---- — The Reynolds Raiders are back!

After 2 years without any District 10 honors, the Raiders are again on top of the heap after copping the Class AA team title Saturday at Sharon High.

Led by 4-time champion Austin Matthews (152), the Raiders grabbed 3 individual titles and posted 204.5 points to outdistance 2nd-place Fort LeBoeuf (139) and Saegertown (135).

“This is a tremendous accomplishment for these kids,” said Reynolds coach Casey Taylor of his team’s 19th D-10 title since the points were counted in 1981. “It’s been a two-year hiatus from winning it, so it’s a tribute to the hard work they’ve put in and the work of the coaches (assistants Joe Reichard, Mark Bartolo, Marty Taylor). It’s just a fun team to be around, too.

“This is a tough district. Saegertown has a good individual team and Fort LeBoeuf is always tough. There’s Greenville and others. So to win the district title is always our goal, but it isn’t easy.”

Besides Matthews, other 2012 champions to repeat were: Saegertown sophomore Tim Vath (120) and Sharon’s Jarray Norris (126). Fort LeBoeuf’s Evan Daley won at 220, his 2nd title after a victory at heavyweight 2 years ago.  

Others winning their first crowns were: Michael Bartolo (113), Levi Stoyer (145) of Reynolds; Sharon’s Michael Bonner (138); Saegertown’s Devin Brown (106) and Dylan Reynolds (182); Seneca’s Adam Fish (132) and Trevor Beiter (195); Fort LeBoeuf’s Taylor Fox (160); Union City’s Tim Vargo (170), and Slippery Rock’s Forrest Christman (285). 

Following is a look at the finals matches:

106 – Saegertown’s outstanding sophomore Devin Brown (41-1) spoiled the start of the evening for Reynolds by building an 8-0 lead and decking Raider freshman Seth Hogue in 3:06. Other countians advancing to regions were Lakeview’s Evan Clayton 4th, Greenville’s Jase Paxson 5th and Jamestown’s Faris Messai, 6th.

113 – This was a rematch of the Section 2 finals where Cody Buchanan of Sharon beat Bartolo. But this time, Bartolo grabbed a quick takedown and back points for a 4-0 lead and made it stand up en route to a thrilling 6-4 victory over the Tigers senior. Bartolo scored a clutch win in the semis over Jarrette Carter of Fort LeBoeuf.

“It was a great win and he had a great weekend,” said Coach Taylor. “Michael had lost twice to Carter and to Buchanan. But winning at the right time is the key in wrestling.”

120 – Vath was up a couple of weights after winning the title at 103 last year, but that didn’t deter the Panther (40-4) as he beat Matt Wheeler of Northwestern, 10-6. The only Mercer County-area grappler to advance here was Dave Huselton of Slippery Rock, who finished 5th.

126 – This was another rematch of a Section 2 final between Reynolds and Sharon wrestlers, and again there was a turnaround, this time in Sharon’s favor. Norris, a senior, won his 2nd straight D-10 title with a vicious offensive attack. The powerful Tiger jumped to a 10-1 first-period lead and avenged his last-second section defeat with a resounding 12-3 triumph. Norris has only 2 losses against 32 wins this season and he avenged both losses Saturday, beating Kyle Lukowich of Conneaut Area, 11-5, in the semis, then topping the junior McCollum.

“He had a little bit of an attitude,” said smiling Sharon coach Dave Ciafre about the way his Tiger came out of the gate. “We were yelling things at him and he was shaking us off. He knew what he wanted to do, he had a game plan. He wanted to send a message about last week.”

132 – At this weight, a Fish beat a Muskie.

Confused?

It was a Seneca freshman Adam Fish beating a Jamestown Muskie senior Nick Floch, 6-4, with a takedown in overtime. Floch built a 4-1 lead after 1 period over Fish, but Fish tied it up, 4-4 by the end of regulation. He nailed a double-leg takedown for the victory.

Other locals moving on to regions are: West Middlesex’s Gavin Kroesen 3rd, Reynolds’ Cam Cianci 4th and Grove City’s Luke Walter 5th.

