McLane
Wrestlers Come Up Short at PIAA Championships
Joe
Wheeling, Travis Bryant and Caleb Baker
went to Hershey with dreams of glory last Thursday,
but the brutal state tournament can be a dream killer.
The Lancer trio was only able to muster a single win
between the three of them.
The
weekend had to be especially tough for Baker,
who came away with a 5th place medal last year as
a junior. Caleb opened with a 3-1 win in the preliminary
round over Tim Maeshack of Willimsport and it looked
like he was on his way to the medal stand again. Unfortunately,
Dawson Peck, the eventual runnerup, put the brakes
on Baker's momentum when he pinned the Lancer heavyweight
23 seconds into the final period. In the first consolation
round, Caleb was in a tight one with Lasalle's Ryan
Geiger until Geiger dropped him to the mat for a 5
pointer. Baker was eliminated when he lost that bout,
11-4.
Joe
Wheeling lost both of his matches by major decsion.
He dropped a 10-2 decision to eventual runnerup, Ethan
Lizak of Parkland and then lost, 8-0 to 4th placer,
Zach Fuentes.
Travis
Bryant dropped an 8-0 major decision to 4th placer,
Zach Nye of East Pennsboro and then lost a heart breaking,
4-3 decision to Jason Laboranti of Pittston Area.
Notes
From the PIAA Championships:
Ironically,
the 285 pound champion this year was Averee Robinson
of Susquehanna Township, who was beaten by Caleb
in last year's 5th place match. Robinson finished
the season with a perfect, 43-0 record.
Even
though he didn't place this year, Baker has
many accomplishments to be very proud of. His 41 wins
this season is third best all time, he set a new record
for Career Falls with 72, has made the list for Season
Falls all three years of his varsity career and his
121 career wins ranks as third best in the GM books.
Caleb also has a 5th place medal from last year's
state tournament. In fact, he is the only McLane heavyweight
to ever medal in Hershey. He also holds the distinction
of being the only McLane wrestler to win 40+ matches
in a season more than once.
Joe
Wheeling appears to have a great wrestling career
in front of him. He may very well be wrestling at
103 pounds again next year. Joe set a new freshman
record for wins with 35 this year. Look for him to
improve on that number next season.
Travis
Bryant had a stellar career as a McLane wrestler.
Travis posted 33 wins this season and has 88 career
wins. He tied the record for most falls in a single
season with 28 and his 66 career falls ranks as third
best all time.
Congratulations
and good luck to our senior state qualifiers, Travis
and Caleb.
------------------
McLane
Wrestlers at the 2010-2011 PIAA AAA Championships
|
103-Joe
Wheeling
Prelim: Ethan Lizak (Parkland) wbmd Wheeling
10-2
Cons: Zach Fuentes (Norristown) wbmd Wheeling
8-0
Tourn
Record: 0-2 (DNP)
|
215-Travis
Bryant
Prelim: Zach Nye (E Pennsboro) wbmd Bryant 8-0
Cons: Jason Laboranti (Pittston Area) wbd Bryant
4-3
Tourn
Record: 0-2 (DNP)
|
|
285-Caleb
Baker
Prelim: Baker wbd Tim Maeshack (Williamsp) 3-1
QF: Dawson Peck (Chambersb) wbf Baker 4:23
Cons: Ryan Geiger (Lasalle) wbd Baker 11-4
Tourn
record: 1-2 (DNP)
|
---------------------
2011
PIAA AAA Championships:
Championship
Finals
103 Billy Rappo (Council Rock South) wbd Ethan Lizak
(Parkland) 3-2 TB.
112 Jordan Conaway (New Oxford) wbd Connor Schram
(Canon-McMillan) 10-4.
119 Corey Keener (Blue Mountain) wbd Mackenzie McGuire
(Upper St. Clair) 3-2.
125 Nico Megaludis (Franklin Regional) wbmd Jeremy
Minich (Boyertown) 16-4.
