Exeter’s DeSanto continues run of domination.
Exeter wrestler stars at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, teams with fellow Eagles and county’s best in Berks/LL All-Star match
Exeter’s Austin DeSanto continues to take aim on the nation’s best and keeps coming out with his hand raised.
Two weeks after he dethroned three-time world champion Spencer Lee of Franklin Regional to claim the 126-pound title at the PIAA Wrestling Championships, DeSanto spent last weekend at the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic knocking off four-time Calif. state champion Justin Mejia.
DeSanto did it with an 18-5 major for the Pa. team. The Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic pits Pennsylvania’s best against a team comprised of the rest of the nation. Team USA won the match 28-20 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House.
DeSanto, who will attend Drexel, entered the weekend ranked No. 4 nationally at 126 pounds, while the Illinois-bound Mejia checked in at No. 3. Mejia, of Clovis (Calif.), was just the second wrestler in Calif. history to win state gold four times.
DeSanto had an improbable supporter in the match: Spencer Lee. Lee, who is nursing a knee injury, served as Pennsylvania’s honorary captain after DeSanto handed him the first defeat of his high school career on the final day of the state championships, a thrilling 6-5 win for the Exeter wrestler.
“Spencer Lee is awesome,” DeSanto told FloWrestling. “He gave me a confidence boost I could beat this kid. He’s just a nice kid all around. I really like him. I feel like he’s going to come back like 10 times stronger and surprise a lot of people.”
DeSanto joined his fellow Berks All-Star wrestlers earlier in the week to take on the Lancaster-Lebanon League. The L-L won the match 45-29.
Exeter teammates Tyler Bagoly (170) and Oscar Daniels (285) were winners, as were Daniel Boone’s Jesse Enck (220) and Wilson’s Hector Torres (195). 182 - Louie DePrez, Hilton, N.Y., dec. Travis Stefanik, Nazareth, 7-1. 195 - Jacob Warner, Washington Community, Ill., dec. Jake Woodley, North Allegheny, 5-3. 220 - Chase Singletary, Blair Academy, N.J. dec. Cole Nye, Bishop McDevitt (3), 7-3. 285 - Trent Hillger, Lake Fenton, Mich., dec. Brendan Furman, Canon-McMillan, 3- 0. 120 - Gavin Park, Brookville dec. Brandon Courtney, Desert Edge, Ariz., 10-5. 126 - Austin DeSanto, Exeter Township major dec. Justin Mejia, Clovis, Calif., 18-5. 132 - Vitali Arujau, Syosset, N.Y., major dec. Brian Courtney, Athens, 12-2. 138 - Tanner Litterell, Tuttle Okla., pinned Max Murin, Central Cambria, 2:47. 182 - Nino Bonaccorsi, Bethel Park major dec. Jacob Hart, Independence, W.Va., 12-2. 145 - Austin O’Connor, Saint Rita, Ill, pinned Jarod Verkleeren Hempfield, 2:54. 152 - Cameron Coy, Penn-Trafford dec. Quentin Hovis, Poway, Calif., 3-1. 170-Tyler Bagoly (Exeter Twp.) pins Carlos Lugo (McCaskey) (26-6) 182-Connor Brinton (Conestoga Valley) dec. Mike Reinhardt (Reading), 8-3 (29-6) 195-Hector Torres (Wilson) pins Dante Jones (Penn Manor) (29-12) 220-Jesse Enck (Daniel Boone) pins Hunter Wallace (Northern Lebanon) (29-18) 285-Oscar Daniels (Exeter Twp.) pins Brady Maxwell (Cocalico) (29-24) 106-Austin Jones (Ephrata) pins Mohamed Conde (Governor Mifflin) (35-24) 113-Cameron Terry (Ephrata) dec. Ryan Watts (Exeter Twp.), 9-0 (39-24) 120-Jordon Harsh (Penn Manor) pins Hunter Williams (Schuylkill Valley) (45-24) 126-Austin DeSanto (Exeter Twp.) tech falls (19-4) Austin Burkholder (Donegal) (45-29) Berks/LL All-Star 132-Trevor Leonard (Northern Lebanon) pinned Tyler Wilkes (Wilson) (6-0) 138-Gary Clark (Garden Spot) dec. Trevor Gimbor (Brandywine Heights), 10-2 (10-0) 145-Pavel Dariychuk (Conestoga Valley) pins Cross Cossitor (Twin Valley) (16-0) 152-Max Martin (Cocalico) dec. Tyler Harkness (Exeter Twp.), 10-1 (20-0) 160-Jonah Barley (Penn Manor) pins Bailey Funk (Wilson) (26-0) 2017 Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic results 160 - Jacob Oliver, Huntingdon dec. Jake Allar, St. Michael Albertville, Minn., 16-11. 170 - Michael Labriola, Bethlehem Catholic dec. Kaleb Romero, Mechanicsburg, Ohio, 3-2.