By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor
A long season of hard work comes to a culmination the next few days for 20 Mercer County matmen who have earned berths in the PIAA State Class AA Wrestling Championships at Hershey Giant Center.
But how will their season end?
“The goal of every wrestler is to finish on the medal stand,” pointed out Commodore Perry coach Kevin Drew, who made it there himself during his high school career at Reynolds. “It’s just a question of how high.”
Once you’ve climbed to the top, like Sharon’s Jordan Moss in 2008, that coveted spot is where you want to finish your career. And that’s the goal of senior Moss, a 3-time place-winner (4th, 1st, 3rd) who leads a talented group of locals into the state tourney which opens at 9 a.m. Thursday.
The tourney will continue with quarterfinals at 8 a.m. Friday, with the AA semifinals set for 6:30 p.m. The consolation finals are set for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, with championship finals at 2:30.
Three countians carry unbeaten records into the tourney — Moss (145), 42-0; Reynolds’ Mason Beckman (119), 45-0; and Commodore Perry’s Stephen Ceremuga (189), 38-0.
Beckman is a 2-time place-winner (2nd, 3rd) and has his sights set on No. 1 this season after destroying all competition thus far on the tournament trail with 7 technical falls and 2 pins.
Other locals who earned places last year and return for more are: Reynolds’ Dylan D’Urso (125), 4th at 103; Sharon’s Lewendo Teague (171), 3rd at 160; Grove City’s Wes Phipps (160), 5th at 160; and Greenville’s R.J. Malson (189), 4th at 189.
Ceremuga was a state qualifier last season. Other returning qualifiers include Jamestown’s Tyler Roberts (112) and Greenville’s Cody Copeland (140).
Reynolds brings 5 wrestlers to The Show in quest of another state title. The Raiders have won 9 state crowns (6 at the individual tourney and 3 at the team event) in their storied history, all but one under the guidance of veteran coach Brian Hills.
The Raiders are still smarting after being upset by Fort LeBoeuf in the state duals finals and would love to make up for it by putting another championship award in the school trophy case.
Following is a look at the state tourney by weight class:
103 — There are no locals entered here. Heavy favorite is North Star sophomore Nick Roberts (35-0), the defending state champ. Roberts beat D’Urso in the semifinals last year. Northwest region champ Corey Bush of Ridgway hopes to make a run on the other side of the brackets.
112 — Jamestown junior Tyler Roberts (39-8) faces Towanda’s Cody Wheeler (35-3) in the opening round, while Mercer’s Matt Spragale (37-16) tangles with Benton’s Colt Cotten (32-6). The weight is loaded with returning place-winners so the two locals are darkhorses to garner a medal.
119 — The semifinals match here could very well determine the state championship. Raider junior ace Mason Beckman will meet Pine Grove Area’s Kody Rittenbaugh in the opener. Beckman is favored to reach the semis where he’ll probably face Arty Walsh (43-0) of Juniata, the 2009 state champ at 112. Jamestown’s Aaron Roberts (34-9) is on the other side of the brackets and will face Saucon Valley’s Adam Phillippi (38-9) in the preliminary round. The finalist from that side is expected to be Shady Side Academy’s Geoff Alexander or Benton’s Michael Rhone.
125 — Raider Dylan D’Urso (38-6) made a big jump in weight from 103 last year, but has looked impressive in the tournaments, rolling through a strong weight class at regions. He’ll take on Justin Massa (34-5) of Pius X in his opener. If D’Urso makes it through to the finals, he’ll probably have Burrell’s Dave Makara (41-5), who decisioned D’Urso in the state duals semifinals, or Benton’s Coltin Fought (38-6).
130 — While his brother Adam — a 4th place state place-winner last season — couldn’t compete in the postseason tournaments this year after shoulder surgery, freshman Austin Matthews has filled in admirably in winning section, district and regional titles in impressive style. He’ll face Burrell’s Jeremy Landowski (22-9) in his opener, who was beaten by Adam in overtime during the state duals. A win there would probably pair him with Frank Martellotti (45-2) of Shady Side Academy, 3rd at this weight last year after beating Raider Cody Kelly twice in the state tourney. The other side of the bracket in this loaded weight class are Ronnie Garbinsky (38-0) of Tyrone and Boiling Springs’ Joe Spisak (43-1), a pair of state place-winners.
135 — There are no locals entered here, but region champ Garet Pisani (34-2) of Ridgway is one of the contenders. Also on his side of the brackets is Montoursville’s Luke Frey (30-0), with unbeaten A.J. Schopp (38-0) of Tyrone on the other side. Frey, 2008 state champ, lost to Beckman, 4-3, in the 112 consy finals last year, while Schopp was runner-up at 119. Also in this tough weight is returning 130 state champ Nick Hodgkins (33-1) of Wyomissing.
