The Herald, Sharon, Pa: Winter sports '97-'98

Published Sunday, March 1, 1998

NORTHWEST AA REGIONAL WRESTLING
Reynolds makes it look too easy
* * *
3 champs key Raiders team victory
* * *
32-AND-0 MAUSSER, 3 OTHERS CARRY SHARON TO 2ND

Regional wrestling results Team standings:

Reynolds 98 1/2
Sharon 68 1/2
Brookville 57
Cochranton 49 1/2
Cameron County 48
Ridgway 48
Commodore Perry 35
Seneca 32
Sharpsville 30
Ft. LeBoeuf 29

Championship Finals

103 -- Bruno Iorfido (Ridgway) dec. Adam Renner (Seneca), 2-0.

112 -- Steve Popovitch (Reynolds) major dec. Dave Predko (Ridgway), 12-2.

119 -- Doug McGraw (Cameron County) dec. Anthony Adams (Redbank Valley), 1-1 OT rideout.

125 -- Jason Nestor (Reynolds) dec. Justin Fischer (Sharon), 8-3.

130 -- Ryan Nuhfer (Maplewood) dec. Justin Nestor (Reynolds), 5-3 OT.

135 -- Aaron Wright (Coudersport) dec. Jeremy Artman (Saegertown), 4-3.

140 -- Tom McMath (Sharpsville) dec. Jason Gilligan (Brookville), 4-3.

145 -- Bob Tumpak (Reynolds) dec. Wes Sindlinger (Comm. Perry), 1-0.

152 -- Nevada Walker (Comm. Perry) dec. Jeremy Reitz (Brookville), 3-2.

160 -- Rick Hogue (Cochranton) maj. dec. Randy Stout (Brookville), 11-3.

171 -- Matt Hogue (Cochranton) dec. Josh McCullough (Sharon), 8-5.

189 -- Eric Mausser (Sharon) pinned Kevin Henry (Union City), 3:37.

275 -- Luke Fragale (Cameron County) dec. Dan Svirbly (Reynolds), 3-1.

Consolation finals

103 -- Rocky Habel (Reynolds) dec. Drew Rose (Lakeview), 8-6

112 -- Matt Boozer (Redbank Valley) dec. Cory King (Ft. LeBoeuf), 2-0.

119 -- Kurt Holzshu (Greenville) dec. Justin DeArment (Camb. Springs), 3-1 OT.

125 -- Mike Germano (Sharpsville) pinned Eric Bloom (Curwensville), 4:29.

130 -- Jared Moss (Sharon) pinned Greg Puncheon (Ridgway), 4:08.

135 -- Matt Lozowski (Seneca) dec. Christian Fawcett (Clarion), 9-6.

140 -- Joe Charlton (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Aaron Rendos (Brockway), 3-0.

145 -- Jeff Shaffer (Brookville) dec. Josh McClimans (Jamestown), 5-3 OT.

152 -- Tim Williams (Ft. LeBoeuf) dec. Gary Gledhill (Cochranton), 3-1 OT.

160 -- Denny Mitchell (Smethport) dec. Ryan Sayers (Camb. Springs), 4-0.

171 -- Norm Skakalski (Greenville) dec. John Bickford (Cameron County), 10-3.

189 -- Travis Shirley (Kennedy Christian) dec. Adam Bickford (Cameron County), 4-1.

275 -- Greg Dinsmore (Conn. Lake) dec. Shawn Lerch (Clarion), 5-1.

Consolation semifinals

103 -- Rose dec. Bo Bedow (Union City), 5-0; Habel dec. Glenn Sample(Saegertown), 9-6.

112 -- King dec. Scott Cornelius (Greenville), 1-0; Boozer over Shelton Rowland (Smethport), 4-0.

119 -- DeArment tech fall over Chris Reynolds (Reynolds), 18-1, 4:47; Holzshu maj. dec. Jeff Fors (Eisenhower), 9-1.

125 -- Bloom forfeit over Jeremiah Steger (Ridgway); Germano dec. Nathan Bundy (Youngsville), 6-2.

130 -- Puncheon dec. Vern Roberts (Seneca), 8-2; Moss maj. dec. Ryan Artman (Saegertown), 11-2.

135 -- Fawcett dec. Paul Clough (Youngsville), 10-5; Lozowski dec. Craig Griffin (Sharon), 3-1.

