Brian Courtney (Photo/Bill Ennis)Doing it in a wrestling-rich state like Pennsylvania -- and making history in the process? That's priceless.
Brian Courtney of Athens High School won the 2016 PIAA (Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association) Class AA 126-pound championship at Giant Center in Hershey Saturday did all that -- and made history, becoming the first Pennsylvania wrestler to beat three past PIAA champs on his way to the state title in the 79-year history of high school state wrestling championships in the Keystone State. In fact, it was the first time that three former titlewinners were in the same bracket in the PIAA tournament.
If all that weren't enough, Courtney was named Class AA Outstanding Wrestler.
The first former champ to fall to Courtney was Jonathan Gabriel of Bedford, defending 126-pound titleholder, who the Athens junior defeated 8-3. That victory put Courtney into the 126-pound semifinals where he defeated Reynolds sophomore Cole Matthews, last year's champion at 120, by a 9-3 score.
In the finals, Courtney faced Central Cambia's Max Murin, last year's Class AA 113-pound champion. There was no scoring in the first period; Courtney earned an escape at the start the second period. Murin attempted a single-leg takedown, but Courtney used his flexibility gained in gymnastics training in fifth and sixth grade to break his opponent's grip and score a reversal, taking a 3-0 lead. Murin managed to score an escape in each of the two remaining periods but was unsuccessful in another takedown attempt, and could not overcome the deficit. Final score: 3-2 for Courtney.
"All four wrestlers I wrestled this weekend were great," Courtney told PennLive.com. "Everyone on the podium was a great wrestler, so it was really cool to stand on the top of it."
"They were all super tough," Courtney continued. "Gabriel was a five-point move, but it was 3-3 before that. I was 4-2 with Matthews before the last period, and Murin was 3-2 at the end."
"I can't say one was tougher than the other. It hasn't sunk in yet, but I feel pretty good about it."
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