`16 locals go for gold`

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COUNTIANS BID FOR PLACES AT `THE SHOW'

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Pearce, Walker, Brown carrying unbeaten marks By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor

Reach for the moon and at worst you'll fall among the stars.

That's the situation for 16 Mercer County matmen who already have distinguished themselves by qualifying for the PIAA State Class AA Wrestling Championships which open Thursday morning at Hershey.

They'll be reaching for the gold medal or at least a spot as one of the six place-winners on the awards stand which affords them the title of All-State wrestler.

Three locals carry unblemished records into the competition: Nevada Walker (145) and Josh Pearce (275), both of Commodore Perry, and Kevin Brown (160) of Jamestown. Walker and Pearce both were runners-up last season, while Brown is seeking to get a place after qualifying for state the last two years.

All are ranked No. 1 at their weights on at least one of a few polls which are available state-wide. But rankings mean nothing when you walk out on the mat and that's why fans will pack the HersheyPark Arena the next three days to view what is regarded as the best collection of scholastic wrestlers in the nation.

Other locals competing are: Commodore Perry's Mark Chess (171); Sharon's Jared Moss (125), Craig Griffin (130), Eric Mausser (189) and Brian ``Bubba'' Griffin (275); Reynolds' Steve Popovitch (112), Jason Nestor (125) and Bob Tumpak (135); Grove City's Joe Rendos (189); Sharpsville's Mike Germano (112) and Tom McMatch (125); Lakeview's Mike Dye (145) and Mercer's Kevin Myers (171).

Following is a look at the Class AA state tourney by weight class:

103

No local qualified this season, but District 10 champion Aaron Diehl of Girard, a senior with a 33-1 record, should be in the hunt. Since two-time champ Trap McCormack moved to 112, it opens the door. North Star's Kyle Szewczyk, a senior with a 31-0 mark, is the odds-on favorite after placing fourth last year. However, freshman Chris Fleeger of Loyalsock in an unknown quantity and comes in with a 33-0 record.

112

Sharpsville junior Germano (33-2), the Northwest Regional Champ, and Reynolds sophomore Popovitch (29-5), Section 3 and District 10 champ, have met in the finals at all three tournaments this postseason. But with two-time state titlist McCormack of Bald Eagle Nittany (his previous school North Star merged with BEN) on Popovitch's side of the bracket, another finals meeting is unlikely. Popovitch first would need to get through Derek Sola (27-1) of Conrad Weiser, state runner-up at 103 in '96, to get a crack at McCormack. On Germano's side of the bracket is Clay Musselman of Claysburg-Kimmel, who lost to McCormack in a very tight match in the Southwest regional finals.

119

Tom Waldron, a sophomore from Loyalsock (26-0) is favored here after placing third at 103 last season. Ironically, his brother Mike won this weight class last year. But don't count out surprising Doug McGraw, a freshman from Cameron County (31-1) who won the NW region crown. Girard's Joe Ciotti, the District 10 champ, wrestled poorly at regionals and will have to turn it up a lot to get a place here.

125

Local fans would love to see a fourth finals rematch of the postseason for Sharpsville's McMath and Reynolds' Nestor, but it would take almost a miracle for it to happen in this loaded weight class. However, both are talented enough to have good chances to at least grab a place. McMath, the D-10 and NW region winner, is in line for a quarterfinals matchup with unbeaten Rob English of West Branch who placed sixth at 119 last season. Nestor has a tough preliminary match against Todd Beatty of Chartier-Houston (28-1), while former state champ Josh Miller of Tri-Valley also awaits on that side of the bracket. Sharon sophomore Moss was a surprise third-place finisher in the NW region and would be hard-pressed to get a place here.

130

Sharon's Griffin is wrestling well, becoming the first ever NW champ for the Tigers. The favorites here are Ben Miller of Delone Catholic, whom Griffin could face in the quarterfinals, and Bryan Klass of Wilson. Both Miller and Klass have only one loss apiece, with Miller being upset in the South Central regional finals by Tyler Comp of East Pennsboro.

135 Tumpak of Reynolds (31-2) has been performing at a high level throughout the tournaments and appears en route for a semifinals matchup with state favorite Gabe Webster of Sayre (30-0). Unbeaten Cory DeBias of Northern Lehigh (36-0) is on the other side of the bracket.

140 No locals are entered here after District 10 champ Wes Sindlinger of Commodore Perry was KO'd at regions, while D-10 place-winner Joe Charlton of Fort LeBoeuf won the title. Favorite here is Joe Henson of Hanover (33-0), the defending state champ.

145

Commodore Perry's Walker is looking for a return to the finals and hopefully a better outcome. Walker lost to two-time state champ Mike Shingara of Line Mountain, 12-4, in '96, but Shingara is up to 152. Walker (32-0) is considered co-favorite here, with Joel DesLauriers of Burrell (32-2). Lakeview's Dye (33-2) could meet DesLauriers in the quarterfinals if he gets past Ryan Fasnacht of Pine Grove in the first round. Walker's toughest competition on his side of the bracket could be Dave Evans of Mount Carmel (26-1), who finished fourth at 140 last season.

152

Shingara is the favorite to claim a third crown, but Eisenhower's Travis Hummel (37-0) could reach the finals on the other side of the bracket if all goes well.

160

Jamestown junior Brown (34-0), in his third try at ``The Show'' is hoping his first place here is just that first place. The weight class is a strong one, since some contenders are ``wrestling up'' to avoid Shigara at 152. Brown's stiffest competition on the top half of the bracket could come from Adam Truitt (28-1) of East Juniata, a fifth at 160 last season, or Josh Weidman (30-1) of Hershey, fourth at 145 in '96. Top candidate for a finals berth on the other side is Josh Henson of Hanover, third at 145 last year.

171

CP junior Chess, in his second trip to states, has two unbeaten matmen on his side of the bracket Jason Schlingman of Meyers (34-0) and Andy Povenski of Palisades (33-0). Mercer senior Myers has the easier side of the backet, but takes on Tony Moten of Conrad Weiser (20-1) in the opening match.

189

Sharon junior Mausser looked impressive in winning the NW regional after being upset at the D-10 tournament, but this is a strong weight class. In the quarterfinals, Mausser could be facing Shawn Weaver of Bald Eagle Nittany (38-1). Weaver was a third-place state finisher last season at 171. Grove City's sophomore Rendos is on the same side of the bracket, facing somewhat easier competition in trying to reach a semis' meeting with Mausser or Weaver. Jeff Eure of Upper Dauphin (31-0) is the favorite on the other side of the bracket.

275

Commodore Perry senior Pearce (33-0) is trying to culminate a brilliant high school career by taking one step more than last season when he finished runner-up. Pearce should have little trouble reaching the finals from the lower half of the bracket. The upper half is much stronger where Sharon's Brian ``Bubba'' Griffin goes up against rugged Ryan Kehler of Tri-Valley (33-1) in his opening match. Kehler finished third last year, losing to Pearce, 2-1, in the quarterfinals.

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Updated March 5, 1997
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