138 –Bonner was locked in a tight bout in the third period with Matt Humes of Saegertown, but the cat-quick Bonner (31-2) nailed a takedown to a cradle and moved ahead 8-3 by the time Humes kicked free for an escape. From there the Tigers senior, who finished runner-up here to the incomparable Matthews of Reynolds last year, rolled to a 14-5 victory.

 “Michael is on a mission,” said Ciafre. “The first period he was a little tentative, but he wrestled the kid last year and it was pretty close. So he was feeling him out. But I think he wore the kid out a bit. Michael has a motor. He trains hard and doesn’t stop.”

Also moving on are Jamestown’s Seth Thurber, 4th; Reynolds’ Matt Leise, 5th, and Mercer’s Rodney Brant, 6th.

 145 – Reynolds junior Levi Stoyer (36-6) grabbed a 1st-period takedown and held off Robert Booozer of Cochranton for a 3-1 victory. Grove City’s Trey Maher also advanced after taking 5th.

“He’s slow and steady, but he’s precision-like when he hits a move,” praised Taylor of Stoyer. “He’s come a long way this season and he started the year 0-2 after losing to some great wrestlers. He goes against Austin in the room every day, so sometimes we don’t get to see how good he really is.”

152 – Matthews is one of Reynolds’ all-time greats in winning his 4th straight crown, but has bigger thoughts of the one title that has eluded him — a state championship. In the D-10 finals against Blake Horne of Greenville the Raider (42-1)  dominated from the start for a 14-3 major decision.

“Winning four district championships is a very special accomplishment,” said Taylor. “I know we had Dylan D’Urso do it last year, but it doesn’t happen very often. Austin is wrestling at such a high level and there are great things ahead for him.”

“I watched Dylan do it last year and it really feels good,” said a humble Matthews about the 4 titles.

Grove City’s Chet Simoni moves on also after finishing 4th.  

 160 – Fox produced a workmanlike win over Ryan Northcott of Cochranton by a 5-2 count.

Also moving on is Sharpsville’s Ben BuCher, who picked up his 100th career win with a 4-2 decision over Reynolds’ Mike Millero in the consy finals for third.

170 – This final went into overtime, where Vargo nailed a quick takedown for a 4-2 win over Austin Andrews of Cochranton.

Locals moving on are Greenville’s Zach Miller 5th and Lakeview’s Marquis Spence 6th.

182 – Reynolds senior Jamar Henry gave up a 1st-period takedown and never led against Dylan Reynolds of Saegertown as the Panther prevailed 7-3.

Also moving on are Greenville’s Justin Reynolds 3rd and Hickory’s Joe Hines 4th.

195 – Beiter countered a takedown attempt by Ryan Morris of Corry, flipped Morris to his back and notched a fall in 1:34.

 Sharpsville’s Cody Hughes finished 5th and Jamestown’s Jason Sharpee 6th.

220 – For a 2nd straight year, Cochranton’s Cam Cyphert and Daley put on a great show in the finals. It went into overtime again, but this time it was Daley coming away with the title after a takedown for an 8-6 triumph. Daley was also a champion at heavyweight in 2011,  before bowing to Cypert last year.

One local moves on, Reynolds’ Logan Rickert, 3rd.

285 – Union City’s Jeff Burger was defending champ, but Christmann beat the big man 5-0. Christmann (30-3) is signed to wrestle for Edinboro University next season. Also advancing are Lakeview’s Sam Breese, 3rd; Reynolds’ Gene Ringer, 4th; Greenville’s Braden Gladysz, 5th, and Sharpsville’s Kaleb Robertson, 6th.

“He finally finished a shot,” said a happy Rockets’ coach Tyler Allen of his big man who recorded his 100th victory. “He got in and finished. When he gets on top he can ride a guy out. He lost to Burger at the Hickory tournament, so he wanted this one.”

The top 6 wrestlers in each weight class move on to compete against the top 4 from District 9 this coming weekend at Sharon High.