130 Zach Horan (Nazareth) wbd Tanner Hough (Westmont
Hilltop) 5-1.
135 Dan Neff, Solanco wbmd Garett Hammond, Chambersburg,
11-3.
140 Mitchell Minotti (Easton) wbd Kevin Gooding (Central
Dauphin) 12-6.
145 Brian Brill (Central Mountain) wbd Nick Catalano
(Canon-McMillan) 6-2.
152 Chance Marsteller (Kennard-Dale) wbd Mark Havers
(Bradford) 9-4.
160 Michael Ottinger (Parkland) wbd Jason Luster (Pittsb
Centr Cath) 3-2 OT.
171 J.M. Staudenmayer (Plym Whitem) wbmd Neal Grudi
(Spring Grove) 15-2.
189 Kenny Courts (Central Dauphin) wbf Josh Popple
(Coughlin) 0:38.
215 Thomas Haines (Solanco) wbf Brandan Clark (Methacton)
4:23.
285 Averee Robinson (Susq Township) wbd Dawson Peck
(Chambersburg) 10-7.
3rd
Place Consolations
103 Colt Shorts (Canon-McMillan) wbmd Zach Fuentes
(Norristown) 8-0.
112 Austin Miller (Hempfield) wbd Anthony Cabrera
(Bethlehem Liberty) 3-2.
119 Tyson Dippery (Central Dauphin) wbd Matt Harkins
(Hatboro Horsham) 11-7.
125 Devon Lotito (Bethlehem Liberty) wbmd Zach McGinnis
(Waynesburg) 12-0.
130 Solomon Chishko (Canon-McMillan) wbd Joe Mazzi
(LaSalle College) 4-2.
135 Mason Popham (Unionville) wbd Matt Rappo (Council
Rock South) 8-5.
140 Matt Cimato (LaSalle College) wbd Shane Miller
(Middletown) 6-2.
145 Jayshon Wilson (Carlisle) wbd Eric Nutter (Pittsb
Centr Cath) 3-2.
152 Lorenzo Thomas (Pittsb Centr Cath) wbd Brett Harner
(Norristown) 9-3.
160 Zach Thomson (Mechanicsburg) wbd Brady Grieb (Bellefonte)
6-3.
171 Nick Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park) wbd Cole Baxter
(Butler) 3-0.
189 John Bolich (Upper Moreland) wbf Perry Hills (Pittsb
Centr Cath) 2:47.
215 Joe Stolfi (Souderton) wbd Zachary Nye (East Pennsboro)
4-2 OT.
285 Cody Klempay (Canon-McMillan) wbd Jeremy Reith
(Father Judge) 3-2 UTB.
5th
Place Consolations
103 Tanner Shoap (Chambersburg) wbmff Jim Long (West
Chester Henderson).
112 Rob D'Annunzio (Methacton) wbd Kenny Arentz (Governor
Mifflin) 11-10.
119 Dereck Enders (Big Spring) wbd Thomas Traxler
(Bellefonte) 9-2.
125 Bobby Rehm (Penn Manor) wbd Kaleb Loht (Indian
Valley) 5-1.
130 Shyheim Brown (Central Dauphin) wbd Brandon Choate
(Blue Mountain) 8-2.
135 Joseph Rizzolino (Easton) wbd Dylan Mogan (Bethel
Park) 7-6.
140 Scott Bosak (State College) wbmd Tyler Manion
(Pittsb Centr Cath) 8-0.
145 Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin) wbd Trey Duncan
(Spring Grove) 6-1.
152 Geno Morelli (DuBois) wbd Thomas Demetrio (Pottsgrove)
8-4.
160 Shane Springer (LaSalle College) wbmff Ryan Krecker
(Nazareth).
171 Connor Moran (Solanco) wbd Austin Coniker (Pittsb
Centr Cath) 5-3.
189 Matt McCutcheon (Kiski Area) wbd Ryan Burnheimer
(Westmont Hilltop) 5-1.
