The Herald, Sharon, Pa: Winter sports '96-'97

Published Saturday, March 8, 1997

PIAA AA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS

3 countians are in finals
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Going for gold are Pearce, Walker, Brown

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CHESS, McMATH AND DYE ALIVE IN CONSOLATIONS

RESULTS LIST

By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor

HERSHEY, Pa. _ Legendary NFL coach Vince Lombardi once said ``only one good thing comes from losing: the desire to never to lose gain.''

Nevada Walker, Josh Pearce and Kevin Brown obvisouly believe the same.

The talented trio of Mercer County matmen haven't lost since their defeats in the state tournament last seaon _ a combined total of 108 victories _ and they hope to add to that number today in the PIAA Class AA championshio finals, which start at 2 p.m. at HersheyPark Arena.

Walker (145) and Pearce (275), both of Commodore Perry, have a return date with destiny after reaching the state final last year, only to fall short. Jamestown's Brown (160) is seeking to get his first medal after missing out the last two trips to Chocolatetown.

While those three are shooting for gold medals, three other locals have clinched spots in the medal matches which begin at 12:30 p.m. Going for third place are Tom McMath (125), Sharpsville, and Mark Chess (171), Commodore Perry. Competing for fifth is Mike Dye (145), Lakeview.

Another highlight of today's tournament for local fans would be the Pa. Wrestling Coaches Asociation Hall of Fame induction. Mike Bell, former Grove City state champ who later died after a tragic motocycle accident while attending Clemson University, will be a posthumous inductee.

With three wrestlers already guaranteed all-state recognition, Commodore Perry wil finish high in the team competition and is locked in a battle with Line Mountain for the crown.

Following is a rundown on the action inovling the locals stars:

Finalists

Walker had his first real test of the tournament trail in the semifinals against Dave Evans of Mount Carmel, but passed the test with flying colors and a 2-1 triumph. A second-period takedown made the difference.

``We can wrestle smart, too,'' said coach Bob Parker after his usually tornado-like Walker slowed the action and staved off several takedown attempts in the third period by Evans.

``I was a little worried about that guy's style, but Nevada did what he had to to to win.

``Last year down here Nevada was behind in every match, this year he's been ahead in every match. He's matured a lot ... and he's a lot better.''

Walker (35-0), who earlier in the day pinned Tim Mitchell of Southern Huntingdon in 5:44, will take on Southwest Regionl champiokn Joel DesLauriers of Burrell (35-2) in the finals.

Brown (38-0), only a junior, notched the 100th victory of his illustrious career in the semis. He continued his dominating style on his feet, literally dancing through the compeititon. In the semis, he notched two takeddowns en route to a 5-3 triumph ove Marc Rebuck of Line Mountain.

``Kevin come out aggresive and got that first takedown early,'' said Muskies' coach Stan Skakalski. ``I feel very comfortable when he gets that first takedown. Kevin is wrestling great. That's his style, to pressure on his feet and to control his hips.''

Skakalski said Brown had something to prove this year: ``After coming down here two times before and not placing, I think he was saying to himself, `I beliong down here and I'm going to prove it to these people.' I'm really proud of him and happy for him, he's worked so hard, he deserves everything that he gets.''

That could be the gold medal if he beats Josh Henson (37-1) of Hanover, a third-place finisher at 145 last season.

In the quarterfinals in the morning, Brown pinned Chad Teasdale of Jefferson-Morgan in 5:40, although the match was close until a last-period takedown put Teasdale on his back and Brown finished him off.

Pearce (36-0) has looked like a different man since his close opening victory Thursday and in the semifinals against Bob Sweany of Beth Center he builet a 7-1 lead before pinning Sweany with two seconds left in the bout.

``Josh in that first match was wrestling like he was afraid of losing.'' said CP coach Parker. ``Now he's wrestling like he wants to win, though we've got a tough one coming up.''

In the finals, Pearce will go up against a familiar foe, Ryan Kehler (36-1) of Tri-Valley. Pearce defeated Kehler, 2-1, in the state quarterfinals last year and Kehler placed third.

``In the summer, Josh beat him in freestyle states when he won in the last four or five seconds,'' said Parker. ``This should be one of most athletic heavyweight bouts you will ever see.''

In the quarterfinals Friday, Pearce thumped Jon Petrunak of Forest Hills, 7-0.

Placewinners

McMath became only the second Sharpsville wrestler to earn a place at states since Butchie Scott turned the trick in 1980.

And McMath had to do a lot of wrestling Friday to accomplish it.

The Sharpsville junior ran into a buzzsaw in the morning quarterfinals, losing 9-4 to finalist Rob English of West Branch. However, McMath bounced back with a pair of wins in the consolations. He decked Nate Harris of Loyalsock in 2:40, then polished off Brad Groover of York Suburban in 4:38.

The last victory, which put him in for a place, saw McMath rally from a 2-0 deficit in the final period. McMath score an escape, then a takedown, before catching Groover on a roll-through for the fall.

``That was great,'' said a happy Sharpsville coach Ron Haywood. ``I knew he could turn him if he got on top, but I wan't sure we were going to get there.

``That was our goal when we came down here, to get a place. If you can't get first or second, then you go for third.''

