By Lynn Saternow

Herald Sports Editor



HERSHEY – Hickory High coach Carl Wombacker made a very pertinent point about the winning performance of his 160-pound ace Taylor Gargano Thursday at the PIAA State AA Wrestling Championships:

“It helps to have all your local buddies win in front of you!”

Those “local buddies” from Mercer County did plenty of winning on the opening day at Hershey’s Giant Center, with 14 area matmen keeping alive their hopes for medals.

Led by former state champ Jordan Moss of Sharon, a total of 11 locals copped preliminary-round bouts and moved into today’s quarterfinal round, set to begin at 8 a.m. The semifinals are slated for 6:30 this evening.

Three other area matmen were still alive in the consolations, which begin after this morning’s quarters. Advancing to this morning’s quarters were: Sharon’s Moss and Lewendo Teague (171); Hickory’s Gargano; Reynolds’ Mason Beckman (119), Dylan D’Urso, Austin Matthews (130) and Luke Taylor (145); Jamestown’s Aaron Roberts (119); Grove City’s Wes Phipps (160), and Commodore Perry’s Stephen Ceremuga (189) and Brian Hooks (215).  

Still alive in the consolations: Jamestown’s Tyler Roberts (112); Greenville’s Cody Copeland (140); CP’s Brandon Collins (152).

Eliminated by 2 losses: Mercer’s Matt Spragale (112), Herbie Hennegan (140) and Kyle Mariacher (152); Reynolds’ Greg Baptiste (171), and Greenville’s R.J. Malson (189) and Dillon Sarcinella (285).

Reynolds is in the hunt for a state team title, with 4 out of 5 winners in the 1st round. Coach Brian Hills commented, “I’m pretty pleased with the first round. The 3 region champs (Beckman, D’Urso and Matthews) did what we expected them to do. And Luke Taylor really wrestled well against a pretty good opponent.”

Following is a look at how country wrestlers fared Thursday:

MOVING TO QUARTERFINALS

ä Raider junior Beckman continued his streak of tournament domination with a 17-2 technical fall in 5:35 over Pine Grove Area’s Kody Rittenbaugh in the preliminary round. Beckman has 8 tech falls and 2 pins on the tourney trail thus far. This morning the 2-time state place-winner faces Bedford’s Cory Thomas (38-3). Barring major upsets, tonight’s 119 semifinals could be one of the top matches of the state tourney, as Beckman (46-0) is expected to meet Juniata sophomore Arty Walsh (44-0), state champ at 112 last season.

ä Jamestown sophomore Aaron Roberts made his initial start at state a memorable one, winning a hard-fought 12-11 decision over Saucon Valley senior Adam Phillippi, with the lead changing hands several times. This morning Roberts (35-9) will tangle with Benton senior Michael Rhone (39-3).

“It’s always nice to get to Day 2,” said a happy Muskies’ coach Michael Menold, after also seeing Roberts’ older brother Tyler win to stay alive in the consolations. Then with a laugh Menold added that Tyler had to win in the consy’s to join his brother at weigh-ins this morning. “They have a good sibling rivalry.”

ä D’Urso, Reynolds sophomore, was in command the entire way in his opener, downing Justin Mazza of Piux X, 6-1. D’Urso (39-6), 4th at 103 last season, will meet Joe Lascari (35-4) of North Star in the quarters.

ä Raider Matthews has shown composure and talent far beyond that of most freshmen, as he demonstrated once again in his first-ever Hershey appearance. Matthews jumped ahead early and was in control the whole way against Burrell junior Jeremy Landowski for a 6-1 triumph. Matthews’ older brother Adam had beaten Landowski in overtime in the state Duals earlier.

This morning Matthews (42-6) was to meet another foe familiar to Raiders’ fans, Frank Martellotti (46-2) of Shady Side Academy. Martellotti was 3rd at 130 last year, beating Reynolds senior ace Cody Kelly twice at state.

ä Raider senior Luke Taylor looked strong in his opener, rolling past Claysburg-Kimmel’s Corey Aungst, 12-4. This morning Taylor (39-12) will clash with Southeast Region champ Philip Racciato (39-3) of Pen Argyl, 6th at this weight last season.

“We lost to that Racciato kid at ‘King of the Mountain’ (tournament),” said Hills. “But I think we’ll wrestle him a little different this time. Luke is wrestling a lot better, and I think our level of competition has really helped.”

ä Sharon senior Moss had no trouble in his drive toward a 2nd state championship as he rocked Chris Nagel of Southern Huntingdon, 15-5. Moss, a 3-time state place-winner and the 2008 state champ, faces Warrior Run’s Elias Biddle (34-5) this morning. Moss (43-0) is expected to advance to tonight’s semis against probable foe Shawn Perich (38-1) of Portage, 7th at 145 last season.

“He’s calm and confident,” said Sharon coach Dave Ciafre of his Pitt-bound wrestler. “He knows what he has to do.”

ä Grove City’s Phipps (34-2) fell behind 4-2, but roared back and pinned Notre Dame’s John Blank in 3:38. Phipps, 5th at 160 last year, was to meet Benton’s Eric Hess (38-2) this morning. Hess was state champ at 145 last season.

ä Hickory’s Gargano (47-3) rolled to a major decision over Juniata’s Dylan Trester, 12-4, and will meet Fort Cherry’s Sam Guidi (28-2) in the quarters.