215 Matt Idelson (Garnet Valley) wbmff Scott Mohring
(Latrobe).
285 Josh Duplin (Westmont Hilltop) wbd Alec
Gluvna (Corry) 3-1 OT.
7th
Place Consolations
103 Brett Marino (Bethlehem Liberty) wbd Jake
Gromacki (Cathedral Prep) 6-2.
112 Godwin Nyama (Brashear) wbd Paul Bewak (Hempfield)
4-3.
119 Derrick Nelson (Waynesburg) wbd Jon Brigham (Cumberland
Valley) 5-1.
125 Mike Fake (Parkland) wbd Daniel King (Susq Township)
2-1.
130 Celby Allen (Middletown) wbd John Pezze (Norwin)
4-3.
135 Dario Dobbin (Canon-McMillan) wbmd Eric Howey
(Stroudsburg) 11-2.
140 Cody Zechman (Selinsgrove) wbd Matt Tadich (Norwin)
6-4.
145 Tyler Parsons (Cathedral
Prep) wbd Justin Heller (Parkland) 11-4.
152 Tyler Buckwalter (Central Mountain) wbmd John
Lambert (Northampton) 9-1.
160 Zack Towers (Meadville)
wbd Nick Russell (Neshaminy) 3-2 UTB.
171 Shane Gilmore (Council Rock South) wbd Chad Hoffman
(Hazleton) 3-2.
189 Phil Sprenkle (Dallastown) wbf Dominick Wolfe
(Shikellamy) 3:43.
215 Tyson Searer (Lewistown) wbd Tarek Haddad (Parkland)
5-2.
285 Gavin Queenan (Norristown) wbf Ryan Geiger (LaSalle
College) 0:23.
3/14/11
Three
GM Wrestlers Advance to State Tournament
A
trio of McLane wrestlers will head for Hershey this
week to vie for high school wrestling's most coveted
title. Joe Wheeling, Travis Bryant and
Caleb Baker all placed 3rd at the 2011 Northwest
Regional Tournament and qualified for the PIAA AAA
Wrestling Championships in Hershey. The last time
GM took three to the state tourney was in 2005 when
Branden Stearns, Hadley Harrison and
Donald Osinski made the cut.
Joe
Wheeling was the first of the trio to qualify
at 103 pounds, when he posted a 9-0 major decision
over Holidayburg's Damian Huff in the cony finals.
Joe started the tournament on Friday with an 8-2 win
over Huff, before losing to eventual champion, Shane
Peters of Clearfield. On Saturday, Wheeling put together
three straight wins, including a fall over Bryan Descavish
of Phillipsburg-Osceola, a 2-1 nail biter over Bald
Eagle Area's Travis Giedroc and the 9-0 major over
Huff.
Travis
Bryant went 5-1 with 4 falls to nab 3rd place
in the 215 pound weight class. Bryant opened the tournament
on Friday with a 31 second fall over Carrick's Jesse
Reid, before losing to eventual champ, state ranked,
Tyson Searer of Lewistown in the quarterfinals. Bryant
then rattled off four straight wins, two of them against
district champs. In the consy finals, he pulled off
a come from behind, 6-5 win over district 9 champ,
Cliff Hill of Clearfield. Hill held a 3-1 lead early
in the second period, but Bryant escaped and tossed
the Bison to his back for a 4 spot. In the 3rd period,
two late stalling calls on Bryant tied the score at
5. Just as the score was tied, Travis exploded to
his feet and threw Hill off to secure a 6-5 win.
Caleb
Baker took 3rd place in a very deep weight class,
but it wasn't easy. Baker pinned Bradford's Dakota
Sera to open the tournament, but then suffered a disappointing,
3-1 loss to state ranked (3rd), Josh Duplin in the
quarterfinals. It was clear at that point that Caleb
would have to beat not one, but two state ranked opponents
if he was going to move on. Caleb pinned his foes
in the first two consolation rounds, but he needed
to pull off a couple of miracles after that.
