Veterans stage a gold rush
Kilkeary, Church win third WPIAL Class 3A titles, Welsh earns second
The finals of the WPIAL Class 3A tournament Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School, featured three four-time finalists — Vinny Kilkeary, Mac Church, and Rocco Welsh.
All three put on a show in respective title matches and all three added another gold medal to their collection.
Kilkeary, a Latrobe senior, claimed his third consecutive title with a 10-4 win against Canon-McMillan’s Andrew Binni in the 127pound final.
“It’s always a battle anytime you step on the mat,” Kilkeary said. “I love going out there and battling every day. It’s great to win another title.”
Kilkeary is the third Latrobe wrestler to appear in the finals four times. The others are: Zack Zavatsky (2011-2014) and Luke Pletcher (2013-16)
Church, a Waynesburg senior, won his third title in four years with an 8-3 win against West Allegheny’s Nico Taddy in the 160-pound final.
“It means a lot to be a three-time champ, but I’m never satisfied with what I do,” Church said. “I’m really looking forward to the state tournament.”
Welsh, a Waynesburg senior, had a 12-3 lead midway through the second period of the 172-pound final when Canon-McMillan’s Matthew Furman defaulted.
“The bout was getting a little emotional out there, so
I decided to default the bout,” Canon-McMillan coach Bryan Krenzelak said. “(Furman) had a misconduct call earlier in the tournament and I didn’t to take a chance.”
Church and Welsh are the sixth and seventh four-time finalists for Waynesburg. The others are: James Conklin (1940-43), Matt Gusic (1941-44), Dale Murdock (1965-68), Gary McClure (1966-69), Coleman Scott (2001-04).
“I’m really excited about winning my second title,” said Welsh, looking back at his previous appearances in the finals. “It didn’t start as well (placing second twice), but ended well. It feels good to end on top.”
Kilkeary, Church, and Welsh were among seven individuals who entered the tournament as a returning champion. The only other returning champion who won another title was Latrobe’s Luke Willochell.
Willochell won his second gold medal with a 5-4 win against Franklin Regional’s Tyler Kapusta. It was the third time the two wrestlers faced off this season and Willochell swept the three bouts.
“It was 3-3 with 20 seconds left. I was tired knew I had to get a takedown,” said Willochell, describing the winning takedown. “I just went fora pick and I got it.”
A trio of former champions — Hempfield’s Ethan Lebin, Chartiers Valley’s Dylan Evans, and Seneca Valley’s Tyler Chappell — had to settle for something lessthan a gold medal.
Lebin, a champ at 126 last year, dropped a 2-1 decision to Thomas Jefferson’s Maddox Shaw in the 133-pound final. The two met in the finals last year and Shaw was able to avenge the loss.
“It’s a great match every time I wrestle Ethan,” Shaw said. “Last year, I didn’t get the job done. It feels good to get it this year. I used that match as motivation in getting ready for the finals.”
Evans, a champ at 152 last year, lost 3-2 in triple overtime when West Allegheny’s Shawn Taylor rode him out in the ultimate tiebreaker period in the 160-pound final. It was the fourth time the two wrestled this season and Tayor won for the third time.
Chappell, a two-time champ, had to settle for fourth place after losing in the semifinals and in the consolation for third place.
Church and Welsh were joined on the winner’s platform by Waynesburg teammate Eli Makel, who won at 215 pounds with a 5-1 win over Armstrong’s Connor Jacobs.
Also winning titles were: Canon-McMillan’s Tanner Mizenko (107), Kiski Area’s Ryan Klingensmith (121), Hempfield’s Eli Carr (139), West Allegheny’s Ty Watters ( 152), Pine-Richland’s Vaughn Spencer (189); and Trinity’s Ty Banco (285).
The top four finishers in each weight class qualify for the PIAA tournament, which begins Thursday at Giant Center in Hershey.
2A Southwest regional
Chris Vargo, Grant MacKay, and Rune Lawrence won their third consecutive titles at the Class 2A Southwest regional tournament at Altoona High School.
Vargo, a Bentworth junior, avenged last week’s loss to Burrell’s Cooper Hornack in the WPIAL finals with a 1-0 victory at 127 pounds. Vargo’s escape 10 seconds into the second period decided it.
MacKay, a Laurel senior, won by the same score, 1-0, in his match with Glendale’s Zeke Dubler at 160 pounds. MacKay scored seven seconds into the third period.
Lawrence, a Frazier junior, recorded four consecutive pins in the 189-pound weight class, including a fall at 1:21 in the title match against Somerset’s Rowan Holmes.
Also winning titles from the WPIAL were: Montour’s Peter Chacon, Burgettstown’s Joey Sentipal, and Central Valley’s Brenan Morgan.
Chacon claimed the 133pound title with a 1-0 win against Mount Pleasant’s Jamison Poklembo. Chacon’s escape with 1:27 remaining was the difference.
Sentipal made his third appearance in the finals and won his second title with a 64 overtime against Marion Center’s Liam Cornetto at 139pounds.
Morgan won the 215pound crown with a 3-1 win against Grant Mathias of Berlin Brothersvalley.