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HERSHEY — It was a battle of familiar foes Friday night in the PIAA State Class AA Dual-Meet Championships when Reynolds and Boiling Springs clashed for a 3rd straight year.
This time the meeting was much sweeter for the Raiders in Chocolatetown in the tourney semifinals, as coach Casey Taylor’s squad scored a 31-20 triumph to move into today’s 1 p.m. finals against 2-time defending champion Bethlehem Catholic.
“That was unbelieveable!” said Taylor, whose team lost to the Bubblers the last 2 seasons. “There were so many close matches it was hard to keep track of where we were going. It was a great total team effort.
“The happingess couldn’t be any bigger. But the coaching staff is going to ground them and tell them we have a tough task (today).
“Bethlehem Catholic is a great team. But we’ll try everything we can. If we come out with all guns blazing and at the top of our game like (Friday), we can hang with them. I have faith in our guys.”
Friday’s victory was a bit of redemption for Reynolds, which had dropped close decisions to the Bubblers at state, 31-30 in 2012 and 33-28 in 2011.
Boiling Springs is coached by Rod Wright, former Lakeview High mat star.
Raider senior star Austin Matthews got the team rolling in the semifinals with a pin at 152, but the Bubblers bounced back when John Vaughn decisioned Curtis Arnold at 160, 5-2.
At 170, Reynolds’ Mike Millero took on Connor Murphy in a tight battle. The bout was 1-1 after regulation, then in overtime Millero pulled out a 3-2 win after the 3 tie-breaker periods, a penalty point helping in the decision.
Raider Austin Moffett at 182 built a 4-1 lead in the 1st period over Anton Morrow and made it hold up for a 5-4 victory and a 12-3 Reynolds lead. Reynolds’ Jamar Henry boosted the team margin to 15-3 with a thrilling 6-4 win over Kyle Taylor, scoring a takedown at the final buzzer.
At 220, Reynolds’ Logan Rickert tangled with Calvin Barrick in another burner. Rickert notched a takedown in the 1st overtime period for a 3-1 win. The knack for winning close matches continued at heavyweight as Raider freshman Gene Ringer grabbed a takedown in overtime for a 3-1 victory over Noah Davis.
Turning the line-up over to the lightweights, also ended the close bouts. Raider frosh Seth Hogue picked up a 59-second fall at 106 and Reynolds was on top by a whopping 27-3 margin, which they would need.
At 113, Bubblers’ state runner-up Korbin Myers stopped the bleeding for his squad and he was too much for Mike Bartolo and Myers racked up a major decision.
It was back to tight battles at 120 as Raider Nick Nottingham dropped a 6-4 decision to A.J. Kostyak. The Bubblers won another at 126 as Grant Bond took a 6-4 decision over Mason McCollum and cut the Raiders’ lead to 27-13.
The Boiling Springs rally continued at 132, as Bubbler ace Kyle Shoop took on Cam Cianci, who built an early lead but couldn’t hold on and Shoop prevailed by a 16-4 margin.
That cut Reynolds’ lead to 27-17 with 2 matches left.
At 138, Raider senior Matt Leise faced Andrew Mellott and again there was an overtime finish. Mellott won 6-4 with a takedown, but the loss still locked up the team victory barring team penalty points.
In the final bout of the night, Raider Levi Stoyer made sure there were no questions as he rolled over Tyler Kaufmann by a 10-1 count.
“Coming into today, I had no real concrete idea what was going to happen,” said Taylor, whose Raiders rocked West Branch in the quarterfinals. “From the start of first match until Levi finishing up, it was a great effort. I got about 30 texts from the home front. And what I say to them is: “I love this team. At the start of the year, they weren’t even expected to be here. But they set goals and achieved them
“We beat three quality teams here and this team is as fun as any I’ve ever been around. The Manheim tournament, when we spent 9 hours on the bus (because of snowy weather) really changed our team it brought us together. That weekend started it all clicking for us.”
And Taylor hopes the clicking continues for one more match.
Notes: Taylor and Boiling Springs coach Wright were both three-time PIAA state champions, Taylor at Reynolds and Wright at Lakeview. Mercer County has had four 3-timers; Taylor (1993-95), Wright (1985-87), Farrell’s George Lewis (1944-46) and Reynolds’ Justin Nestor (1998, 2000-01). ... While the Reynolds-Boiling Springs rivalry has been a focus at state the last 3 years, ironically Wright is married to a 1985 Reynolds grad, Michealle Arthurholt. ... The other two District 10 representatives at state, Fort LeBoeuf and Saegertown, will clash at 9 a.m. today in the consolations. The winner will then take on Boiling Springs. ... Beth Catholic mauled Bermudian Springs, 48-9, in their semifinal.