In
the consy semifinals, Baker faced off against Zac
Corl. Not only was Corl last year's state runnerup,
he had beaten Baker in the NW Region finals last year.
Caleb scored a stunning upset over Corl by riding
his Central Mountain opponent the entire second period,
earning an escape and fending off Corl for a 1-0 decision.
In the consolation finals, Baker tangled with Meadville's
9th ranked, Kevin Thompson. The two heavyweights were
1-1 against each other this season, Baker beat Thompson
2-1 in the Meadville dual meet last month, but Thompson
had pinned Baker in the Tool City finals in January.
Baker prevailed in the rubber match, once again on
the strength of his riding ability. He held a tentative,
1-0 lead with just seconds remaining when Thompson
made a desperation headlock attempt. Baker went to
the mat, but popped his head out and scored a takedown
at the buzzer to secure a 3-0 win and the bronze medal.
Tim
Wheeling just missed making his third consecutive
trip to Hershey when he placed 4th in what was arguably,
the tournament's toughest weight class. Tim made the
semifinal round by beating Johnstown's district 6
runnerup, Malcolm Harris, 7-4 and decking district
8 champ, Henry Dietrick of Alderdice. In the semis,
Wheeling faced district 9 champ, Kody Young of Punxsutawney.
The two went toe to toe for six grueling periods.
In the ultimate tiebreaker period, Young denied Tim
an appearance in the finals when he finally managed
to escape with just 3 seconds left on the clock. Wheeling
bounced back with a hard fought, 3-1 decision over
Franklin's Trevor Graham, but lost a 4-1 decision
to McDowell's talented Shawn Spearman in the consolation
finals.
DJ
Myers went 3-2 at 145 pounds, but was one bout
short of the medal round. Myers beat Clearfield's
Shane Harper, 17-4 in the opening round but then lost
to the top ranked 145 pounder in the state, Brian
Brill of Central Mountain in the quarterfinals. DJ
bounced back with two pins before falling to Phillipsburg-Osceola's
Logan Walstrom in the consy semis.
Zac
Baumgartner went 1-2 at 140 lbs. He lost his opening
round bout, but picked up a 4-0 win over Sam Miller
of St. Marys. Zac saw his Lancer wrestling career
end in the consy quarterfinals when he dropped a heart
breaking, 5-4 decision to Erie Prep's Justin Wasmund.
Senior,
Bryan Campbell and freshman, Deane Twitchell
both went 0-2.
-------------------
News
and Notes from Altoona:
Caleb
Baker's win over Meadville's Kevin Thompson was
his 40th this season. Only three other wrestlers have
ever won 40 or more matches in a season, Hadley Harrison
(48), Donald Osinski (42), and Hayden Harrison
(41). But Caleb is the first and only McLane
wrestler to do it twice. Baker also has 120
career wins, which ties him for the number 3 spot
with Donald Osinski. Caleb did all of this
in just 3 seasons (he only wrestled one varsity match
as a freshman). Congrats big man!!!
This
year's 285 pound weight class was as deep as
I have ever seen it. Last year's state runnerup didnt
even make it out of regionals (Zac Corl). District
10 was especially tough, winning three of the top
four places (Gluvna/Corry-1st, Baker/GM-3rd and Kevin
Thompson/Meadville-4th).
Travis
Bryant made us all proud. The 215 pounder wasn't
supposed to make it out of Regionals, coming in as
a District 10 3rd placer. But Travis wrestled his
heart out, beating two district champs on his way
to a 3rd place finish. Bryant also tied the record
for most falls in one season (28) which was held by
Kyle Goss. His four pins this weekend also
put him in 3rd place for career falls with 66. Only
Caleb Baker (72) and Hayden Harrison (67)
have more career pins. Bryant also accomplished these
feats in just three seasons. Way to go!
