship. Dunn scored a major decision over NYU’s Greg Accetta in the semifinals.
“Matt Dunn has been wrestling well,” praised Buckley. “This year he jumped up a weight class, and is now starting to feel more comfortable there.”
The Lions had 8 placewinners. In addition to Constantino — a senior co-captain who scored a 2-point takedown to secure a 3-1 overtime victory in the 149-pound championship bout against Buffalo’s Pat Lloyd — he also edged SUNY-Cortland’s top-seeded Paul LeBlanc in OT in the semifinals.
Also, Brandon Kinney qualified for the championship finals, but was forced to forfeit for medical reasons; senior heavyweight Jed Wade finished 5th (7-0 decision over Nassau Community College’s Brandon Williamson), as did junior Kenji Porter (184, pin of Patrick Smith of Army in 3:30). Jerome Greco (133) and Nick Standish (141) each ended 8th.
Columbia does not compete again until Feb. 1.
ä Westminster College’s 2007 football team celebrated its season at its annual awards banquet, and 3rd-year head coach Jeff Hand recognized 43 lettermen and also presented academic and team awards as voted by the players.
For a 2nd straight year senior Brett Ziegler earned Most Valuable Player and Offensive MVP awards. Ziegler, a 1st-team All-Presidents’ Athletic Conference selection, caught 52 passes for 696 yards and 6 touchdowns. He became the school’s career receptions leader (142).
Junior defensive end Andrew Robison (Wilmington High) earned the team’s defensive MVP and “Battle of the Trenches” (best interior lineman) awards as Robison ranked 2nd on the team in tackles (69, including 12.5 for loss) and a team-high 7 quarterback sacks and a pair of forced fumbles.
Punter Dusty Rhodes was voted special teams MVP; fullback Josh Kutzner received the “Titan of the Year” Alumni Award, and freshman offensive lineman Mike Kudelko (Sharpsville High) was chosen “Newcomer of the Year” after he started all 10 games at right guard.
Ed Farrell is assistant sports editor of The Herald
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Reynolds High grads, Dunn and Sommerfeld, win mat titles for Columbia
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WM baseball, Sharpsville and Wilmington softball playing for D-10 titles
Sharpsville and Wilmington softball teams and the West Middlesex baseball squad return to the diamond today to compete for District 10 championships.
SOFTBALL
Class A Championship
Coach Bob Zikovich's Sharpsville Blue Darlings (15-2) battle a tough Saegertown (18-2) squad at 2 p.m. today at Penn State-Behrend in Erie. -
PIAA Track Notebook: KC's Wareham made round trips to "The Ship"
The most impressive race during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships did not take place at Shippensburg University, nor will you read its results in any newspaper on or any web site.
To be sure, it was a race against time, but not in the sense of being defined by a coach’s hand-held device, nor Seth Grove Stadium’s scoreboard clock. -
Hickory girls grab PIAA Class AA Track team title
SHIPPENSBURG — This news bulletin just in: Mercer County athletes dominated during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Nothing new there, you say? Well, perhaps you’re correct, considering how well the area aggregation annually accounts itself on Memorial Day Weekend at Shippensburg University. Therefore it was not surprising how much hardware was hauled home — once again. -
PIAA Track: Hickory's Bell, Lubarski, Regginello grab gold
SHIPPENSBURG — There’s a big difference between being seeded 1st and finishing 1st — Matt Bell can attest to that.
After settling for silver last year, the Hickory High senior put the shot 59 feet, 6 3/4 inches Friday afternoon to garner gold at the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships at Shippensburg University. -
WM to play for D-10 baseball title; GC, Sharon, Sharpsville lose
Four area baseball teams were in action on Friday in the District 10 semifinals as the squads battled to compete for District 10 championships on Monday.
West Middlesex rolled past error-prone Linesville, 8-0, in Class A action at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
In Class AA, both Sharon and Sharpsville suffered 2-1 losses. The Tigers fell to Saegertown at Ainsworth Field in Erie while the Blue Devils lost to Titusville at SRU.
In Class AAA, the Grove City Eagles were denied the chance to defend their D-10 crown after suffering a 6-3 loss to Warren at SRU. -
Farrell volleyball falls in D-10 semifinals
The Farrell High boys volleyball team suffered a 2-0 (25-15, 25-12) loss to Saegertown on Thursday night in the District 10 semifinals at Meadville Area High’s “House of Thrills.”
“This was the first year we made it out of the first day (pool play) of the playoffs,” said Steelers’ coach Dan Dragicevic. “I’d like to cite my seniors (Eric Demus, Anthony Perkins, Jaylen Chambers and Lawrence Hughes). -
Locals ready to go for gold at Shippensburg
Now that Mercer County is on the map, it’s incumbent upon the area aggregation to chart a course for the ultimate destination — Seth Grove Stadium’s medals stand — during this weekend’s PIAA Track & Field Championships.
Led by West Middlesex High sprinter Clay Allen, many Mercer Countians are seeded at or near the top of their respective events for the annual 2-day marathon at Shippensburg University, which commences 9 a.m. Friday. It will continue beginning 9 a.m. Saturday. -
D-10 Playoffs: Local teams go 6-for-6
ä Grove City 1, Harbor Creek 0 — At Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park, what the Grove City Eagles couldn’t accomplish themselves, the Harbor Creek Huskies unwittingly did for them.
Unable to plate runs themselves, Torin Smith scored the Eagles’ only run when teammate Tyler Devine’s seeming inning-ending pop-up to left field was dropped by Harbor Creek’s Chris Merritt in the bottom of the 7th inning of Tuesday’s tourney opener. -
Great year for WM track; local qualifiers listed
It’s been a big year for the Big Reds.
Though there’s no official documentation, the 2011-12 academic year may be the most successful in West Middlesex High’s athletic annals. -
SPORTVIEW: Local names Kroko, Lutz, Kareklas in news elsewhere
IT’S ALWAYS GOOD to hear of former area people who have gone on to athletic success in other areas, or the family of former area residents. Following are a few of those stories:
ä Bob and Betty Kroko of Sharon are avid followers of professional baseball. No, not necessarily the Pittsburgh Pirates or Cleveland Indians like many local fans.
The Krokos keep a close eye on the Austria Major League! - More Sports Headlines
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