LOWER GWYNEDD — It just seems to be one of those years.
In all, it was not a good day for the local wrestling contingent at the PIAA Class AAA District One Central Wrestling Championships at Wissahickon High School.
The area matmen produced just seven regional qualifiers, including three from Norristown, two from Plymouth Whitemarsh, and one each from Upper Dublin and Wissahickon.
The disappointing medal haul was offset by the Norristown trio of Shaheed Hill, Isaiah Samuel and Eric Fuentes, who all reached the finals, although only Hill claimed a championship.
It was rough sledding for Plymouth Whitemarsh freshman Marco DiBattista, who had to watch his older brother Gianpietro lose his consolation semifinal at 138 pounds before facing Bayard Rustin sophomore Brett Kaliner in the 106-pound finals.
“It was really difficult because it’s his senior year and his career is over,’ DiBattista said. “I was still able to focus a little bit.’
But not enough to stay in his finals match.
“I just couldn’t get out off bottom,’ the Colonials lightweight said, “and he was real tough on his feet.’
It was equally tough for Fuentes, who was tied with Downingtown East’s James Strommer, 3-3, until a Strommer takedown with 25 seconds left decided the match.
Perhaps even tougher was Upper Dublin’s Colin Devlin’s loss in the 132-pound finals.
Devlin led, 1-0, through two and was riding opponent Joey Wilson of West Chester Henderson in the third when he was hit for a penalty point that tied the match.
Wilson escaped seconds later and held on for a 2-1 victory.
“It goes both ways,’ Devlin lamented. “I had the 2-1 decision last week (in defeating PW’s Francesco Palagruto in the SOL American finals), and the 2-1 decision went against me this week.’
The penalty point, Devlin said, was legit.
“I figure-foured the body,’ he said. “It was illegal. I slid into it and got caught, but it was a good call.’
The loss, Devlin said, is fuel for the fire.
“I’m not going to be satisfied until I’m in Hershey,’ he said.
Plymouth Whitemarsh’s Ben Billings was solid in getting to the 145 pound finals, but was halted there by Coatesville’s Chase Stephens.
Wissahickon’s Josh Trunk was the Trojans top finisher, taking third at 160 pounds.
PIAA DISTRICT ONE CENTRAL
WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Wissahickon High School
Championship Results
106 — Bret Kaliner (Rustin) maj.dec. Marco DiBattista (PlyWhite), 13-3.
113 — James Strommer (DownEast) dec. Eric Fuentes (Norristown), 5-4.
120 — Noah Hankin (WCEast) dec. Kevin Edwards (AGrove, 4-1.
126 — Wade Cummings (DownEast) tech.fall Dan Labus (Rustin), 4:52 (23-8).
132 — Joey Wilson (WCHenderson) dec. Colin Devlin (UDublin), 2-1.
138 — Austin Lillis (DownEast) dec. Brent Windle (Coatesville), 11-4.
145 — Chase Stephens (Coatesville) dec. Ben Billings (PlyWhite), 7-0.
152 — James Meyer (DownEast) dec. Zach Dellicompagni (Coatesville), 3-1 (OT-SV).
160 — Alex Elliott (SunVal) dec. Dominic DeLaurentis (UMore), 5-2.
170 — Alec Horne (DownEast) dec. Shane Boyer (Rustin), 5-2.
182 — Costas Hatzipavlides (Rustin) dec. Peyton MacNeil (AGrove), 3-2.
195 — Wesley McGuire (Coatesville) pinned Patrick Walker (UMore), 1:06.
220 — Billy McGinley (DownEast) dec. Isaiah Samuel (Norristown), 5-2.
285 — Shaheed Hill (Norristown) dec. James McDonald (WC Henderson), 3-1 (OT-SV).
