Parker falls short, Piscopo shines at PIAA Championships

HERSHEY >> It just wasn’t to be.

Matt Parker had done everything humanly possible to prepare for his state finals match Saturday night against Northampton freshman Julian Chlebove.

But when push came to shove, Chlebove was justthismuch better.

Chlebove notched all the points in the match, scoring an escape and a terrific counter takedown off a solid Parker shot in the second period to earn all he would need to win.

Ultimately, Parker didn’t complain or cry foul.

He had to be content with reaching the finals, and so he was — although it’s a lock he won’t be happy finishing in the same spot next season.

“I felt I had a pretty good tournament,” the junior said. “I got to wrestle on that (finals) stage, and that was special and pretty cool.”

As for Chlebove, Parker, who had lost to him in the finals of Escape the Rock Tournament finals this year, said his unusual style was a plus.

“He’s pretty funky,” Parker said, in the closest thing he could manage to a compliment. “I thought I had wrestled him well in the (Escape the) Rock finals (losing 1-0), but I’m going to have to figure him out before next year.

“My coach (RP Norley) and I are going to figure it out and have a plan for him.”

As for the good-looking shot that turned into points for Chlebove, Parker said he had no idea why he was unable to finish it.

And as for when he’ll crank it up again, Parker said he’ll take a week off and then get right back to training.

“I felt a lot better this year,” he said. “I just went out and had fun.

“Losing in the (state) finals isn’t fun, but there’ll be another year.”

Parker was not the only local to taste defeat in the final round of the season.

Pennridge teammate Kordell Rush had to settle for eighth at 126 pounds, while North Penn freshman Ryan Vulakh had to do the same at 132.

The Pennridge duo of Josh Stillings (160) and Kyle Gentile (182) split, with Stillings finishing fourth following a 6-2 setback in the third-place consolation match to Abington Heights’ Nick Carr.

Gentile finished third by virtue of a 3-2 win over Chambersburg’s Drew Peck.

La Salle senior Anthony Piscopo took third at 195 pounds by outlasting Joe Doyle of Council Rock South, 2-1, in the third-place consolation match.

Piscopo’s teammate Garrett Zobel topped Selinsgrove’s Drew Boob, 3-0, to finish fifth.

For Piscopo, the high finish was a dream come true.

For years, he had believed in his ability, but never had the opportunity to wrestle the people he would see ranked above him.

“When I came up here, I thought I might have a good tournament,” he said. “But having never wrestled this caliber of guys before, I didn’t really know.

“So coming here and doing this well against great guys means everything.”

END MATTERS: Bethlehem Catholic was the runaway Triple A team champion, while Franklin Regional junior Spencer Lee, who spent less than 6:00 total on the mat while winning the 120-pound weight class, was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.