By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
Enduring pain is a big part of wrestling. But there is no greater pain than losing in the Northwest AA Region consolation finals.
Unfortunately, that’s what 14 young men will face today at Sharon High School as only the top three place-winners in each weight will earn berths in the state championships next week.
That’s one reason today’s semifinals, which start at 9:15 a.m. are so important. Win and you are guaranteed a spot in Hershey. Lose and you have to battle back through two consy matches, including the pressure-packed consy finals.
Those consolation finals begin at 4:15 p.m., followed by the parade of champions at 5:45 and then the finals.
There were few true upsets during quarterfinal action Friday night. Sharon’s Jordan Moss (145) and Reynolds’ Mason Beckman (119) both remained unbeaten and on course for their third straight region crowns.
Four other returning 2009 champs all won their openers: Reynolds’ Dylan D’Urso (125), Ridgway’s Garet Pisani (135), Grove City’s Wes Phipps (160) and Greenville’s R.J. Malson (189).
The team race should be a battle to the finish. Reynolds has won 8 straight titles and advanced 5 of its 6 entries into the semifinals. They posted 15.5 points Friday, to lead Ridgway with 13. But the big points will be scored today.
Following is a look at the tournament by weight class:
103 – Both district champs advanced easily here as Harbor Creek’s Tyler Pier (35-7) and Ridgway’s Corey Bush (31-3) continued toward a potential finals meeting. Pier pinned Bush in the consy finals last year to go to Hershey. Both have tough foes in the semis, however, as Pier meets familiar rival Brandon Puckley of Fort LeBoeuf, while Bush tangles with Jamestown freshman Jonas Reaugh. Bush edged Lakeview’s Landon Clayton, 4-2, Friday.
112 – D-10 champ Nate Dias (34-2) of Commodore Perry had a tough go with Sharon freshman ace Jarray Norris Friday, holding on for a 17-14 win. He’ll face Mercer’s Matt Spragale, who Dias pinned in the district semis. D-9 winner Karl Lightner of Smethport escaped his opener with Jamestown’s Tyler Roberts, 8-6, in overtime. He’ll face Union City’s Shane Rankin, third at this weight last year.
119 – Raider ace Beckman (43-0) continued to romp through the tournament competition, notching a tech fall over Taylor Fox of Fort LeBoeuf Friday. He’ll have Jesse Wolfe of Johnsonburg in the semis. The other side shows D-9 champ Jake Keller of Curwensville (15-2) against Jamestown’s Aaron Roberts. Keller had a rough bout with Grove City’s Ian Abplanalp, winning 4-2.
125 – One of the toughest weight classes shows a pair of exciting semis matchups. Defending D-10 champ D’Urso (36-6) will meet Redbank Valley’s Tyler McCauley (34-6), while D-9 winner Derek Brothers (31-2) of Curwensville faces Iroquois’ Dylan Simmer (18-2).
130 – Reynolds freshman Austin Matthews (39-6), the D-10 champ, continues to impress, rolling 14-0 over Greenville senior Luke Marshall. He’ll face Brockway senior Ian Grecco (33-3) this morning. D-9 winner Trevor McCauley (38-2) of Redbank Valley meets Northwestern’s David Osterberg (32-8).
135 – Ridgway defending champ Pisani (32-2) appears headed for a finals matchup with D-10 winner Riley Smith of Fort LeBouef. But this morning, Pisani faces Saegertown’s Tim Clark, while Smith will meet Johnsonburg’s Quinton O’Rourke, who topped Reynolds’ Cam Cianci, 7-1. Smith pinned Grove City’s Kirby Buchanan.
140 – Greenville sophomore star Cody Copeland (35-1) pinned Mercer’s Herbie Hennegan and today faces Seneca’s Garrett Smith. District 9 champ Tanner Hannold of Keystone was dumped by Northwestern’s Ian Chiesa, who will meet Redbank freshman Brandon Bailey. Bailey pulled one of the top upsets Friday, defeating LeBoeuf senior David Church, 6-4.