“I’m looking forward to regions,” said Taylor. “We’re taking 11 kids so I’m happy about that. And the three kids that lost were all underclassmen and they lost one match away from advancing.”

———

  Top 10 Team Points: Reynolds 204.5, Fort LeBoeuf 139, Saegertown 135, Cochranton 114, Seneca 79, Sharon 78.5, Union City 71, Greenville 70, Corry 56, Jamestown 53.

Championship

  106 – Devin Brown (Saegertown) pinned Seth Hogue (Reynolds), 3:06; 113 – Michael Bartolo (Reynolds) dec. Cody Buchanan (Sharon), 6-4; 120 – Tyler Vath (Saegertown) dec. Matt Wheeler (Northwestern), 10-6; 126 – Jarray Norris (Sharon) major dec. Mason McCollum (Reynolds), 12-3; 132 – Adam Fish (Seneca) dec. Nick Floch (Jamestown), 6-4 OT; 138 – Michael Bonner (Sharon) major dec. Matt Humes (Saegertown), 14-5; 145 – Levi Stoyer (Reynolds) dec. Robert Boozer (Cochranton), 3-1; 152 – Austin Matthews (Reynolds) major dec. Blake Horne (Greenville), 4-3; 160 – Taylor Fox (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Ryan Northcott (Cochranton), 5-2; 170 – Tim Vargo (Union City) dec. Austin Andrews (Cochranton), 4-2 (OT); 182 – Dylan Reynolds (Saegertown) dec. Jamar Henry (Reynolds), 7-3; 195 – Trevor Beiter (Seneca) pinned Ryan Morris (Corry), 1:34; 220 -  Evan Daley (Fort LeBoeuf) dec. Cam Cyphert (Cochranton), 8-6 OT; 285 -  Forrest Christmann (Slippery Rock) dec. Jeff Burger (Union City), 5-0.   

3rd-place Consolations

 106 – Isaac Bengal (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Evan Clayton (Lakeview), 5-1; 113 – Jarrette Carter (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Nate Kline (Cochranton), 4-0; 120 – Tyler Kuzma (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Cyle Yaple (Seneca), 1-0; 126 – Nick Monico (Saegertown) dec. Kyle Lukowich (Conneaut), 1-0; 132 — Gavin Kroesen (West Middlesex) dec. Cam Cianci (Reynolds), 5-3;  138 – Chris Hibbler (Seneca) dec. Seth Thurber (Jamestown), 7-5 (OT); 145 – Brad Malinowski (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Talor Ellis (Conneaut), 9-1; 152 – Taylor Harrington (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Chet Simoni (Grove City), 5-0; 160 – Ben BuCher (Sharpsville) dec. Mike Millero (Reynolds), 4-2; 170 – Shane Taubert (Corry) dec. Chris Matthews (Franklin), 8-2; 182 – Justin Reynolds (Greenville) dec. Joe Hines (Hickory), 4-3; 195 – Jake Johnson (Eisenhower) dec. Dan Geer (Franklin), 6-2; 220 – Logan Rickert (Reynolds) dec. Jaykup Durlin (Youngsville), 3-1; 285 – Sam Breese (Lakeview) dec. Gene Ringer (Reynolds), 6-2.      

5th-place Consolations

  106 – Jase Paxson (Greenville) dec. Faris Messai (Jamestown), 8-5; 113 – Logan Gray (North East) pinned Bingbong Elizon (Saegertown), 1:49; 120 – Dave Huselton (Slippery Rock) dec. Daniel Simmerman (Maplewood), 9-5; 126 – Jared Morrison (Cochranton) dec. Dustin Tomcho (Union City), 6-4; 132 – Luke Walter (Grove City) dec. Zak Dennis (Maplewood), 6-2; 138 – Matt Leise (Reynolds) pinned Rodney Brant (Mercer), 4:59; 145 – Trey Maher (Grove City) dec. Louie Head (Eisenhower), 6-3; 152 – Caleb Peterson (Cochranton) pinned Dakota Geer (Franklin), 4:24; 160 – Josh Reinke (Union City) major dec. Andrew Boylan (Saegertown), 9-1; 170 – Zach Miller (Greenville) dec. Marquis Spence (Lakeview), 8-4; 182 – Isiah Stearns (Maplewood) pinned Stone Sivak (Youngsville), 4:41; 195 – Cody Hughes (Sharpsville) dec. Jason Shappee (Jamestown), 5-0; 220 – Tim Suydan (Corry) dec. Ryan Cardman (Fairview), 4-2; 285 – Braden Gladysz (Greenville) pinned Kaleb Robertson (Sharpsville), 1:25.  

