HERSHEY — As of last Monday, Avon Grove’s Kevin Edwards wasn’t even a state qualifier.
As of Friday evening, he’s a state medalist.
After being called to fill in for an injured Bryant Wise of Pottstown on Tuesday, Edwards (145 pounds) won both of his matches Friday at the Giant Center in Hershey to clinch a top-eight medal.
“I can’t describe it,” Edwards said. “After losing at regionals and feeling like my season was over, then coming here and placing, I can’t help but think God had his hands in this. I’m just so thankful.”
Edwards was one of four locals to punch their trips to the podium, the most in the Class AAA PIAA tournament since 2009, when five did it. Downingtown East’s Wade Cummings (126), Coatesville’s Chase Stephens (152) and Conestoga’s Dan Iredale (160) will continue their quest to get as high as third on the podium when the semifinals and consolation fourth round begins at 9 a.m.
Edwards used a late takedown against East Pennsboro’s Matt Danner in his first match and then scored a reversal and two back points to come from behind against Solanco’s Wyatt Jennings to pull off the stunner.
“Since it was for a medal, giving up didn’t cross my mind,” said Edwards, who will get Susquehanna Township’s Ed Ruth next. “In my mind it was go big or go home and I just tried to stay patient and not freak out and I guess it worked out for me.”
Coatesville’s Chase Stephens (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
Stephens’ run to the podium makes it four straight years a Coatesville wrestler has medaled. Wearing his father, Bear’s, old singlet from when he was a state qualifier for Coatesville in 1994, Chase put tears in his dad’s eyes after pulling off a pin against Erie McDowell’s Dazjon Casto.
Earlier in the day, Stephens erased an early deficit to beat Central Dauphin’s Skitch Light, 6-3. Then, Casto jumped out to a 5-1 lead, but Stephens took him down and pinned him on a tilt in the second period.
“It feels great,” said Stephens, who faces Northern York’s Jonathan Ross today. “I’ve always dreamed of medalling at states in high school, and to do it my junior year is awesome.”
Cummings became the first Cougar to win two state medals and fifth in Downingtown history.
In the quarterfinals, Cummings tried to scramble away from Central Dauphin’s Tyshawn White, but
Downingtown East’s Wade Cummings shoots against Central Dauphin’s Tyshawn White. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
White capitalized with a takedown and two near-fall points. The deficit was too big for Cummings to overcome, and he dropped into the consis with a 5-3 loss. There, he dominated Twin Valley’s Aaron Wildonger, 14-3, and will get Pennridge’s Kordell Rush next.
“It’s hard to say. You could look back and change a lot of things and maybe it would have been different,” Cummings said of the White match. “I let it fly and had fun and it didn’t turn out the way I wanted, but maybe a different time I would’ve came out on top.”
Iredale became Conestoga’s first medalist since Pat Heim in 2003 and tenth overall. In the quarters, Iredale was taken down in the waning seconds by Lower Dauphin’s Bailey Shutt and was bumped, 3-1.
In consis, Iredale jumped on Albert Gallatin’s Tim Wallace before pinning him midway through the second. The senior will have Penn Manor’s Josh Barley this morning.
Conestoga’s Dan Iredale finishes a pin to clinch a medal. (Nate Heckenberger – For Digital First Media)
“To see everything materialize at this tournament, on this stage is excellent,” Iredale said. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in my high school career and I’ve always known, and my dad’s always known and my coaches have known I had the talent to get to the podium. Last year, things didn’t materialize for whatever reason, but I owe a lot of my success to (assistant coach) Collin Henry. He spent a lot of time with me this year.”
Downingtown West’s Cole Zapf (170), West Chester Rustin’s Isaiah Spriggs (220) and Avon Grove’s Vince Walls (285) were eliminated in the third round of consolations, while Oxford’s David Cox (160) and Rustin’s Costas Hatzipavlides (182) were knocked out in the blood round.
Cox had a 4-1 lead over Mifflin County’s Trent Hidlay in the quarterfinals, but Hidlay rallied back for an 8-6 win. Cox then dropped a 4-1 decision to Barley.
Hatzipavlides’ career came to an end with losses to Chambersburg’s Drew Peck and Waynesburg Central’s Colin McCracken. He finished with 111 career victories.
