Kinney finds silver lining: 2nd in state
Sean Kinney was mad, genuinely mad, that he, a 285-pound freshman with no varsity regular-season matches, did not bring home a PIAA Class 3A gold medal.
The Nazareth Blue Eagle was whiskers away from making state history as the first freshman heavyweight to win gold. But he lost after a wild scramble in sudden victory to Selinsgrove’s Nate Schon, a two-time, nationally ranked state champion who is headed to Iowa State next fall.
“I didn’t get the job done,” Kinney said. “But it’s early in my career. I had a good semi. I felt like I wrestled pretty well in finals. I just came up short.”
Kinney, who last month became the first freshman heavyweight to win District 11 3A gold, trailed Schon 3-0 entering the third period. He picked up an escape and a tying takedown with eight seconds left to send it to sudden victory.
Schon got in on a single leg in overtime. Kinney was able to flatten Schon out and looked to be in good position for another takedown, but Schon used every ounce of his strength and athleticism to create a flurry that ultimately led to his second state title.
Kinney (11-2) walked away with District 11 and Northeast Regional gold, plus Super Regional and PIAA silver after not having wrestled a varsity match before the postseason.
“When all you’re doing is practicing,” Nazareth coach Dave Crowell said, “you don’t know how good guys are. They could be terrible; they could be OK. In this case, he’s way better than
we thought.”
That led Crowell to reflect on a situation in Nazareth’s lone dual meet this season against rival Northampton. Assistants Adam Colombo and Joe Provini bumped Kinney out of the lineup in favor of a lighter, more agile option against the Konkrete Kids’ undersized 285-pounder.
“I told Adam and Joe, ‘You should be fired for bumping out our state runner-up,’ ” Crowell joked.
Kinney put himself on the map in Saturday afternoon’s state semifinal by taking down state No. 1 Isaiah Vance of Hempfield Area. The freshman led 3-1 in the third period before getting reversed.
But showing the maturity of a seasoned senior, Kinney didn’t panic. He escaped, then finished off the victory with a takedown with three seconds left.
“He hit that low single,” Crowell said. “I’m thrilled when any of our guys hit that low single, even our 106-pounder.
“For as big as he is, he’s incredibly talented and able to move. But I think the greatest thing is his competitive spirit.
“You put him in there and he comes alive way more than you think. It’s not like he’s not trying in practice, but like relatively few others, he goes out there in that arena and just explodes.”
With Vance and Schon headed to college, Kinney figures to start next season as the state’s top-ranked 285-pounder. There’s no doubt he’ll expect that of himself no matter where he is ranked.
“Once I step on the mat, I don’t think the guy in front of me can beat me, no matter who it is,” Kinney said. “Obviously, I know who Vance and Schon are, the caliber of guys they are. But once you’re on the mat you don’t think you’re going to lose.”
Most freshman 285-pounders don’t think as Kinney does. That is why he had a memorable first varsity season, one that nearly ended with more history.