145 – Today’s semis are rematches of the District 10 semis. Sharon’s two-time champ Moss (40-0) rolled to a tech fall over LeBoeuf’s Shawn Stancliff and faces Cochranton’s Mikel Boughner, who the Tiger senior defeated 10-4 last week. Reynolds’ Luke Taylor also romped and will meet familiar opponent Randy Perkins of Greenville, who Taylor beat 10-0 at districts. Perkins knocked off D-9 champ Alex Gular of Port Allegany, 3-2, Friday.
152 – Unbeaten Jeremy King (36-0) of Fort LeBoeuf had a tough time in downing Mercer’s Kyle Mariacher, 8-3, and today meets Nathan Hartless of Brockway, who topped Greenville’s David Holiga, 4-1. Commodore Perry’s Brandon Collins will take on D-9 champ Adam Greenman of Port Allegany in the other semi.
160 – The semifinals here should provide some real thrills. Grove City’s defending region champ Phipps (32-1) faces Clarion’s Danny Walters (34-6). Two-time state champ Dirk Cowburn (43-1) of Coudersport takes on Hickory’s Tyler Gargano (44-2).
171 – Sharon’s D-10 champ Lewendo Teague (39-1) faces another round with Reynolds’ Greg Baptiste, who Teague defeated in tough bouts the last two weeks. Sharpsville’s Phillip Bucher moved into the semis and takes on Ridgway’s D-9 winner Zack Zelcs (32-5). Zelcs topped Commodore Perry’s Matt Schiemer, 7-0.
189 – Undefeated Commodore Perry junior Stephen Ceremuga easily rolled Friday and today faces defending region champ R.J. Malson (31-6) of Greenville. Ceremuga defeated Malson in the Section 2 finals, 6-3. On the other side of the bracket, D-9 victor Jacobs Shields of Brookville pinned Lakeview’s Tyler Lewis Friday and will tangle with Northwestern’s Jared Merritt this morning.
215 – D-10 champ Jared Burger of Union City moved to 43-0 on the year and takes on Fort LeBoeuf’s Brandon Bradney this morning. Commodore Perry’s Brian Hooks (35-2) faces D-9 champ Joel Yahner (37-5) of Brockway, who topped Mercer’s R.J. Swartz, 7-1.
285 – The two undefeated district champs continued on course for an expected finals meeting. But first Union City’s Greg Reinke (26-0) must get past Zach Manning of Port Allegany, who edged West Middlsex’s Ryan Benson, 6-4, and Ridgway’s Joe Chittester (35-0) faces Greenville’s Dillon Sarcinella (34-4).
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Top 10 Team Scores: Reynolds 15.5, Ridgway 13, Fort LeBoeuf 12, Commodore Perry 11.5, Greenville 10, Northwestern 9, Union City 9, Sharon 6.5, Brockway 6, Redbank Valley 6.
Quarterfinals
103 – Tyler Pier (Harbor Creek) maj. dec. Nick Hart (Camb. Springs), 12-0; Brandon Puckley (Ft. LeBoeuf) pinned Nate Schwab (Smethport), 5:06; Jonas Reaugh (Jamestown) dec. Trey Constable (Brookville), 9-8; Corey Bush (Ridgway) dec. Landon Clayton (Lakeview), 4-2.
112 – Nate Dias (Comm. Perry) dec. Jarray Norris (Sharon), 17-14; Matt Spragale (Mercer0 dec. Cody Bova (Coudersport), 5-4, OT TB; Shane Rankin (Union City) maj. dec. Nick Schrecengost (Redbank Valley), 13-5; Karl Lightner (Smethport) dec. Tyler Roberts (Jamestown), 8-6 OT.
119 – Mason Beckman (Reynolds) tech fall Taylor Fox (Ft. LeBoeuf), 25-9, 4:20; Jesse Wolfe (Johnsonburg) dec. Sean Byham (Saegertown), 4-2; Aaron Roberts (Jamestown) tech fall Brett Smith (Brookville), 22-7, 6:00; Jake Keller (Curwensville) dec. Ian Abplanalp (Grove City), 4-2.