140 -- Charlton dec. Todd Shimshock (Greenville), 3-1; Rendos dec. Jim Farr (Youngsville), 7-1.

145 -- Shaffer maj. dec. Curt Gerber (Ridgway), 8-0; McClimans dec. Ryan Lewis (Clarion), 2-0.

152 -- Williams dec. Chad Holzshu (Reynolds), 7-5; Glenhill maj. dec. Cory Cathcart (Clarion), 12-0.

160 -- Sayers pinned Jason Cecil (Kennedy Christian), 4:03; Mitchell dec. Aaron Anderson (Seneca), 5-0.

171 -- Skakalski dec. Dan Vogel (Seneca), 7-3; Bickford pinned Matt Tomeo (Grove City), 3:40.

189 -- Shirley maj. dec. Dustin Harnett (Jamestown), 19-7; Bickford dec. Joe Rendos (Grove City), 1-0.

275 -- Lerch pinned Paul Shilk (Ridgway), 1:51; Dinsmore dec. Josh Fiske (Ft. LeBoeuf), 2-1.

Championship semifinals

103 -- Renner maj. dec. Sample, 10-0; Iorfido maj. dec. Rose, 12-2.

112 -- Popovitch tech fall over Predko, 16-0, 6:00; Predko dec. Boozer, 10-3.

119 -- McGraw dec. Holzshu, 2-0; Adams dec. DeArment, 7-4.

125 -- Nestor dec. Germano, 1-0; Fischer dec. Steger, 2-1.

130 -- Nuhfer dec. Moss, 6-3; Nestor dec. Puncheon, 4-1.

135 -- Artman dec. Griffin, 3-1 OT; Wright dec. Clough, 4-2.

140 -- McMath dec. Charlton, 1-0; Gilligan pinned Farr, 2:51.

145 -- Tumpak dec. McClimans, 3-2); Sindlinger maj. dec. Shaffer, 9-1.

152 -- Walker dec. Gledhill, 5-2; Reitz dec. Williams (Ft. LeBoeuf), 5-3.

160 -- Stout dec. Cecil, 9-3; Hogue dec. Mitchell, 5-3.

171 -- Hogue dec. Tomeo, 15-7; McCullough dec. Vogel, 4-3.

189 -- Mausser dec. Rendos, 6-4 OT; Henry dec. Shirley, 9-1.

275 -- Svirbly dec. Dinsmore, 6-2; Fragle dec. Lerch, 3-2.

Consolation Quarterfinals

103 -- Bedow dec. Clint Puller (Brookville), 4-0; Habel dec. Jon Carlson (Cameron County), 10-3.

112 -- Rowland dec. Dan Spencer (Saegertown), 1-0; King dec. Zack Fejes (Hickory), 10-4.

119 -- Reynolds dec. Mike Shumac (Seneca), 5-2; Fors dec. Mike Predko (Ridgway), 7-2.

125 -- Bloom dec. Mike Battles (Greenville), 7-6; Bundy dec. Brent Johnson (Smethport), 5-1.

130 -- Roberts dec. Keith Ferraro (Brookville), 4-3; Artman dec. Mitch Reckner (Brockway), 4-3.

135 -- Fawcett dec. Joel Urey (Comm. Perry), 10-3; Lozowski pinned Emil Johnson (Brookville), 4:32.

140 -- Rendos dec. Anthony Errera (Grove City), 4-0; Shimshock dec. Chris Shilk (Ridgway), 7-3.

145 -- Gerber maj. dec. Damon Higby (Union City), 12-3; Lewis dec. Tim Strausser (Greenville), 5-4.

152 -- Holzshu dec. Dave Shilk (Ridgway), 8-1; Cathcart dec. Stan Skakalski (Jamestown), 7-5 OT.

160 -- Sayers dec. Don Lewis (Grove City), 11-6; Anderson dec. Nathan Gourley (Redbank Valey), 4-2.

171 -- Skakalski dec. Scott Brigger (Ridgway), 9-6; Bickford dec. Aaron Catafio (Brockway), 4-0.

189 -- Harnett pinned Jason Barnett (Redbank Valley), 1:28; Adam Bickford (Cameron County) maj. dec. Justin Costion (Ridgway), 11-0.

275 -- Shilk dec. Eric Shannon (Jamestown), 4-0; Fiske dec. Scott Eagley (Girard), 1-0.

By Lynn Saternow
Herald Sports Editor

It's almost too easy!