DJ
Myers set a new record for most major decisions
in a single season. The 17-4 major decision over Shane
Harper in the preliminary round was his 10th.
GM's
undersized 103 pounder, Joe Wheeling made a
statement this weekend with his 3rd place finish.
He went 4-1 and ran his record to 35-9. Joe now owns
the GM record for Most Freshman Wins. His brother,
Tim set the record of 33 just two years ago.
Travis
Bryant and DJ Myers became the newest additions
to the "Seasons Wins" list. Myers has 35
and Bryant, 33.
Senior,
Zac Baumgartner saw his GM wrestling career
come to an early end on Saturday, but not before joining
the 30 win club. He posted a 30-7 record this year
and racked up 97 career wins. Zac has been a solid
wrestler for the past 4 years and will be missed.
Good luck at Edinboro.
Senior,
Bryan Campbell also finished his Lancer wrestling
career this weekend. Bryan went 0-2, but he beat the
odds to qualify for Regionals. Nice job Bryan.
-------------------
Final
Team Scores:
1. Central Mountain 103.5, 2. Cathedral Prep 89.5,
3. Clearfield 89, 4. Westmont Hilltop 87, 5. Bellefonte
77.5, 6. Corry 76, 7. General
McLane 74, 8. Punxsutawney 74, 9. Bald
Eagle Area 69, 10. DuBois 55.5, 11. McDowell 52.5,
12. Lewistown 41, 13. State College 33, 14. Bradford
32.5, 15. Hollidaysburg 31.5.
Championship
Finals:
103: Shane Peters, Clearfield, p Jake
Gromacki, Cathedral Prep, 3:38.
112: Godwin Nyama, Brashear, d Thomas Brandt, Altoona,
7-6.
119: Tom Traxler, Bellefonte, d Josh Polack, Westmont
Hilltop, 4-3.
125: Kody Young, Punxsutawney, d Kaleb Loth, Indian
Valley, 7-6.
130: Tanner Hough, Westmont Hilltop, d Nolan Barger,
Clearfield, 7-3.
135: Seth Spacke, Punxsutawney, d Michael
McBryde, Cathedral Prep, 7-2.
140: Scott Bosak, State College, d Jake Schultz, Lewistown,
3-0.
145: Brian Brill, Central Mountain, p Tyler
Parsons, Cathedral Prep, 3:04.
152: Mark Havers, Bradford, d Tyler Buckwalter, Central
Mountain, 6-4.
160: Brad Grieb, Bellefonte, d Damian Lascoli, Hollidaysburg,
6-2.
171: Jacob Taylor, Bald Eagle Area, p Dustin
Taubert, Corry, 3:42.
189: Ryan Burnheimer, Westmont Hilltop, d Nash Walters,
Corry, 4-2.
215: Tyson Searer, Lewistown, d Aaron
Bell, Strong Vincent, 2-1 OT
285: Alec Gluvna, Corry,
d Josh Duplin, Westmont Hilltop, 3-1 OT
Consolation
Finals:
103:
Joe Wheeling, General McLane,
md. Damian Huff, Hollidaysburg, 9-0.
112: Christian Stone, Clearfield, md Paul
Deitz, McDowell, 8-0.
119: Austin Gillihan, Corry,
Garrett Brown, DuBois, 5-0.
125: Shawn Spearman, McDowell,
d Tim Wheeling, General McLane,
4-1.
130: Joey Miller, Central Mountain, d Neko Cappella,
Punxy, 8-2.
135: Tom Sleigh, DuBois, d Kenny Myers, Philipsburg-Osceola,
4-3.
140: Logan Struble, Central Mountain, p Matt Ostrander,
Bradford, 2:54.
145: Logan Walstrom, Philipsburg-Osceola, d Nathan
McGregor, Punxy, 8-3.
152: Geno Morelli, DuBois, p Khlique
Harris, Central Tech, 3:54.
160: Zack Towers, Meadville,
d Zac Morris, Corry,
8-1.
