Saints’ Kline wins regional title
Berks Catholic’s Brody Kline wins the 215-pound title at the PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional and is one of 10 from Berks to advance to states
With his regional championship hopes on the line, Berks Catholic junior Brody Kline seized his opportunity.
Kline completed a takedown of Faith Christian’s Mark Effendian in overtime to score a 3-1 victory and capture the PIAA Class 2A Southeast Regional 215-pound wrestling title on Saturday at Bethlehem Freedom High School.
“I can’t describe how I feel right now,” Kline said. “I’m on top of the world.”
The bout was tied 1-1 heading into overtime before Kline (41-4) went on the offensive to win it. The victory was Kline’s second over Effendian this season and earned him his first regional title.
“Once we went (to) overtime, I’m comfortable in that position,” Kline said. “I’ve been in that position.”
The victory comes two weeks after Kline won his third straight District 3 Class 2A Section II title and one week after he won his first District 3 Class 2A title. Kline’s district and sectional titles are the first by any Saints wrestler in program history, according to Berks Catholic coach Derek Sola. The Saints are in their third season.
“Greatest feeling ever,” Kline said. “About time I finally got the regional championship. Winning sectionals and districts is great, but winning a regional title is pretty big.”
Kline defeated Catasauqua’s Chad Beller 5-3 in the quarterfinals and Conwell-Egan’s Dante Burns 3-1 in the semifinals. Kline has won 13 consecutive bouts.
“I thought he wrestled really well,” Sola said. “He had a few matches here this weekend where he needed a takedown to win and he went out there and got it (and) won the close matches. He’s really starting to find a way to win.”
With three titles behind him, Kline will look to continue his run of success in the PIAA Championships, which will be held Thursday-Saturday at Giant Center in Hershey.
“We’re going to go back to the Giant Center and we’re going to get some more wins,” Kline said. “That’s my mindset right now.”
Kline was one of 10 Berks wrestlers to finish in the top six and qualify for states in Class 2A.
He will be joined in Hershey by Berks Catholic’s Brayden Hartranft (sixth, 114), Gunnar Maciejewski (fourth, 121), Marvin Armistead (fifth, 127), Carmine Lenzi (fifth, 152), Gabe Davis (fourth, 172) and Owen Reber (third, 285); Hamburg’s Chase Homan (fourth, 107) and Charles Sheppard (fourth, 285); and Schuylkill Valley’s Ian Vitalo (sixth, 139).