In the main event, two of the three "one versus two" matchups saw the number one wrestler fall to defeat. In the evening's second bout, Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic, Pa.) beat Kaleb Romero (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) 3-2 on a takedown with about 30 seconds left in the third period at 170 pounds. The evening's last bout saw Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford, Pa.) win a scramble late in the third period to score a 3-1 victory over Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) at 152.
The lone victory in those three bouts for a top ranked wrestler came in the third bout of the evening, as Louie DePrez (Hilton, N.Y.) scored a takedown in each period to score a 7-1 victory over Travis Stefanik (Nazareth, Pa.) at 182.
From the four other bouts with a number one ranked wrestler in the match, three were won by a top ranked wrestler. Among the victories was at 132, where Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) - the nation's top ranked 138 pound wrestler - scored a 12-2 major decision over No. 7 Brian Courtney (Athens, Pa.); Arujau was named Oustanding Wrestler for the United States
The victory over a number one ranked wrestler came at 145 pounds, the second to last bout of the evening's program. With the Uited States hanging on to a 22-17 lead, No. 6 (at 152) Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) earned a second period pin from the neutral position against Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield Area, Pa.) at the 2:54 mark. The bout was tied 5-5 as O'Connor shot in on Verkleeren, Verkleeren sought to fend off the score but was trapped on his back.
That match was the "turning point" of the dual meet, as it clinched a sixth successive dual meet victory for the United States in the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic.
One final statement came in the 126 pound bout, where No. 4 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township, Pa.) built upon the momentum of his 6-5 victory over three-time state champion and at the time career undefeated Spencer Lee to earn a comprehensive 18-5 beat-down of No. 3 Justin Mejia (Clovis, Calif.).
The four-time California state champion was never in the bout. DeSanto scored a takedown early and late in the first period to take a 4-1 lead. It was extended by three takedowns int he second period to 10-4. In the third period, DeSanto added a reversal, near falls, and a late takedown to earn a standing ovation at bout's end. He was the Outstanding Wrestler for the Pennsylvania squad.
Team USA 28 Pennsylvania 17
160: No. 7 (at 170) Jacob Oliver (Huntingdon) dec. No. 4 (at 170) Jake Allar (St. Michael-Albertville, Minn.) 16-11
170: No. 2 Michael Labriola (Bethlehem Catholic) dec. No. 1 Kaleb Romero (Mechanicsburg, Ohio) 3-2
182: No. 1 Louie DePrez (Hilton, N.Y.) dec. No. 2 Travis Stefanik (Nazareth) 7-1
195: No. 1 Jacob Warner (Washington, Ill.) dec. No. 3 Jake Woodley (North Allegheny) 5-3
220: No. 1 Chase Singletary (Blair Academy, N.J.) dec. No. 12 Cole Nye (Bishop McDevitt) 7-3
285: No. 3 Trent Hillger (Lake Fenton, Mich.) dec. No. 16 Brendan Furman (Canon-McMillan) 3-0
120: Gavin Park (Brookville) dec. No. 5 (at 126) Brandon Courtney (Desert Edge, Ariz.) 10-5
126: No. 4 Austin DeSanto (Exeter Township) major dec. No. 3 Justin Mejia (Clovis, Calif.) 18-5
132: No. 1 (at 138) Vitali Arujau (Syosset, N.Y.) major dec. No. 7 Brian Courtney (Athens) 12-2
138: No. 7 Tanner Litterell (Tuttle, Okla.) pin No. 5 Max Murin (Central Cambria) 2:47
182: No. 3 Nino Bonaccorsi (Bethel Park) major dec. Jacob Hart (Independence, W.Va.) 12-2
145: No. 6 (at 152) Austin O'Connor (St. Rita, Ill.) pin No. 1 Jarod Verkleeren (Hempfield Area) 2:54
152: No. 2 Cameron Coy (Penn Trafford) dec. No. 1 Quentin Hovis (Poway, Calif.) 3-1
Outstanding Wrester USA - Vitali Arujau
Outstanding Wrestler PA - Austin DeSanto
Turning Point Award - Austin O'Connor
As expected, the WPIAL earned a decisive victory in the undercard, winning eight of the 13 bouts over a team from Georgia. With the dual meet tied at 6-6, 2015 state placer Joey Blumer (Kiski Area) scored a 16-1 technical fall against state chamion Ethan Phillips (Chattahoochee, Ga.). That result at 138 pounds gave the WPIAL an 11-6 lead through five bouts, one that held through the duration of the evening's program.
The Outstanding Wrestler for the WPIAL came from the 152 pound match, where three-time state placer Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) rallied back from a 5-0 end of first period deficit to beat state champion Will Britain (Cambridge, Ga.) 10-8 in overtime. Hinkson was fighting off a pin for the last half of the first period, and then rallied with four second period takedowns in the 2:30 stanza to force the overtime. He then scored a relatively easy takedown in sudden victory.
The most notable victory of the evening came from a Georgia wrestler, as three-time state champion Owen Brown (Commerce) upset No. 8 Eric Hong (North Allegheny) 2-0 in overtime at 160 pounds. Brown did have the majority of the attacks in the bout, and was able to finish one off in the sudden victory period.
However, Georgia's Outstanding Wrestler was No. 6 Quinn Miller (Archer), who got a pin in 1:50 at 220 pounds off his second takedown of the bout against state placer Billy Korber (Belle Vernon Area).
WPIAL 29 Georgia 18
113: Koby Milner (Pickens County, Ga.) dec. Jacob Dunlop (Belle Vernon Area) 2-0
120: Vincent DiStefanis (Hempfield Area) dec. Bryce Davis (Creekview, Ga.) 4-2
126: Tyler Alberts (Ellwood City) dec. Vinnie Rosati (Woodland, Ga.) 7-0
132: Davion Fairley (Union Grove, Ga.) dec. Hunter Baxter (Pine Richland) 5-3
138: Joey Blumer (Kiski Area) technical fall Ethan Phillips (Chattahoochee, Ga.) 16-1, 3:12
145: Kody Komara (Freedom) major dec. Jake Brewer (Commerce, Ga.) 14-5
152: Jake Hinkson (North Allegheny) dec. Will Britain (Cambridge) 10-8, overtime
160: Owen Brown (Commerce, Ga.) dec. No. 8 Eric Hong (North Allegheny) 2-0, overtime
170: Alec Shaw (Greensburg Salem) dec. Jack Marsh (St. Pius X, Ga.) 4-2
182: No. 12 Matthew Waddell (Gilmer, Ga.) dec. Matt McGillick (Penn Trafford) 2-1
195: Colin McCracken (Waynesburg) dec. Constantine Graves (Dunwoody, Ga.) 7-0
220: No. 6 Quinn Miller (Archer, Ga.) pin Billy Korber (Belle Vernon Area) 1:50
285: Roman Macek (Montour) technical fall Alexander Robles (Northwest Whitfield, Ga.) 19-4, 5:00
Outstanding Wrestler WPIAL - Jake Hinkson
Outstanding Wrestler Georgia - Quinn Miller
Recommended Comments
There are no comments to display.
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now