QUARTERFINALS
ä Reynolds 45, West Branch 19 — After a somewhat disappointing showing in a close victory over Saucon Valley Thursday afternoon, the Raiders bounced back with a vengeance on Friday afternoon.
The Raiders routed the District 6 champion West Branch, recording 4 pins. Notching falls for Reynolds were: McCollum (126), Stoyer (145), Matthews (152) and Rickert (220). Bartolo (113) picked up a tech fall and Millero (160) a major decision to spark the victory.
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PIAA AA DUAL MEET
CHAMPIONSHIPS
SEMIFINALS
REYNOLDS 31, BOILING SPRINGS 20
152 -- Austin Matthews (R) pinned Derick Byers, 0:55; 160 -- John Vaughn (BS) dec. Curtis Arnold, 5-2; 170 - Mike Millero (R) dec. Connor Murphy, 3-2, TB; 182 - Austin Moffett (R) dec. Anton Morrow, 5-4; 195 -- Jamar Henry (R) dec. Kyle Taylor, 6-4; 220 - Logan Rickert (R) dec. Calvin Barrick, 3-1 OT; 285 -- Gene Ringer (R) dec. Noah Davis, 3-1 OT; 106 -- Seth Hogue (R) pinned Jonathan Day, :59; 113 -- Korbin Myers (BS) major dec. Mike Bartolo, 13-3; 120 -- A.J. Kostyak (BS) dec. Nick Nottingham, 6-4; 126 -- Grant Bond (BS) dec. Mason McCollum; 132 -- Kyle Shoop (BS) major dec. Cam Cianci, 16-4; 138 -- Andrew Mellott (BS) dec. Matt Leise, 6-4 (OT); 145 --- Levi Stoyer (R) major dec. Tyler Kaufmann, 10-1.
QUARTERFINALS
REYNOLDS 45, WEST BRANCH 19
106 -- Hogue (R) dec. Dustin Deliman, 6-2; 113 -- Bartolo (R) tech fall over Wyatt Sankey, 16-0, 4:11; 120 -- Nottingham (R) dec. Jacob Brown, 4-0; 126 -- McCollum (R) pinned Kaleb Quick, 3:31; 132 -- John Hayles (WB) pinned Dallas Sposito, 2:47; 138 -- Parker Bumbarger (WB) dec. Neal Engstrom, 8-3; 145 -- Stoyer (R) pinned Clayton Green, 1:24; 152 -- Matthews (R) pinned Luke Slippey, 1:16; 160 -- Millero (R) major dec. Conor Myers, 15-3; 170 - Lucas Kristofits (WB) dec. Curtis Arnold, 11-2; 182 -- Moffett (R) dec. Vincent McDowell, 12-6; 195 -- Henry (R) dec. Robert Pearce, 7-1; 220 -- Rickert (R) pinned Reynold Maines, 0:47; 285 -- Morgan Selepack (WB) pinned Ringer, 0:49.
Sports
Raider matmen face Bethlehem Catholic for PIAA team title
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Herald-Tamie junior tourney set Thursday-Friday
THEY SAY THAT “The best things in life are free.” Well, one of those “best things” is the annual Herald-Tam O’Shanter Junior Golf Championships every summer.
The event, which has been free to boys and girls in the Shenango Valley since it’s inception in 1949, will be held Thursday and Friday at Tam O’Shanter Golf Course in Hermitage.
It has been the premier youth tournament for decades and some of the top players ever to come out of this area have participated. But you don’t have to be a great young golfer to take part. It’s a wonderful opportunity for every youngster to get a free round of golf on a great course, which is in immaculate shape this season. -
Hickory lists 2013 scholar-athlete award winners
Hickory High Athletic Director Barb Dzuricsko recently announced that a total of 213 students (grades 9-12) earned Don McKay Scholar-Athlete awards.
To be eligible, students must maintain an A (93 percent or higher) grade-point-average through the academic year’s third 9-week grading period and compete in a PIAA-sponsored sport.
