The Herald, Sharon, Pa: Winter sports '98-'99

Published Saturday, March 137, 1999

PIAA WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
1 chance left for gold
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Raider Jason Nestor in the 135 finals
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5 OTHERS FROM THE COUNTY EARN STATE MEDALS

By Lynn Saternow
Herald Writer

HERSHEY, Pa. -- "The fourth time is a charm!"

OK, maybe that's not quite the way the saying goes -- numerically speaking -- but when it turns out that the third time wasn't what you had hoped, it's nice to have a fourth to fall back on.

Such is the case with Reynolds High mat star Jason Nestor who has made three previous trips to Hersheypark Arena, but has fallen short of reaching his goal of being a state champion.

This time, the fourth trip, just might turn out to be golden for the Raider senior, who placed fourth here last season. Friday night in the 130-pound semifinals at the PIAA Class AA Championships, Nestor defeated Jared Drosnock of Pen Argyl, 5-3, in overtime to earn a spot in the finals which begin at 2:30 p.m. today.

"I'm really pleased that this year Jason is 'The Man' for us," said Reynolds Coach Brian Hills. "After four years being here, he's got his shot in the finals."

Nestor leads a group of six Mercer County wrestlers -- four Raider teammates, Jerry Kendall (103), Steve Popovitch (119), Justin Nestor (135) and Doug Woods (145), along with Sharon's Jared Moss (140) -- who all are assured of at least a state award after Friday's action. The state, for the first time, is awarding eight places rather than six as in the past.

Wrestling in today's consolation place rounds, which begin at 12:30 p.m. were: 3rd place -- Popovitch, Justin Nestor, and Moss; 5th place -- Kendall; 7th place -- Woods.

Eliminated Friday in the second round of consolations, one match from placing, were: Justin Hollobaugh (112), Reynolds; Kurtis Holzshu (119), Greenville; Stan Skakalski (152), Jamestown; and Jason Cecil (160), Kennedy Christian.

Grove City's Joe Rendos, the area's lone entry in Class AAA, was also ousted from the tournament with consecutive losses in the quarterfinals and second-round consolations.

In the team standings, defending AA champion Reynolds was in third place with 63 points, trailing first-place Wyalusing (81) and Brookville (69 1/2).

Summaries of Friday action for all the locals:

State Placewinners

Reynolds' Jason Nestor took an extra period to do it, but he finally made it into the PIAA parade of champions which precedes the finals. Nestor scored a takedown 33 seconds into overtime to defeat Drosnock, 5-3.

It was Nestor's first tough match of the tourney as he pinned his first two opponents, including quarterfinals foe Albert Soussol in 3:25.

"Jason did what he had to do in overtime," said Raiders coach Hills. "He needed a takedown and he went out and got it."

In the finals today, which start at 2:30 p.m., Nestor (37-2) will tangle with Wilson senior Lucas Wolfe (29-5).

Reynolds' Popovitch rolled in his quarterfinal match Friday morning by pinning Mike Houser of Bald Eagle Nittany in 3:23. In the semifinals against powerful Nick Rockwell of Canton, Popovitch couldn't match up muscle-wise and dropped an 8-3 verdict.

"We had hoped for a little better match," said Hills, "but that kid was too strong."

In the consy placement match Friday night, Popovitch, who placed fifth here last year, took on B.J. Wise of Benton, the state runner-up at 119 last year. The Raider senior turned in a hustling, gutsy performance to dominate Wise, 11-3.

In the third-place match today, Popovitch (38-2) will clash with Joe Cristaldi (34-2) of Springfield.

Justin Nestor, the 1998 state champ at 130, didn't let his opening-round loss spoil his weekend as he roared back Friday with consecutive consolation wins over Brookville's Keith Ferraro, 1-0, in a rematch of the Northwest region final won by Nestor, 6-5; Burgettstown's Eric Ryan, 6-2; and Claysburg-Kimmel's Thad Benton, 2-0, in overtime.

"Justin showed a manly effort coming back like he did after that first loss," said coach Hills. "In the long run, maybe that was the best thing for him."

In the bout for third place today, Nestor (39-3) will take on Steve Haluschakb (34-10) of Northern Lehigh.

Sharon's Moss had his hopes of a state title dashed in the morning quarterfinals as he was hit by two big throws and lost to finalist P.J. Sargent of Southern Columbia, 11-4.