Championship Semifinals

  106 – Brown major dec. Paxton, 13-2; Hogue pinned Messai, 4:55; 113 – Buchanan dec. Kline, 2-1; Bartolo dec. Carter, 5-2; 120 – Vath majot dec. Huselton, 13-5; Wheeler dec. Kuzma, 6-4 (OT); 126 – McCollum dec. Monico, 2-1; Norris dec. Lukowich, 11-5; 132 – Floch dec. Walter, 5-3 (OT); Fish pinned Dennis, 5:13; 138 – Bonner pinned Hibbler, 0:17; Humes pinned Thurber, 1:10; 145 – Boozer dec. Maher, 2-0; Stoyer dec. Head, 7-0; 152 – Matthews major dec. Harrington, 10-1; Horne dec. Geer, 7-2; 160 – Fox dec. BuCher, 3-2; Northcott dec. Millero, 4-3; 170 – Andrews dec. Matthews, 6-4 (OT); Vargo major dec. Miller, 15-6; 182 – D.Reynolds dec. J.Reynolds, 9-4; Henry pinned Stearns, 3:12; 195 – Morris pinned Hughes, 1:33; Beiter major dec. Shappee, 11-0; 220 – Daley pinned Rickert, 5:46; Cyphert pinned Durlin, 2:34; 285 – Burger dec. Breese, 8-3; Christmann dec. Ringer, 3-1 TB.

Consolation Semifinals

  106 – Bengal dec. Paxson, 5-4; Clayton dec. Messai, 5-0; 113 – Kline dec. Elizon, 7-2; Carter dec. Gray, 4-2; 120 – Yaple dec. Huselton, 4-2; Kuzma major dec. Simmerman, 12-2; 126 – Monico dec. Tomcho, 4-0; Lukowich major dec. Morrison, 10-0; 132 – Kroesen dec. Walter, 4-3; Cianci dec. Dennis, 7-2; 138 – Thurber dec. Leise, 4-1; Hibbler dec. Brant, 5-4; 145 – Ellis pinned Maher, 2:37; Malinowski dec. Head, 2-1; 152 – Simoni dec. Geer, 4-3; Harrington major dec. Peterson, 11-0; 160 – BuCher pinned Boylan, 2:46; Millero dec. Reinke, 6-3; 170 – Matthews dec. Spence, 5-3; Taubert dec. Miller, 6-3; 182 – Reynolds pinned Sivak, 4:13; Hines dec. Stearns, 5-2; 195 – Geer dec. Hughes, 3-1 (OT); Johnson dec. Shappee, 3-2; 220 – Rickert dec. Cardman, 7-0; Durlin pinned Suydan, 1:40; 285 – Breese dec. Gladysz, 4-1; Ringer dec. Robertson, 4-1.

