The Herald, Sharon,
PA Published Friday, Feb. 28, 1997

WINTER SPORTS Wrestling

NORTHWEST AA REGIONAL WRESTLING

Eyes on state

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33 COUNTIANS VYING FOR TRIP TO HERSHEY

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CP, Brookville top contenders for a team title

By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor

Commodore Perry heavyweight Josh Pearce is one of three defending champions returning for the reduced Northwest Regional Class AA Wrestling Championships this weekend at Sharon High School.

But while Pearce, the No. 1-ranked big man in the state, is favored to claim another crown, it's a certainty that the other returnees both won't repeat.

That's because Eisenhower's Travis Hummel and Brookville's Warren Stout are both competing at 152 pounds. Hummel, the undefeated District 10 champion (34-0) won at 145 last season, while Stout, the '96 135-pound champ, finished runner-up in the District 9 tournament. This means that if both win their opening matches, they would meet in the semifinals Saturday morning.

There will be a lot of exciting matches this weekend at the tournament, which opens with the quarterfinal round at 7 p.m. today. The semifinals and consolation first round will be wrestled at 10 a.m. Saturday. Consolation finals are set for 5 p.m., followed by the finals at 6:30.

The top three place-winners in each weight will advance to the PIAA state tournament, which will open Thursday in Hershey.

A total of 33 Mercer County wrestlers come into this tournament with their sights set on a trip to Chocolatetown. And actually, the road is a little bit easier this year since District 6 is no longer in this region.

District 6 was sent to compete with District 7 in Class AA this year. Because of the move, gone from this regional is the state's top-ranked team _ Bald Eagle Nittany _ as well as defending regional champs Trap McCormack and Shawn Weaver, both of Sugar Valley. McCormack, now at 112, won the state title at 103, while Weaver finished third at 171.

As far as the Northwest Regional is concerned, Pearce and Jamestown 160-pound ace Kevin Brown are both ranked No. 1 in the state. But that doesn't mean it will be a cakewalk to the regional crown.

Pearce is in a loaded 275-pound class. He should get past first-round foe Mark Aloisio of Mercer, a fan favorite since he is smaller than some of the 189 pounders. In the semis, Pearce would meet either Sharon's Brian Griffin, always a close contender in matches with Pearce, or Scott Wells of Brookville, a highly-regarded sophomore. If he wins there, in the finals he'll probably face Clarion junior Shawn Lerch (20-1).

The team race is expected to be between Commodore Perry and Brookville and it could come down to heavyweight before a winner is decided.

Brown's toughest match could come in the semis when he's expected to run up against rival Keith Myers (30-2) of Mercer. Myers' only losses this season came against Brown. Either Doug Cieleski of Brookville, District 9 champ, or D-10 finalist Matt Hogue of Cochranton should reach the finals at 160.

Here's a look at the rest of the field:

103

District 10 champ Aaron Diehl of Girard looks to be the class here, with D-9 winner Bruno Iorfido (31-4) a darkhorse.


112

It looks like rematch time. Reynolds' Steve Popovitch (27-4) and Sharpsville's Mike Germano (30-2) could meet in a championship match for 228AA 2the third straight week. The duo met in the Section 3 and D-10 finals, with Popovitch prevailing in two extremely close matches.


119

Girard's Joe Ciotti (29-2) is wrestling well, although freshman Doug McGraw of Cameron County, the D-9 winner, is an unknown factor who carries a superb 28-1 mark.


125

Another rematch. Sharpsville's Tom McMath (31-2) and Reynolds' Jason Nestor (29-2) should meet in the finals for the third week in a row. Nestor won the Section 3 final, while McMath prevailed in the D-10 title tilt.


130

Sharon's Craig Griffin (30-4) looks to bounce back from a loss to Jeremy Artman of Saegertown in the D-10 finals and could very well meet him in the finals, if Artman can get by his Section I nemesis Adam Huck of Fort LeBoeuf in the semis.


135

Reynolds junior Bob Tumpak has been untouchable in the tournaments thus far, pinning three straight foes in the D-10 tourney. In the semis he'll probably meet Saegertown's Bill Morris, who will be trying to rebound from an upset loss to Grove City's Anthony Errera last weekend. D-9 champ Jason Gilligan (22-5) of Brookville could be a factor.


140

The two district champs, Wes Sindlinger (26-3) of Commodore Perry and Dustin Wilkinson (24-1) of Curwensville, will be favored to reach the finals here.


145

Commodore Perry's Nevada Walker (29-0) is a heavy favorite here and should meet either Mike Dye (30-1) of Lakeview, whom he defeated in the D-10 final, or D-9 winner Jeremy Reitz of Brookville (28-2).


152

Hummel is the favorite, but don't count out Cochranton's Rick Hogue, who takes on Stout in the first round here. He's coming back stronger each week from a late-season injury.


171

District 10 champ Mark Chess could face his toughest match in the first round. He'll take on Kevin Myers of Mercer. Myers has been battling a bad back in the tournaments, but it should be at its strongest in the opening round. This match could decide the champion, although Brookville's David Jackson could be a finals contender.


189

D-9 champion John Bachman of Clarion is 24-0 and expected to reach the finals. His opponent could be either Joe Rendos of Grove City, the D-10 champion, or Sharon's Eric Mausser who was upset in the D-10 semifinals by Maplewood's Eric Bennett.
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Updated Feb. 28, 1997
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