HERSHEY — It was an emotional day for all the local wrestlers involved in the PIAA Class AAA Chmapionships.
Friday saw seasons end for Pennridge freshman Micah Visuwan, Methacton sophomore Bryce Reddington and Pennridge junior Kordell Rush.
But for seniors Ezra Outlaw and Riley Barth, emotions were at an entire different level.
The Rams’ biggest hopes to win a state title came from 106-pound Matt Parker and 170-pound Kyle Gentile. Both, ranked number one the state according to PA Power Wrestling, fell in close quarterfinal matches.
Nazareth’s Tyson Klump contained Parker’s offense, earning a 2-1 decision over the sophomore. Gentile trailed Manheim Central’s Jacob Siegrist for the entire match, but pulled out a miracle takedown in the last second to force overtime. In the extra period, the junior was taken down and sent into consolations.
“There are a lot of good match-ups,’ Outlaw said. “Every kid is good and you just have to wrestle your best.’
Both Parker and Gentile bounced back nicely. The sophomore secured a 3-2 decision over Dalton Rohrbaugh from Spring-Grove and tomorrow he will get his first state medal. Parker and Gentile needed to get through the second day and on the final day of states is all about the climb.
Winning their third round consolation match guaranteed a medal. On Saturday Parker (starts with Central Dauphin’s Chris Wright) and Gentile (starts with Southern Lehigh’s Matt Mirth) will decide if it will be as high as third or as low as eighth. Either way, they will be there to stand on the PIAA podium.
“I had state dreams last year and a medal in my senior year would mean a lot,’ Outlaw said. “It means all of the hard work paid off.’
After CB West’s Barth lost to Alex Klucker in the first round, the senior spent Friday fighting for his shot at a state medal and tried to extend his season into the Saturday. All Barth wanted was to make it to the last possible day and decorate his neck with a medal. In the second round of consolations he scored early and held off Bellefonte’s Trevor Corl for a 7-2 decision.
“The first takedown is a big thing,’ Barth said. “I gain a lot of confidence from it. States is the biggest stage. It’s not frustrating, but your nerves are high with so many people and everyone looking.’
Klucker, a senior from East Pennsboro was an eye-opener. Barth lost his first match of the season in the first round of states as he was pinned in 48 seconds. He rebounded later on Thursday to grab a 10-1 major to make it to the second day at the Giant Center. Barth was determined to battle back, land on the podium, and finish his high school career just like he envisioned it.
“First match I was not ready,’ Barth said. “I got all my moves together and I am starting to work them. It is the final hurrah, the last go at it for seniors.’
Barth did not know what hit him in his final match of his illustrious career. Mifflin County’s Hayden Hidlay tech falled Barth in the second period. His 133 wins and 22 losses will not include a state medal, but he will go down as one of the top wrestlers to ever come out of Doylestown.
“A state medal is something I have been training for since fifth grade,’ Barth said. “It definitely would have been a good way to end senior year.’
Pennridge’s senior Ezra Outlaw took a 4-3 lead into the third period against Cumberland Valley’s Brad Drabenstadt and pulled away for a convincing 7-3 win. It was just what the senior needed as he crept closer to a medal. With Hopewell’s Stephon Peake waiting in the third round of consolations, the senior saw his dream come true. His 5-3 decision guaranteed him a spot on the PIAA AAA podium.
“I was pretty amped, but that first match I was nervous, and in the second match I knew what I had to,’ Outlaw said. “I try to stay calm. There is a lot of energy and the stadium so huge.’
Friday PIAA AAA Championships (local results)
106 – Tyson Klump (Nazareth) 2-1 decision over Matt Parker (Pennridge) in championship quarterfinals
106 – Matt Parker (Pennridge) 3-2 decision over Dalton Rohrbaugh (Spring Grove) in third round consolation
113 – Kordell Rush (Pennridge) 4-0 decision over Jake Cherry (Central Dauphin) in second round consolation
113 – Devin Schnupp (Warwick) 5-3 decision over Kordell Rush (Pennridge) in third round consolation
120 – Ryan Hayes (Spring-Ford) 17-1 tech fall 2:10 over Micah Visuwan (Pennridge) in second round consolation
132 – Joey Gould (Bethlehem Catholic) 3-1 decision (OT) over Bryce Reddington (Methacton) in second round consolation
132 – Josh Stillings (Pennridge) 3-0 decision over Garrett Kyner (Chambersburg) in second round consolation
132 – Evan Fidelibus (Easton) 5-1 decision over Josh Stillings (Pennridge) in third round consolation
145 – Riley Barth (Central Bucks West) 7-2 decision over Trevor Corl (Bellefonte) in second round consolation
145 – Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County) 15-0 tech fall over Riley Barth (Central Bucks West) in third round consolation
170 – Jacob Siegrist (Manheim Central) 7-5 decision (OT) over Kyle Gentile (Pennridge) in championship quarterfinals
170 – Kyle Gentile (Pennridge) 8-0 major decision over Drew Peck (Chambersburg) in third round consolation
220 – Ezra Outlaw (Pennridge) 7-3 decision over Brad Drabenstadt (Cumberland Valley) in second round consolation
220 – Ezra Outlaw (Pennridge) 5-3 decision over Stephon Peake (Hopewell) in third round consolatio