And that's what McMath is going for after he defeated Dustin Ziegler of Bedford, 5-2. McMath (38-3) will face Josh Wickert of Boiling Springs.

Dye became Lakeview's first state placewinner since 3-time state champion Rodney Wright last won in 1987. To assure himself a place, the Sailors' senior made quick work of Josh Gould of Bedford, decking him in 1:52.

``We knew he needed to control that kid on his feet,'' said Lakeview coach Eric Mount. ``We didn't want (Gould) to get on top; we knew he's tough on top.''

And so was Dye, for the fall.

``He's got his confidence back since that loss this morning,'' said Mount.

That loss was in the quarterfinals against DesLauriers, as Dye dropped a 10-1 decision. However, Dye bounced back in the consy's for a fall over Toby Yorks of East Juniata in 2:36.

In the fourth-round consy match, Dye went against Evans of Mount Carmel, who had just lost to Walker in the semis. Dye put up a great battle, but fell 5-3 in overtime. In the consolation match for fifth place, Dye (32-6) will meet Max Shingara of Line Mountain.

Chess dropped a tough 4-2 decision in the semifinals to fall into the consolation bracket. After scoring a first-period takedown and leading 2-0 after one period, he was put on his back in the second stanza for three points and couldn't recover against undefeated Andy Povenski of Palisades, the pr- tourney favorite to win the weight class.

Earlier in the day Chess defeated another unbeaten wrestler, Jason Schlingman of Meyers by a 6-0 decision.

In the medal-place match Friday night, Chess went agianst Tom Kerin of West Branch. Chess pinned Kerin in the opening round of the tournament and he did the same in the consy's, this time in 4:33.

Chess (26-6) will meet Kyle Sweppenhiser of Line Mountain for third place and important team points.

Locals eliminated in 3rd-round consolations

Michael Germano (112) of Sharpsville, for the second straight year, finished one victory short pf reaching the medals round.

The junior ace lost to lanky Justin Owens of West Branch, 6-1. Gemrano couldn't overcome the length of the aggressive Owens. Earlier in the day in the second-rond consy's, Germano edged Brian Burzynski of Pen Argyl, 4- 3, holding off a takedown attempt by Burzynski as the final whistle blew.

The Northwest Regional champion Blue Devil finished the season with a record of 35-4.

Craig Griffin (130) of Sharon was also feeling the agony of coming one match short, but like Germano, he'll be back for his senior season in 1998 and a chance to do better.

Griffin lost in the quarterfinals, 8-5, to Ben Miller of DeLone Catholic, but bounced back in the first round of consy's for a 3-0 win over Luke Kaylor of Southmoreland.

In the third-rond consy's he fell behind early and couldn't catch up in dropping a 6-2 decision to Jack Ibarra of Bedford. Griffin finished at 35-6.

Bob Tumpak (135) of Reynolds just couldn't get untracked in his loss to Royce Eyer of Hughesville, 10-4.

``It's probably the worst match he wrestled all year,'' said coach Brian HIlls. ``But he went 2-2 this year after going 0-2 here last year. I'm just disappointed that we didn't get a place. But all three kids (including other qualifiers Steve Popovitch and Jason Nestor) are all coing back, so maybe we can turn things around here.''

Tumpak scored a consolation win earlier Firday, notching an injury default over Jeremy Bowman of Southmoreland in 3:11.

Eric Mausser (189) of Sharon couldn't get anything going in his match against tough Mark Mosley of West Greene, as he bowed out of the tournament with a 9-2 loss.

Mausser, a junior, dorpped a hard- fought 4-2 decision in the morning's quarterfinals against Shawn Weaver of Bald Eagle Nittany, then bounced back in the consys with a 2-0 win over Kurt Stahlman of Hydeman.

``I'm proud of the kids, but I'm disappointed we didn't get a place here,'' said Sharon coach Dave Ciafre. ``But I guess you have to take sips, not get it all in one, big gulp.''

Actually, the Tigers are taking more than sips, bringing four wrestlers to The Show this year and three _ Mausser, Griffin and Jared Moss _ will be back next year.

Mausser closed out the year with a 34-5 record.

Locals eliminated in 2nd-round consolations

Moss (125) of Sharon was caught in a throw to his back in the second period against Groover of York Suburban and couldn't bounce back, and Groover went on to take an 8-4 victory.

The Tigers' sophomore went 1-2 in the state tournament, but picked up valuable experience for next season. He closed out the year with 32-11 record.

Joe Rendos (189) of Grove city dropped two straight bouts Friday morning to bow from the tournament.

Rendos lost in the quarterfinals to Derek Tipton of Claysburg Kimmel, 5- 0, after being hit at the end of the first period with a 4-point move. Then in the consy's Renso carried a 3-2 lead into the third period against Mosley but bowed, 5-3.

Rendos, only a sophomore, finished the year with a 32-6 record.

Brian ``Bubba'' Griffin (275) of Sharon closed out his superb career with a 1-0 loss against Ryan Sellars of Pottstown. The Tigers' big man, who was a first-team all-starter in football, gave up a third-period escape to Sellars, which proved to be the difference in the match. Griffin had taken neutral in the second period.

The 3-year starter finished his senior year with a 33-6 mark.
RESULTS LIST

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Updated March 8, 1997
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