125 – Dylan D’Urso (Reynolds) pinned Mitch Kaltenbaugh (Fort LeBoeuf), :43; Tyler McCauley (Redbank Valley) dec. Matt Graff (Maplewood), 3-2; Dylan Simmer (Iroquois) maj. dec. Kyle Caggiano (Ridgway), 11-3; Derek Brothers (Curwensville) dec. Matt Bryer (Cochranton), 8-6.
130 – Austin Matthews (Reynolds) maj. dec. Luke Marshall (Greenville), 14-0; Ian Grecco (Brockway) dec. Levi Morton (North East), 5-0; David Osterberg (Northwestern) pinned Max Zimmerman (Johnsonburg), 3:24; Trevor McCauley (Redbank Valley) dec. Kody Pace (Fort LeBoeuf), 7-4.
135 – Riley Smith (Fort LeBoeuf) pinned Kirby Buchanan (Grove City), 3:11; Quinton O’Rourke (Johnsonburg) dec. Cam Cianci (Reynolds), 7-1; Tim Clark (Saegertown) dec. Dylan Reinsel (Clarion), 10-7; Garet Pisani (Ridgway) pinned Kevin Nowakowski (Harbor Creek), 1:22.
140 – Cody Copeland (Greenville) pinned Herbie Hennegan (Mercer), 2:25; Garrett Smith (Seneca) dec. Trevor Hartless (Brockway), 3-2; Brandon Bailey (Redbank Valley) dec. David Church (Fort LeBoeuf), 6-4; Ian Chiesa (Northwestern) dec. Tanner Hannold (Keystone), 6-4.
145 – Jordon Moss (Sharon) tech. fall Shawn Stancliff (Fort LeBoeuf), 19-4, 4:15; Mikel Boughner (Cochranton) dec. Zach Baughman (Keystone), 7-0; Luke Taylor (Reynolds) maj. dec. Alex Gunter (Clarion), 16-5; Randy Perkins (Greenville) dec. Alex Gular (Port Allegany), 3-2.
152 – Jeremy King (Fort LeBoeuf) dec. Kyler Mariacher (Mercer), 8-3; Nathan Hartless (Brockway) dec. David Holiga (Greenville), 4-1; Brandon Collins (Comm. Perry) dec. D.J. Skraba (Ridgway), 3-1; Adam Greenman (Port Allegany) dec. Brad Lucas (Youngsville), 6-0.
160 – Wes Phipps (Grove City) dec. Alex Svetz (North East), 9-2; Tyler Gargano (Hickory) dec. Sam Skraba (Ridgway), 8-4; Danny Walters (Clarion) dec. Nate Smith (Seneca), 3-1 OT; Dirk Cowburn (Coudersport) maj. dec. J.T. Mannozzi (Mercer), 12-4.
171 – Lewendo Teague (Sharon) maj. dec. Jordan Elchynski (North East), 19-5; Greg Baptiste (Reynolds) dec. Hunter Bardo (Cameron County), 3-0; Phillip Bucher (Sharpsville) pinned Jacob Cieleski (Brookville), 3:15; Zack Zelcs (Ridgway) dec. Matt Schiemer (Comm. Perry), 7-0.
189 – Stephen Ceremuga (Comm. Perry) tech fall Josh Tomiczek (Saegertown), 20-5, 4:28); R.J. Malson (Greenville) dec. Justin Loll (Cranberry), 12-5; Jared Merritt (Northwestern) maj. dec. Zach Brinkley (Brockway), 8-0; Jacob Shields (Brookville) pinned Tyler Lewis (Lakeview), 3:53.
215 – Jared Burger (Union City) dec. Matt Mongera (Seneca), 3-2; Brandon Bradney (Fort LeBoeuf) dec. James Haun (Sheffield), 9-7; Brian Hooks (Comm. Perry) pinned Braden Bowser (Redbank Valley), 2:43; Joel Yahner (Brockway) dec. R.J. Swartz (Mercer), 7-1.
285 – Greg Reinke (Union City) maj. dec. Peter Jackson (Fairview), 16-6; Zach Manning (Port Allegany) dec. Ryan Benson (West Middlesex), 6-4; ec. Dillon Sarcinella (Greenville) dec. Lee Russell (Cranberry), 3-2; Joe Chittester (Ridgway) dec. Justin East (Camb. Springs), 5-2.
