OPINION —
CONGRATULATIONS TO the Reynolds High wrestling team for adding another award to the crowded school trophy case this past weekend by finishing second at the PIAA Class AA Dual Meet Championships.
The state originated the Duals in 1999 and the Raiders have been more successful than any other AA team, having won three times and finishing second three as well.
Bethlehem Catholic, which defeated Reynolds Saturday, also has three titles (in a row), but those were the only finals appearances.
When the duals were initiated, only the District 10 champion moved on to state. Then a few years ago, they began to take the champion and runner-up into the tournament, although the runner-up had to compete in a wrestle-in match to advance to Hershey.
This year it expanded even more with three D-10 teams moving on, with two wrestle-in matches. But D-10 teams certainly did well.
While the Raiders were runners-up, Fort LeBoeuf finished third. Only Beth Catholic defeated those teams. Saegertown advanced all the way to Saturday, where the Panthers bowed to LeBoeuf in the morning consolation round.
It will be interesting to watch how the wrestlers from the three teams do during their sectional and district tourneys. Sometimes after competing at state in the duals, some wrestlers have a tendency for a letdown.
ä Don’t expect any letdown from Austin Matthews of Reynolds. This past weekend the 152-pound star pinned all four of his opponents in the first period, a pretty rare feat indeed.
“If he wrestled for himself the way he does to help his team, he would be unbeatable,” said Reynolds coach Casey Taylor. “He’s a big reason we did as well as we did.”
Matthews is on a mission and is almost unbeatable most of the time. He has lost in the state finals twice and is a three-time placer. As expected, his goal is the top of the medal stand. It will be fun to watch his drive for the gold medal (unless you are his opponent, of course).
ä Reynolds defeated Boiling Springs in the semifinals of the state duals and gained a bit of revenge over the Bubblers who had beaten the Raiders two straight years previous.
One interesting note: When the two teams meet, it is a rare occurrence that it would be a clash of two coaches who are three-time high school state champions. Taylor was a three-timer for Reynolds, while Boiling Springs coach Rod Wright was a three-timer at Lakeview.
ä The sectional Class AA tournaments begin this coming weekend, again at three different sites. Following are the tournament sites and teams:
AA-1 at Union City — Corry, Eisenhower, Fort LeBoeuf, Harborcreek, Iroquois, North East, Saegertown, Seneca, Union City, Youngsville.
AA-2 at Sharon — Franklin, Grove City, Hickory, Lakeview, Mercer, Reynolds, Sharon, Sharpsville, Slippery Rock, West Middlesex.
AA-3 at Greenville — Cambridge Springs, Cochranton, Commodore Perry, Conneaut Area, Fairview, Girard, Greenville, Jamestown, Maplewood, Northwestern.
The lone AAA section will be held at Erie Central Tech with Cathedral Prep, Central Tech, East, Gen. McLane, McDowell, Meadville, Oil City, Strong Vincent, Titusville and Warren in the field. McLane, Titusville and Warren are all AA eligible, but choose to compete in AAA, while Oil City is a co-op.
All four tournaments begin on Friday and continue on to Saturday.
ä In Class AA, it will be interesting to see who steps up and drives all the way to the state tournament. Last season we had four locals in the state finals, but only Matthews returns.
In fact the only other two local state qualifiers returning are Sharon’s Jarray Norris and Lakeview’s Sam Breese. Both are shooting for spots high on the medal stand this year.
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Related Photos
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The Reynolds High wrestling team poses with its state runner-up trophy Saturday after losing to Bethlehem Catholic in the PIAA State Class AA Dual Meet Championships in Hershey. The Raiders have won 3 state titles and finished 2nd 3 times since the tourney began in 1999. Contributed/Constance Sorg
SPORTVIEW: D-10 teams did well at state duals; sections to start
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Hickory boys edge WM for D-10 Class AA Track team title
HARBORCREEK — Hickory High co-head coach Mark Slezak referenced the term “exponential” in explaining the four-fold heart-felt feeling of having a relay team qualify for the PIAA Championships.
That sentiment seemed to summarize Mercer County’s performance during Saturday’s annual District 10 Class AA Track & Field Championships. -
5 area teams qualify for D-10 baseball playoffs
Five area baseball teams have qualified for the District 10 playoffs — Grove City, Kennedy Catholic, Sharpsville, West Middlesex and Wilmington.
In the Class A semifinals, Kennedy Catholic faces Cochranton at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Northwestern High School. Rocky Grove faces Eisenhower in the other semifinal game. -
Hickory, WM boys to collide at D-10 AA Track & Field Championships
For the 2nd time this week, a District 10 track & field team title could be decided by a pair of Mercer County contingents.
Just as Hickory and Grove City girls contested the Class AAA crown Wednesday night, so, too, are the Hickory and West Middlesex boys anticipating vying for Saturday’s AA title. -
Roundup: Reynolds baseball tops GC; Sharpsville, Wilmington softball teams win
ä Reynolds 4, Grove City 1 — At Transfer, Neal Engstrom fired a complete-game 3-hitter with 8 strikeouts and 3 walks in lifting the Raiders (9-8) past the Eagles (14-6).
Ryan Grace was tagged with the loss for Grove City. He struck out 6 batters, issued no walks and gave up 7 hits in going the distance. -
GC girls 3-peat at District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
HARBORCREEK— Some athletes seeded 1st in four events would feel pressure. For Grove City High senior Daniel Jaskowak, it’s an opportunity for name recognition.
“I kind’ve like it. It’s cool, because people know who you are,” related Jaskowak, who won 3 events during Wednesday’s District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships. -
Hickory, GC girls collide at D-10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships
If you want to be the best, you have to beat the best. Cliché though that is, it will be borne out today at the annual District 10 Class AAA Track & Field Championships.
Hickory High girls — the defending PIAA Class AA titlists — will test the best from the biggest. And the Lady Hornets hope to give as good as they get from the 6-county competition. -
Local tune up for districts at Mercer County Invite
There’s a difference between a warm-up and a warning.
If Saturday’s annual track & field invitational is any indication, Mercer County’s contingent issued a warning for the remainder of District 10: This could be a big year in area annals. -
Roundup: Grace, GC beat Sharon, 4-0, in 5 innings
With an impending storm blowing in above Johnny Pepe Field time was limited, so Ryan Grace greedily gobbled up putouts.
Grove City High’s Grace gave up only 3 base hits, and the visiting Eagles eased to an abbreviated 4-0, 5-inning win over Sharon Friday afternoon. -
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS ROUNDUP: County track meet set Saturday at Hickory
The annual Mercer County Track & Field Invitational will be held at Hickory High’s Hornet Stadium Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m.
Competing are all Mercer County teams, Class AAA and AA, as well as Slippery Rock. The meet serves as a warm-up to the District 10 championships set next week at Harbor Creek High. -
Roundup: Sharon baseball squad edges Sharpsville, 5-4
It was a tense Tuesday in Tiger-town.
Twenty-four hours removed from a 1-run Region 2-AA loss at New Wilmington, Sharon High’s baseball team could not afford another setback, otherwise its postseason aspirations were alleviated.
Conversely, region pacesetting Sharpsville could have secured the crown with a win, and the Blue Devils dashed to an early 3-0 lead. - More Sports Headlines
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