Consolation Quarterfinals

  106 – Bengal dec. Preston Hoover (Mercer), 4-0; Clayton dec, Dustin Weilacher (Union City), 10-3; 113 – Elizon dec. Joey Safner (Greenville), 10-5; Gray dec. Brad Nowakowski (Seneca), 6-2; 120 – Yaple dec. Nick Nottingham (Reynolds), 5-3; Simmerman dec. Jake Heim (Lakeview), 9-2; 126 – Tomcho dec. Adam Ballew (North East), 4-0; Morrison dec. Adam Borgia (Ft.  LeBoeuf), 7-0; 132 – Kroesen pinned Trevor McCray (Girard), 2:52; Cianci pinned Mack  Heitzenrater (Harbor Creek), 0:40; 138 – Leise dec. Jacob Riffe (Greenville), 6-3 TB; Brant dec. Chris Enos (Sharpsville), 8-2; 145 – Ellis pinned Aaron Jackson (Saegertown), 3:20; Malinowski major dec. Andrew Campbell (Sharon), 9-2; 152 – Peterson pinned Alex Shaffer (Mercer), 3:55; Simoni dec. Sebastian Reinhardt (Northwestern), 2-1; 160 – Boylan pinned Derek Steetle (Franklin), 1:28; Reinke dec. Gage Gladysz (Greenville), 1-0; 170 – Spence dec. Austin Moffett (Reynolds), 7-5; Taubert dec. Jeremy Mitchell (Saegertown), 8-3; 182 – Hines pinned Chris Mueller (Sharpsville), 3:31; Sivak pinned Vitaliy Kleschevinikov (Girard), 2:19; 195 – Geer pinned Denton Zeronas (Reynolds), 3:56; Johnson dec. Zach Stafford (Camb. Springs), 5-4; 220 – Cardman pinned Jeff Rial (Franklin), 4:30; Suydan dec. Keamus Schulen (Jamestown), 6-3; 285 – Glaydsz dec. Nate Conti (Ft. LeBoeuf), 4-2 TB; Robertson dec. John Macken (Saegertown), 3-1.     

 Consolation 1st Round

  132 – Kroesen major dec. Ian Pettis (Northwestern), 9-0; McCray dec. Garrett Zuver (Saegertown), 5-2; Cianci dec. Troy Hejazi (Sharon), 7-3; Heitzenrater dec, Tyler Gourley (Eisenhower), 2-0.

  138 – Leise pinned Gage Dalton (Girard), 4:42; Riffe dec, Zach Krein (Cambridge Springs), 9-3; Brant pinned Shane Newell (Ft. LeBoeuf), 0:46; Enos dec. Hunter Proctor (Corry), 4-1.

 145 – Ellis pinned Jacob Kruize (Iroquois), :32; Jackson dec. Jeremy Parsons (Maplewood), 7-0; Malinowski dec. Jacob Rickert (Greenville), 4-3; Campbell dec. John Sims (Hickory), 9-4.

  152 – Peterson pinned Matt Newara (Harbor Creek), 2:15; Shaffer dec. Robbie Wilston (Eisenhower), 7-1; Reinhardt dec. Lance Neuscheler (Saegertown), 3-0; Simoni dec. Tyler Osborne (Commodore Perry), 3-1.

  160 – Boylan pinned Christian Bock (Girard), 5:29 (OT); Steetle forfeit; Gladysz pinned Clay Ruffo (Mercer), 4:58; Reinke dec. Jake  Parsons (Maplewood), 5-0.

  170 – Spence injury def. over Mohamed Messai (Jamestown), 2:40; Moffett pinned Zane Wolf (Slippery Rock), :59; Taubert major dec. Garrett Behringer (Northwestern), 8-0; Mitchell dec. Jack Middleton (Ft. LeBoeuf), 3-0.

  182 – Sivak forfeit; Kleschevinikov forfeit; Hines major dec. Cody Thomas (Union City), 11-3; Mueller dec. Ryan Brunson (Mercer), 2-0.

  195 – Geer pinned Alex Ho (Greenville), 2:25; Zeronas dec. Andrew Clayton (Lakeview), 3-1; Stafford pinned Dan Daugherty (Girard), 1:25; Johnson dec. Garrett Reinwald (Ft. LeBoeuf), 5-3 (OT).

  220 – Rial pinned Colton Smith (Mercer), 2:53; Cardman dec. Storm McDonald (Union City), 5-2; Suydan pinned Jake Llewellyn (Sharpsville), 1:40; Schulen pinned James Wilkerson (Greenville), 4:09.

  285 – Conti pinned Tim Galford (Maplewood), 1:43; Gladysz pinned Dylan Raines (Eisenhower), 1:27; Macken pinned Evan Miller (Cochranton), 4:19; Robertson pinned Brian Lipps (Conneaut), 1:11.