Area wrestlers punch their tickets to PIAA Championships
It was an emotion-filled weekend for all the southeastern PA wrestlers who came to Oxford seeking the top five finish at the PIAA Southeast Regional that would earn a slot in the PIAA championships next weekend at the Giant Center in Hershey.
But no team was competing through heavy emotions like the Kennett Blue Demons, who lost family when Josh Jaffe, father of Demon wrestlers Zack and Haylie Jaffe, passed unexpectedly in the early hours Friday morning, just hours before Zack had to take the mats.
The Demons responded about as well as they could, with all six of their athletes competing at regionals punching their tickets to Hershey, with Zack gutting out a fourth place finish at 127 to join his sister Haylie, who had already qualified for the girls tournament with a win last weekend at the girls’ regional.
“They all kept their heads on, and went in to the six minutes on the mat with purpose,” said Kennett coach Kevin Reigel. “They all really dug in, especially Zack. This is two years in a row now that we’re taking six to Hershey. Now we’ve got to bring home some medals.”
The Blue Demons lone finalist, Blake Boyer at 139, lost a heartbreaker, when Central Bucks West’s Patrick Kelly was awarded a controversial takedown at the buzzer at the end of regulation, to steal a 3-1 victory. Also moving on for Kennett are Bryce Boyer (5th at 107); Kane Lengel (5th, 145); Michael Pepe (5th, 160) and John Pardo (3rd, 285)
Other Chester Country wrestlers moving on are Oxford’s Jon Smith, who was forced to injury default in his 170-pound final, Coateville’s Andrij Szczesniuk (5th, 121); Conestoga’s Miles Warkentine (3rd, 127); Avon Grove’s Christian Ford (4th, 133) and Jagger Vitelli (5th, 189); Downingtown West’s Jordan Barry (4th, 145) and Troy Mack (5th, 215); Unionville’s Brady Kelly 4th, 215); and Downingtown East’s Adham Abouraya (4th, 285) and Felix Mason (2nd, 215).
The Bechtold brothers from Owen J. Roberts led the way for PAC-10 wrestlers moving on to states, with Dillon making quick work of Downingtown East’s Mason, getting the pin in 1:32 to capture the 215 pound title, followed by younger brother Dean scoring
a third period takedown and riding out Quakertown’s Calvin Lachman for a 3-1 victory to close out the night of action at 285.
“Everyone in the room, coaches, wrestlers, all of us, are just so supportive of one another, and keep pushing each other to get better,” said Dean Bechtold. “I’m always confident on my feet, and once I got that takedown, I knew I needed to ride him out. I just worked to make sure I could get the boots in, and once time started running down and I had no stall calls, I just focused on running out the clock.”
The Wildcats’ Sam Gautreau had to settle for a runner-up finish at 172, dropping a 1-0 decision to Bek Savariddinov of Council Rock South. Midway through the third period, Gautrea was in deep on a single leg, and looked like me might notch the go ahead takedown, but Savariddinov called for the first of two injury time-outs for shoulder issues.
Perkiomen Valley had a pair of finalists in Max Tancini at 107 and Carter Euker at 189, but both went home with silver. Tancini lost 2-0 in sudden victory to Hatboro-Horsham’s Dominick Morrison. For his efforts, Morrison was honored as the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
The PAC-team picked up its first champ at 133 when Branden Rozanski earned an overtime takedown against Boyertown’s Gavin Sheridan for the title.
“(Sheridan) beat me 1-0 last week at districts,” said Rozanski. “But I knew I was right there with him and just had to take the next step. It’s awesome to get tested like this before Hershey, when all
of the matches are going to be this tough.”
Delaware County crowned a champion at 189, where Strath Haven’s Michael Spielman made a pair of takedowns hold up for a 4-1 win over Perk Valley’s Euker.
“I was 1-2 here last year, so it feels amazing to not only move on to states, but to win the region,” said Spielman. “My coach (Anthony Gilliano) has had a streak of getting at least one guy to states, and it was up to me to keep the streak alive. Now we’ll have to see if I can come home with a medal.”
Also moving on from Delco are Radnor’s Jayden Lee (2nd, 114); Ridley’s Curtis Nelson (3rd, 114); Sun Valley’s Brecken Strickland (5th, 133) Hunter Delaney (3rd, 139) and Brandon Carr (3rd, 172); Cheltenham’s Corey Bradley (5th, 172), and Harriton’s Nadav Nafshi (3rd, 152) .
Pennridge grabbed the team title, scoring 143.5 points, with Quakertown finishing second at 123.5.
Colby Martinelli was the lone champions for the Rams. Squared off against Radnor’s Lee, Martinelli scored a quick takedown, then tacked on three with a tilt before running a half for the pin in just 49-seconds.
Joining Martinelli in Hershey are fellow Rams Cole Coffin (3rd, 121); Quinn McBride (2nd, 127); Sam Kuhns (2nd, 152); Ryan Gallagher (3rd, 160) and Tallan Hogan, fresh off his 100th career win Friday night, capped the weekend with a fourth-place finish at 172.
The Panthers had a trio of champions, all of whom had dominant wins in the finals. Mason Ziegler kicked things off for Quakertown
with a 16-6 major decision over Council Rock South’s Luke Reiter at 121. Up next was Gavin Carroll, who blanked Hatboro-Horsham’s Christopher Staub 13-0 at 145. Collin Gaj followed at 152 with the Panthers’ third title, putting on a takedown clinic in a 21-6 tech fall of Pennridge’s Kuhns.