``I kind of like it this way,'' said a smiling Reynolds High wrestling coach Brian Hills after watching his charges win a tournament team title for the third straight week in runaway fashion.

The Raiders rolled up 98 1/2 points in the Northwest AA Regional Championships Saturday night at Sharon High School to finish well ahead of second-place Sharon with 68 1/2 and Brookville with 57.

``I felt coming in we could do what we did, but I think we even did a little better than I expected,'' said Hills. ``It's great that we're taking six kids to state and two of them are freshmen.''

Three of those are regional champs _ Steve Popovitch (112), Jason Nestor (125) and Bob Tumpak (145) _ while Justin Nestor (130) and Dan Svirbly (275) were runners-up and Rocky Habel (105) placed third.

``The tournament titles are a credit to the hard work of our kids and coaches in the practice room,'' said Hills. ``The coaches give them the opportunities to succeed and they take advantage of it. All of our kids contributed. Chris Reynolds and Chad Holzshu both gained points for us before they were eliminated.''

Sharon coach Dave Ciafre was also pleased with the showing of his kids, but admitted, ``I'm tired of looking up at Reynolds. Every week I keep thinking there's a way we can get them, but ... They're an outstanding team and they really pick it up when they need to.

``But I'm proud of my kids. We have four going to state.''

The Tigers' talented senior Eric Mausser won the 189-pound class and remained the only unbeaten Mercer County matman as he raised his season mark to 32-0. Justin Fischer (125) and Josh McCullough (171) finished second for Sharon, while Jared Moss (130) took third.

Other champions from Mercer County included Commodore Perry's Nevada Walker (152) and Sharpsville's Tom McMath (140). Mausser, Walker, McMath and Tumpak all won their second straight regional titles.

Wes Sindlinger of Commodore Perry earned a second place at 145, losing a tough 1-0 decision to Tumpak. Locals placing third from the area and earning a final qualifying berth for state were: Kurt Holzshu (119) and Norm Skakalski (171), both of Greenville; Mike Germano (125), Sharpsville; and Travis Shirley (189), Kennedy Christian.

A tournament rundown by weight class:

103 _ Lean and lanky Bruno Iorfido of Ridgway, the top-ranked wrestler in the state,

scored an early takedown on Seneca senior Adam Renner and it held up for a 2-0 win. Iorfido, fourth in the state last season, raised his season record to 34-0, while Renner fell to 30-2. Raider Habel placed third at the weight but he needed four points in the waning seconds to edge Drew Rose of Lakeview, 8-6, in a rematch of the Section 3 finals.

112 _ Raider Popovitch used a pair of cradles in the last period to open up a close match in a 12-2 victory over Ridgway's Dave Predko. The District 10 champ was dominating throughout the tournament in lifting his record to 33-2. Predko, who lost to Popovitch in the regional semis in '97, is 30-3.

``Steve is such a smart wrestler,'' said Hills. ``He's almost always in control.''

119 _ It was a rematch of the District 9 finals between Redbank Valley's Anthony Adams and Doug McGraw of Cameron County, the defending regional champ. The match went 1-1 to overtime rideout and McGraw (30-1) held on for the victory to reverse a loss to Adams (28-3) last week. Greenville's Holzshu finished third with a thrilling 3-1 triumph in the consolation finals over Cambridge Springs' Justin DeArment, whom Holzshu defeated in the Section 2 and District 10 finals.

125 _ For the third straight week, Reynolds' Nestor and Sharon's Fischer met in a tourney finals and for the third straight week, Nestor prevailed. However, after squeeking out 3-2 wins the last two weeks, Nestor (33-2) left nothing to chance in a dominating 8-3 performance against Fischer (17-10). Sharpsville's Germano, a regional champ last year, lost to Nestor, 1-0, in the semis but bounced back to earn a trip to state.

``Jason is getting better and better,'' said Hills in anticipation of Nestor's third trip to Hershey. ``He's getting more aggressive.``

130 _ It was a District 10 finals rematch here as champ Ryan Nuhfer of Maplewood took on Raider frosh Nestor. The regulation match ended at 3-3, but Nuhfer (33-2) scored a takedown in the first five seconds of overtime for the victory over Nestor (29-6).

``Justin wrestled a great match against the No. 1-ranked wrestler in the state,'' said Hills. ``This kind of loss will just make him hungrier.''

Sharon's Moss bounced back for third place after losing in the semis to Nuhfer, 6-3, on a five-point move in the last 20 seconds.