A total of 375 students competed in athletics this past year, Dzuricsko noted, meaning almost 57 percent qualified for the McKay Scholar-Athlete Award. Since the award’s inception, this is the highest total number of students to earn the honors, she reported. -
SCHOLASTIC NOTEBOOK: Hearns to continue golf career in college; Petty to be honored
RECENT HICKORY High alumna Rosy Hearns will continue her education and golf careers at the State University of New York-Albany. Hickory links coach Craig Antush said Hearns recently signed a letter-of-intent.
Hearns’ Hickory career concluded as one of the finest on the links — male or female — in Mercer County annals. -
Bowlers compete in Senior Games
The bowling portion of the annual Mercer County Senior Games was held Wednesday at Grove City Bowlodrome. That followed horseshoes and shuffleboard competitions earlier in the week.
Following is the rest of the schedule: -
COLLEGIATE NOTEBOOK: Ex-Hickory great Richards has great spring track season
FORMER HICKORY HIGH standout Morgan Richards enjoyed a successful spring season for the University of North Carolina-Charlotte track & field team. The female 49ters won the Atlantic 10 Conference outdoor track & field team title.
“Morgan kept her stride as she transitioned into the outdoor season, running top times in several events among (Atlantic 10) freshmen and on Charlotte’s all-time top 10 lists,” assistant coch Edwin T. Schlichter wrote in a recent e-mail to The Herald. “Morgan finished just one spot (9th) out of scoring at the 2013 A-10 Championships in the 3000-meter steeplechase, despite this being her first year ever attempting the event, and running 11:02.22 which was 2nd among all freshmen in the A-10 and 5th all-time for UNC-Charlotte.” -
SPORTVIEW: Hickory tri-athletes deserve special recognition
EVERY YEAR we receive a photo from the Hermitage School District of a group of student-athletes that I am thrilled to receive and run in the paper.
The photo is of Hickory High School “tri-athletes,” boys and girls who participate in sports during each of the fall, winter and spring seasons. But there is more to it than that. Each of these athletes also must maintain an 85 percent B average during the first three 9-week grading periods of the year. -
TIDBITS: Scurpas make college choices; Matthews, Norris, Bonner part of great Clarion recruiting class; Lewis earns national medal
SHARPSVILLE HIGH volleyball standouts Kristen and Paige Scurpa, who are cousins, will continue their education and athletic careers at California University of Pa. and Penn State-Behrend, respectively.
The duo, both of whom were named to the All-State team in Class A by the Pa. Volleyball Coaches Association, led the Blue Darlings to the District 10 title game in November. Sharpsville, Region 1 champs the past 4 years, suffered a 3-1 loss to Cochranton in that match and finished the season 16-4. -
Sharpsville falls in D-10 title game
SLIPPERY ROCK — Monday was a pretty good day for Saegertown High School.
Just mere hours after the Lady Panthers won the District 10 Class A softball championship, the Saegertown baseball team (19-2) captured its third straight D-10 Class AA title with a convincing 10-3 victory over Sharpsville (15-6) at Slippery Rock University’s Jack Critchfield Park.
“We knew going into the game that Saegertown’s a pretty good team and they’ve been a pretty good team for the past few years,” Blue Devils coach Mike Sikorski said. “I think they’ve been in the District 10 Championship the past four years. They’re a solid team, a very good team. They’re very patient at the plate and when they get their pitches, they hit them.” -
STATE TRACK NOTEBOOK: WM seniors leave legacy of greatness
WEST MIDDLESEX High always has had a proud athletic heritage, and this past weekend’s PIAA Class AA Track & Field championship will only add lustre to that legacy.
According to available archives at The Herald, only the 1954 boys’ basketball team and Coach Bob Morris’ boys’ cross country team from earlier this decade previously had won commonwealth crowns. -
Allen wins 4 gold medals to lead WM to PIAA team title
SHIPPENSBURG — Clay Allen said he had to explode out of the starting blocks for his 100-meter dash showdown with Hickory’s DeShawn Coleman. But Allen — all afternoon — was getting the jump on his competitors during the annual PIAA Track & Field Championships.
By approximately 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Shippensburg University, Allen annexed 4 gold medals — 100- and 200-meter dashes, long jump, and as part of the sprint-relay. The workload West Middlesex High’s senior exhibited enabled the Big Reds to record the Class AA commonwealth crown. - More Sports Headlines
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Herald-Tamie junior tourney set Thursday-Friday