171: Derek Danver, Clearfield, d, Grant
Chase, Cathedral Prep, 3-1.
189: Andrew Welton, Central
Tech, d Markel Keys,
Cathedral Prep, 9-8.
215: Travis Bryant, General
McLane, d Cliff Hill, Clearfield, 6-5.
285: Caleb Baker, General
McLane, d Kevin Thompson, Meadville 3-0.
-------------------
GM
Wrestlers at the 2010-2011 NW Regional AAA Tournament
|
103-Joe
Wheeling
Prelim: Wheeling wbd Damian Huff (Holid) 8-2
QF: Shane Peters (Clearf) wbf Wheeling 1:49
Cons: Bye
Cons QF: Wheeling wbf Bryan Descavish (P-0)
4:28
Cons SF: Wheeling wbd Travis Giedroc (BEA) 2-1
Cons F: Wheeling wbmd Damian Huff (Holid) 9-0
Tourn
Record: 4-1 (PLACED 3RD)
*Qualified for PIAA Tournament
|
112-Deane
Twitchell
Prelim: Logan Bechdell (Ct Mnt) wbd Twitchell
8-2
Cons: Anthony Vizza (DuBois) wbd Twitchell 6-3
Tourn
Record: 0-2 (DNP)
|
|
125-Tim
Wheeling
Prelim: Wheeling wbd Malcom Harris (Johnst)
7-4
QF: Wheeling wbf Henry Dietrick (Alderd) 1:30
SF: Kody Young (Punx) wbd Wheeling 4-3 UTB
Cons SF: Wheeling wbd Trevor Graham (Frank)
3-1
Cons F: Shawn Spearman (McD) wbd Wheeling 4-1
Tourn
Record: 3-2 (PLACED 4TH)
|
140-Zac
Baumgartner
Prelim: Logan Struble (Ct Mnt) wbf Baumgartner
Cons: Baumgartner wbd Sam Miller (St Mar) 4-0
Cons QF: Justin Wasmund (Prep) wbd Baumgartner
4-0
Tourn
Record: 1-2 (DNP)
|
|
145-DJ
Myers
Prelim: Myers wbmd Shane Harper (Clearf) 17-4
QF: Brian Brill (Ct Mnt) wbf Myers 4:39
Cons: Myers wbf Myan Haviv (Alderd) 1:57
Cons QF: Myers wbf Tanner Patton (W Hilltop)
2:12
Cons SF: Logan Walstrom (P-O) wbd Myers 9-4
Tourn
Record: 3-2 (DNP)
|
171-Bryan
Campbell
Prelim: Derek Danver (Clf) wbf Campbell 5:35
Cons: Laret Miller (Holid) wbf Campbell 4:11
Tourn
Record: 0-2 (DNP)
|
|
215-Travis
Bryant
Prelim: Bryant wbf Jesse Reid (Carrick) :31
QF: Tyson Searer (Lewist) wbmd Bryant 11-1
Cons: Bryant wbf Austin Barr (DuB) :17
Cons QF: Bryant wbf Jim Antonelli (St Mar) 4:54
Cons SF: Bryant wbf Josh Visokey (Per) :22
Cons F: Bryant wbd Cliff Hill (Clearf) 6-5
Tourn
Record: 5-1 (PLACED 3RD)
*Qualified for PIAA Tournament
|
285-Caleb
Baker
Prelim: Baker wbf Dakota Sera (Bradf) :32
QF: Josh Duplin (W Hilltop) wbd Baker 3-1
Cons: Baker wbf Keith Stover (Brash) 2:09
Cons QF: Baker wbf Braeden Luciano (Alt) 1:24
Cons SF: Baker wbd Zac Corl (Ct Mt) 1-0
Cons F: Baker wbd Kevin Thompson (Mdv) 3-0
Tourn
Record: 5-1 (PLACED 3RD)
*Qualified for PIAA Tournament
|
3-6-11