"Jared wrestled his (Sargent's) match," said a disappointed Sharon coach Dave Ciafre.

But he wasn't disappointed long as Moss came back to win consolation matches over Matt Wood of Octorora, 7-5 in overtime, and Red Bank Valley's Matt Brinker, 4-3.

In the final placement match of the night against Josh Weaver of Saucon Valley, Moss (31-2) came away with a 7-5 overtime win, to earn a spot in the third-place medal match against Patrick Tierney (31-4) of Wymomissing.

Reynolds' Kendall started off the day with a tough, 5-4 loss to Robbie Getz of Conrad Weiser, which dropped him into the consolations. Kendall then notched a 4-0 shutout of Matt Metzgar of Westmont Hilltop to assure himself of a place. In the next round, the Raiders sophomore notched a second-period reversal with a Peterson to grab a 2-0 triumph over Jonathan Regrets of Beth Center.

In the next bout, however, he dropped a 6-4 overtime decision to Jared Herzog of Northern Lehigh to fall into the fifth-place consy match today against Jason Custer (32-6) of Penn Cambria.

"Jerry getting a place for us is great," said Hills. "He really turned it up at the end of the season."

Raider senior Woods had a solid day of wrestling after falling in the quarterfinals to last year's state runner-up Max Shingara of Line Mountain by technical fall, 16-1 in 2:54. Woods bounced back to defeat Mike Robinson of Benton, 2-1. However, he then lost to Devin Derenzis of Palisades, 3-2.

Today, for seventh place Woods (36-6) will face Matt Catullo (34-9) of Riverview.

Eliminated in 2nd round AAA consys:

Grove City's Rendos saw a dream senior season come to a close with a pair of losses. In the quarterfinal round, Rendos dropped a hard-fought, 4-1 decision to Southeast region champ Tony Milone of Council Rock, 4-1. Then in the consys, he was paired against familiar nemisis Tim Taylor of Clearfield, who had handed Rendos the only two losses on his regular season record.

Against Taylor, Rendos fell behind early and never got into the match, losing 10-2. He closed the season at 30-4 and had 108 wins in his career.

"He doesn't bounce back well," said GC coach Marty Ruley. "But that's what you've got to do at states. It's not the end of the world when you lose a match. That last match against Taylor, we can wrestler better than that. This was just a bad day."

Eliminated in 2nd round AA consys

Reynolds' Hollobaugh saw the clock strike midnight on his Cinderella freshman season Hollobaugh was decked twice to close out his first trip to state.

In the quarterfinals, Hollobaugh was pinned in 2:35 by defending state champ Chris Fleeger of Loyalsock. In the consys, Hollobaugh (29-8) was matted by Adam Smith of Newport in 2:41.

"Just to make it here as a freshman is a great accomplishment," said coach Hills. "He can build on this next year."

Greenville senior Holzshu suffered a pair of tough losses Friday. In the quarterfinals, he dropped a 4-0 decision to undefeated Dan Butera of Carlynton. In the consys, Holzshu was taken down in overtime to suffer a 3-1 defeat. He finished his season at 32-7.

"It's always tough to say goodbye to a senior," said Greenville coach Jim Miller. "He had a super career -- over 100 wins -- and he did a great job leadership-wise. It was a real pleasure to have him for four years."

Jamestown's Skakalski closed out his senior year with a 5-0 loss in the consolations to Sean Thomas of Washington, finishing the year at 31-9.

"I'm real proud of him," said his coach/father Stan Skakalski, "If we could have gotten him down here last year, I think he may have done better. You have to be a little bit in awe. But he's had a great season just getting here and I loved coaching him."

Kennedy Christian's Jason Cecil dropped two straight matches Friday to bow out. In the quarterfinals, the Golden Eagles' senior was trailing 3-2 in the third but was taken down to his back and lost 8-3 to Octorara's Josh Thompson.

In the wrestlebacks, Cecil (28-6) fell to Greg Knouse of Middleburg, 11-1.

"I'm really pleased with Jason," said KC coach Ed Varner. "He gave it everything he had, but the lack of experience caught up with him. If he just had another year or two, I think he would have placed. He's come along way in only three years of wrestling."

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Updated March 7, 1999
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