135 _ Undefeated Aaron Wright of Coudersport upped his record to 32-0 with a 4-3 triumph over D-10 champ Ryan Artman of Saegertown (31-2) . Sharon's Craig Griffin, a defending regional champ, suffered two close losses and was eliminated.

``I was disappointed for Craig,'' said coach Ciafre, ``But he's had a great career.''

140 _ Sharpsville's McMath, a defending champ, gave up a quick takedown to Brookville's Jason Gilligan but roared back for a 4-2 lead after two periods. After giving up an escape, McMath (22-3) held off Gilligan for an exciting 4-3 triumph to become Sharpsville's first two-time regional champ.

``He's come a long way this year after the knee injury (in football),'' said a happy Sharpsville coach Ron Haywood, ``all the way to this. He had a good tournament in what had to be the toughest weight class with five of the top six ranked kids in the state. He's amazing.''

Especially amazing is that McMath _ a third-place medalist at state in '97 _ didn't wrestle his first match this season until mid-January and he placed second at sections and third at districts. And he faced no easy task here as he defeated the second, third and fourth-place finishers.

145 _ As expected, Reynolds' Tumpak and Commodore Perry's Sindlingeradvanced to another finals meeting. It was much awaited after Tumpak's tight 3-2 win for the D-10 title. It was another nail-biter Saturday night.

After no first-period takedown, Tumpak escaped for a 1-0 lead in the second. In the third frame, Tumpak (32-1) put on a clinic in riding as he pulled off a 1-0 win for his second straight regional crown.

``That wasn't one of (Tumpak's) better efforts, but it's hard when two kids have wrestled so many times,'' said Hills. ``But to counter and move like that on top ... That kid (Sindlinger) is no slouch.''

CP coach Bob Parker was happy with the effort of Sindlinger (32-3 with all his losses against Tumpak), commenting, ``This is Wes's first trip to state, although he's been good enough to get there before, so I'm realy happy for him.

``I guess we'll have to go neutral next time against Bobby. I figured we could get out for one (point). But when he puts those legs in...''

Parker admitted he wouldn't mind seeing the two rivals meet again _ in the state finals. ``We'll give Bobby this one and get the next one,'' Parker said with a laugh.

152 _ Perry's Walker faced a rematch of last year's regional finals against Jeremy Reitz of Brookville. But it was much closer than '97 where Walker dominated for a 7-0 decision. This time he staved off a late takedown attempt by Reitz (26-4) for a 3-2 win.

``I'm happy with that win,'' said Parker. ``Reitz is very aggressive. Nevada's conditioning is excellent as it showed _ there wasn't too much time for anyone to rest in that match.''

Walker (33-2) makes his third trip to states where he finished second the last two seasons.

160 _ District 10 champ Rick Hogue of Cochranton was dominating as he pounded Randy Stout of Brookville, 11-3. The senior Hogue (30-3) was plagued with injuries last season and failed to make it to state after placing third as a sophomore.

171 _ Sharon's Josh McCullough had a tremendous showing in reaching the finals, but he couldn't matchup with Cochranton junior Matt Hogue on his feet as Hogue worked an 8-5 victory.

``Josh has a lot of heart,'' said Ciafre after watching his senior wrestle with supports on his shoulder and knee. ``He never quits.''

Greenville's Skakalski lost to Hogue in the opening round, but wrestled back to win three matches for third place.

189 _ Sharon's unbeaten Mausser (32-0) gave up a quick takedown to Union City's Kevin Henry, but after that it was all Mausser as he built a huge lead before he decked Henry in 3:37.

``Eric had a tough match in the semis against (Grove City's Joe) Rendos,'' said Ciafre regarding Mausser's 6-4 overtime win. ``He needed that; it was a perfect time for it. We didn't want him going to state thinking it would be easy.''

Rendos later lost in the consolations to D-9 champ John Bickford of Cameron County, who was in turn beaten by Kennedy's Shirley.

275 _ District 9 champ Luke Fragale worked a tough 3-1 decision overReynolds Svirbly in a heavyweight match that had some good movement by both wrestlers. Fragale upped his season mark to 24-1, while Svirbly dropped to 28-6.

Back to TOP // Herald Back to Winter sports 97-98 // Herald Sports // Herald Home page

Updated March 1, 1998
Questions/comments: herald@pgh.net
For advertising and Web site design info: advertising@sharon-herald.com