Penn-Trafford senior looks for regional gold

Tri-State Sports & News Service

Job Chishko has two WPIAL silver medals and one bronze medal. The PennTrafford senior is hoping to add a gold medal to his collection when the Class AAA WPIAL/Southwest Region tournament resumes Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.

“My goal is to win a WPIAL title and this is my last chance,” said Chishko after recording two first-period pins Friday in the opening round.

Chishko (33-6) placed second in the WPIAL at 106 pounds in his freshman and sophomore seasons, then finished third at 132 a year ago.

This year, he’s the top seed at 145. “Maturity and hard work are the two biggest factors in my success this year,” Chishko said.

Chishko began the day with a pin at 1:28 of Peters Township’s Coltin Jezioro in the opening round. He earned a fourth consecutive semifinal berth by decking Mt. Lebanon’s Jackson Gray at 1:56.

“I know how Job feels,” Penn-Trafford coach Rich Ginther said. “I was a twotime runner-up [in 1987 and 1989] when I wrestled at Penn-Trafford. I really want to see Job win this year.”

Chishko will face Mars’ Alex Hornfeck in the semifinals.

Canon-McMillan’s Logan Macri (33-2) and Kiski Area’s Isaac Reid (17-0) also are twotime WPIAL runners-up. Both earned a return trip to the semifinals.

Macri will face Kiski Area’s Darren Miller in the semifinals.

Reid earned his fourth semifinal berth with two pins that took a combined 1:25.

“I’m a lot more relaxed and confident this year,” said Reid, who missed the first six weeks recovering from a blood clot. “I just keep my faith in god.”

Reid will face Penn Hills’ Deshawn Butler in the semifinals. Butler, the No. 5 seed, earned his first semifinal berth with a 3-1 upset of Mt. Lebanon’s Nathan Hoaglund, the No. 4 seed.

There were a few upsets that rocked the standings in the first day of competition. Butler was one of five entries to beat a top-four seed.

Hopewell’s Jacob Ealy, the No. 6 seed at 126, upset Belle Vernon’s Logan Seliga, the No. 3 seed, 8-3.

Waynesburg’s Luca Augustine, the No. 5 seed at 132, recorded a 3-2 ultimate tiebreaker victory against Connellsville’s Dylan Ross, the No. 4 seed.

Pine-Richland’s Cole Spencer, a freshman seeded No. 6 at 152, upset Waynesburg’s Trey Howard, the No. 3 seed, 4-2.

Armstrong’s Ogden Atwood, the No. 5 seed at 220, recorded an 8-3 win over Hopewell’s Connor Forrest, the No. 4 seed.