140 — Greenville sophomore sensation Cody Copeland (37-1) has rolled through the tournaments thus far and faces Richard Baker (33-7) of North Star in his prelim. If he continues on he’ll probably face 135-pound runner-up Phillip Steinberg (33-1) of Central Cambria in the semis, with the winner expected to see last year’s 135 state champ Colin Shober (49-0) of Schuylkill Valley in the finals. Shober topped Sharon’s Moss, 3-1, in the semis last year, stopping a Moss repeat as state champ. Mercer’s Herbie Hennegan (36-13) has a tough opener with Michael Innes (30-2) of Chartiers-Houston.
145 — Tiger senior Moss is determined to return to state-title status and opens with Chris Nagel (34-4) of Southern Huntingdon. Moss is favored to advance to the semis for an expected meeting with Shawn Perich (37-1) of Portage, 7th at this weight a year ago. On the other side of the brackets, Luke Taylor (38-12) of Reynolds opens with Corey Aungst (38-3) of Claysburg-Kimmel. A win there would probably send him against Philip Racciato (38-3) of Pen Argyl, 6th at this weight last season. Also on that side of the brackets is unbeaten Muncy senior Aaron Fry (40-0), who Moss beat 6-2 in the consy semis in 2009.
152 — Commodore Perry’s Brandon Collins (33-4) won a key match in the region finals in overtime against previously unbeaten Jeremy King of Fort LeBoeuf and hopes to build on the momentum. In the prelim, Collins will face Bentworth’s Gus Mizia (36-7). A win there would probably send him against Jordan Knaub (36-2) of York Suburban. Warrior Run’s Tyler Hain (33-4), runner-up at 145 last year, is also on that side of the bracket. Mercer sophomore Kyle Mariacher (45-8) opens his initial state trip against Burrell’s Travis McKillop (41-5), 5th at 135 in 2009.
160 — Mercer County’s two reps here, Grove City’s Wes Phipps (33-2) and Hickory’s Tyler Gargano (46-3) are both on the same side of the bracket away from Northwest Region champ Dirk Cowburn of Coudersport, 2-time state champ, who nipped Phipps, 4-3, in the region finals after topping Gargano in the semis. In his opener, sophomore Phipps meets John Blank (34-6) of Notre Dame. A win there would probably send him against Eric Hess (37-2) of Benton, the 145 state champ last year. Gargano would probably see Fort Cherry’s Sam Guidi (27-2) in the quarterfinals.
171 — Sharon’s region champ Lewendo Teague (41-1) opens with Portage’s David Kephart (36-4). In the second round he may see a rematch with Colin Hedash (32-3) of Northern Lehigh, who Teague beat 3-1 in the 3rd-place consy finals at 160 last year. Unbeaten Nathaniel Brown (37-0) of Lewisburg, 3rd at 171 last year, also looms on that side of the brackets. Reynolds senior Greg Baptiste (34-13) is on the other side of the brackets and takes on prelim foe Shane Stark (34-5) of Lake Lehman, who beat CP’s Ceremuga in the first round last season. A win there would probably bring on York Suburban’s Ricardo Plummer (31-3). Also on that side is Shady Side’s Matt Cunningham, runner-up at 160 last year.
189 — Commodore Perry’s unbeaten Stephen Ceremuga has been extremely solid all year and opens with Tyler Horn (29-14) of Pen Argyl. Ceremuga is a favorite to reach the finals from the top of the bracket. If Greenville’s R.J. Malson (33-7) steps up his game as he did in the region consy finals, he could make a run on the lower side. He’ll meet Garth Lakitsky (35-3) of Tamaqua in his prelim. Also on that side is Towanda’s Travis Chesla (37-1) who dropped two weight classes after finishing 4th at 285 last year.
215 — CP senior Brian Hooks (37-2), like teammate Collins, beat an unbeaten matman — Union City’s Jared Burger — in the region finals and wants to build on that. He’ll meet Joel Suter (30-4) of Northern Bedford in his first start in a pretty wide open weight class. Top contenders on the other side are Burger and Burrell’s Brian Beattie, 7th and 4th respectively at this weight last year.
285 — Greenville’s Dillon Sarcinella (36-5), 3rd at regions, has a tough opener with John Rizzo (37-1) of Richland. District 10 champ Greg Reinke (27-1) of Union City is also on that side of the brackets, while region champ Joe Chittester of Ridgway is one of the favorites on the bottom side along with Benton’s Tyler DeMott (36-2), last year’s runner-up.