“He looks good, he’s feeling good,” said Wombacker of Gargano. “He was injured before sections, but he’s at 100 percent now. He’s a lot more focused now that the pressure of getting here is over.”

ä Teague, Sharon senior, notched a tough 3-1 win in his opener against Portage’s David Kephart.

“Lewendo gets a little nervous in his first match and he wrestled a little bit tentative,” said Ciafre. “Now that the first match is over, he’ll settle in.”

Teague (42-1) will meet Dakota DesLauriers (22-4) of Burrell in his quarterfinal bout.

ä Undefeated junior Ceremuga (39-0) of Commodore Perry rolled to an easy 7-1 victory in his 1st start against Pen Argyl’s Tyler Horn. The Panther ace will face Forest Hills’ senior Zack Glessner (36-4) this morning.

ä Commodore Perry senior Hooks led only 2-0 in the 3rd period, but pulled away for a 6-1 triumph over Joel Suter of Northern Bedford. Hooks (38-2) will meet Curtis Garner (28-2) this morning.

“I always tell the kids that first win down here is the hardest,” said CP coach Kevin Drew. “They’re all nervous. We got 2 of 3 through in the first round, but it should have been 3 out of 3. But I’m excited to see how the second day goes.” 

ALIVE IN CONSYS

ä Jamestown junior Tyler Roberts jumped to a quick 2-0 lead on Towanda’s Cody Wheeler in his state opener, but Wheeler roared back for an 8-2 decision. In the consy’s against Aaron Toth of Charleroi, Roberts rebounded for a 6-4 victory. This morning he’ll face the loser of quarterfinalists Shane Rankin of Union City and Josh Polacek of Westmont-Hilltop.  

ä Greenville sophomore Cody Copeland suffered a stunning defeat in his opener. He led 3-0 less than a minute to go in the 3rd period, but was taken down and put on his back in a 4-3 loss to North Star’s Richard Baker.

“He was really nervous,” said Greenville coach John Reynolds. “We told him to stay away from the head (tying up on his feet in the last period), but that didn’t happen.”

The Trojans’ Northwest Region champ (38-2) bounced back in the consy’s for a 1st-period pin in a mere 19 seconds over Dalton Anthony of Bermudian Springs. Today Copeland will face the loser of Schulkill Valley’s state champ Colin Shober and Somerset’s Luke Lohr.

ä Commodore Perry senior Brandon Collins lost a tough 5-3 decision in his opener to Bentworth’s Gus Mizia. In the consolations, the Panther met Jordan Knaub of York Suburban. Collins (34-5) moved on top 4-0, then held on for a 4-3 win. He’ll face the loser of Carlynton’s Montana Trombetta and Bethlehem Catholic’s Kyle Dehaut.

ELIMINATED THURSDAY

Mercer junior Spragale (112) was a pleasant surprise for coach Rick Whenry in finishing 2nd at regions, but he had a short time at state. He notched the 1st takedown, but Benton freshman star Colt Cotton grabbed a reverse and pinned Spragale in 1:01 with a cradle. Spragale (37-18) faced Phillip Elias of Shady Side Academy in the consys, also losing by fall in 53 seconds.

ä Mercer senior Hennegan had a fine tournament run halted early. In the quarterfinals, Hennegan bowed to Chartiers-Houston’s Michael Innes by fall in 2:38. In the consys, the Mustang lost a tech fall, 16-0 in 3:12, to Elisha Gaylor of Wyomissing.

Hennegan, a 2009 section champ, closed out his final year with a 36-15 record.

ä Mariacher, Mercer sophomore, had a tough opener against talented Travis McKillop of Burrell. McKillop decked the young Mustang in 3:23. In the consy’s, Mariacher took on Zach Strickland of Muncy. Mariacher (45-10) put up a hard fight against the Northeast Region champ, but lost 6-4. While disappointed, Mustang mentor Whenry can look forward to having Spragale and Mariacher back next year for another shot at a state medal.

ä Reynolds senior Baptiste couldn’t get untracked against Lake Lehman’s Shane Stark in his 1st start, losing 14-4. In the consolations against Michael Kazalas of Keystone Oaks, Baptiste gave up an escape with 7 seconds remaining to lose 2-1.

He closed out his senior year at 34-15.

ä Greenville’s Malson finished 4th at 189 last year, but didn’t make it back to the medal stand this year. He lost his opener to Garth Lakitsky of Tamaqua, 9-1. In the consy’s against Zak Newton of Penn Cambria, he suffered a heart-breaking 4-3 defeat.

A district and regional champ last year, Malson closed out his senior year with a 33-9 record.

ä Malson’s Trojans teammate and classmate, Sarcinella, dropped his preliminary-round bout to Richland’s John Rizzo, 5-1. In the consolations, against Wes Tillett of Shamokin, Sarcinella lost 6-4 to close out his senior season with a 36-7 mark.

Notes: Other than the showing of Mercer Countians, District 10 wrestlers didn’t fare well in the preliminary round as only Union City’s Shane Rankin (112) and Seneca’s Matt Mongera (215) notched victories. … Local referee Steve Hoover is working the state tournament. ... Meadville-based Cool 101.7 FMwill broadcast AA action today, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Also, Greenville-based WEXC (107.1 FM) also will broadcast the day-long action, beginning 8 a.m. today and continuing at 9:45 a.m. and resuming at 6:30 and 9 p.m. On Saturday, WEXC’s air times are 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. for the consolation and championship finals, respectively.