EAST LAMPETER — Nate Lucier and Keanu Manuel grew up competing with one another in Coatesville’s youth program.
After the Manuel family moved into Downingtown East territory in middle school, the talented lightweight duo went their separate ways, but their career paths remain similar.
Sunday, at the Conestoga Valley Holiday Classic, Manuel and Lucier used big third periods to claim titles.
Lucier, ranked No. 11 at 126 pounds on papowerwrestling.com, knocked off No. 5 Jude Swisher of Bellefonte in the semifinals before bettering No. 13 Josh Miller of Central Dauphin in the finals. He was voted Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament for his effort.
It was the third time Lucier has beaten Miller in three high school matchups.
“It just gets more and more awkward,” Lucier said. “He knows how to react to your stuff and I know what he wants to do, so I just try to work on my reactions and score when I can.”
Coatesville’s Nate Lucier. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
The junior Red Raider took Miller down in the first period, but went into the third, tied, 3-3. After escaping late, Lucier fought off an attempt by Miller and wound up on top for a five-point move to clinch the 9-3 decision.
After going 1-2 in his first trip to states last winter, Lucier is 11-1 this season, with his lone loss (3-2) to West Chester Henderson’s Killian Delaney.
“It’s all for the postseason,” Lucier said. “Everything is for the postseason. Last year made me want to get to the podium. That’s the goal. After losing it made me work 10 times harder.”
Manuel made his first trip to Hershey as a sophomore, as well, and went 2-2, losing in the blood round. At 13-1 on the season, Manuel reached the 80-win mark for his career, Sunday, but learned an important lesson from his losses on the biggest stage.
“The one thing I definitely noticed is to not be as cautious, especially in the big matches,” Manuel said. “That really hurt me in the big matches, so (Sunday) I wanted to keep on my offense and keep going at it.”
Downingtown East’s Keanu Manuel scrambles against Central Mountain’s Derek Keen in a 10-1 major decision in the 113-pound finals. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Manuel made his season debut at 113 pounds, and in the semis, saw Connor Brown of Littlestown, whom Manuel defeated in the finals in the 2017 Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling tournament at 77 pounds. Sunday, it went a little smoother, with Manuel pinning him in the second.
In the finals, Manuel dominated Central Mountain’s Derek Keen on top, scoring six near-fall points to blow a 2-0 lead into a 10-1 final.
“I worked on top all summer and it definitely paid off,” Manuel said. “I got a takedown in the first and felt good on top, so when he chose bottom (in the third) I was confident my top would be there.”
Fellow Cougar, Matt Romanelli also claimed a title, helping East finish fourth out of 26 teams. After his season was ended in the finals of the same tournament last year due to a shoulder injury, Romanelli won by injury default against Methacton’s Roman Moser.
“It was good to come back and get the win,” Romanelli said. “I think I could’ve wrestled better. … I came prepared to wrestle six minutes and you don’t want to see him walking off with an injury.”
Downingtown East’s Matt Romanelli manuevers against Methacton’s Roman Moser before winning by injury default in the 170-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Also placing for East were Ryan Loraw (fourth at 106 pounds), Bo Horvath (fourth, 152), Spencer Uggla (fifth, 182), Zach Aceto (fifth, 285), Ray Wileczek (sixth, 220) and Kyle Mittelstadt (eighth, 126).
Coatesville finished 19th as a team, with Brett Fick pinning his way to a fifth-place finish.
Owen J. Roberts finished runner-up, with Antonio Petrucelli (152) its lone champ. Petrucelli headlocked Horvath in the semis for his 63rd pin, breaking Kyle Shronk’s school record.
“It’s special, knowing our program has a very good history and goes out and gets pins,” Petrucelli said. “I can’t hold my head too high, since there’s a lot of season left, but it’s pretty cool.”
Owen J. Roberts’ Antonio Petrucelli works on a takedown against Central Dauphin’s Tye Weathersby in a 13-8 win in the 152-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Kibwe McNair (145) gave District 1 five champions, while Octorara’s Braedan Amole (132) finished second and Mike Trainor (145) took fourth.
Team Standings
1. Central Dauphin, 192.5; 2. Owen J. Roberts, 177; 3. Bellefonte, 171; 4. Downingtown East, 151; 5. Central Mountain, 143; 6. Father Judge, 131.5; 7. Northern York, 115.5. 8. Berlin Brothersvalley, 110; 9. Philipsburg-Osceola, 104.5; 10. New Oxford, 103.5; 19. Coatesville, 61; 20. Octorara, 58
Championship Finals
106- S. Logue (Father Judge) dec. Serafini (Central Mountain), 4-0
113- Manuel (Downingtown East) maj. dec. Keen (Central Mountain), 10-1
120- Mills (Huntingdon) tech. fall Englehardt (Owen J. Roberts), 4:57
126- Lucier (Coatesville) dec. Miller (Central Dauphin), 9-3
132- Myers (Central York) dec. Amole (Octorara), 9-2
138- Balestrini (Shikellamy) maj. dec. Buckman (Central Dauphin), 10-2
145- McNair (Methacton) dec. Pugh (Berlin Brothersvalley), 5-1
152- Petrucelli (Owen J. Roberts) dec. Weathersby (Central Dauphin), 13-8
160- Kidwell (Father Judge) dec. Richner (Bellefonte), 4-1
170- Romanelli (Downingtown East) inj. def. Moser (Methacton), 1:03
182- Rossman (Bellefonte) pinned Smith (Central Dauphin), 2:30
195- Swartz (Northern York) forfeit Talbott (Central Dauphin)
220- Young (Shikellamy) dec. Boburchock (Berlin Brothersvalley), 6-3
285- Unurh (Exeter) pinned Shelley (Lampeter-Strasburg), 1:18
Consolation Finals
106- O’Shea (Bellefont) dec. Loraw (Downingtown East), 5-0
113- Repos (Central Dauphin) maj. dec. Karkoska (Owen J. Roberts), 10-2
120- Christie (New Oxford) dec. Holford (Northern York), 7-0
126- Swisher (Bellefonte) dec. E. Logue (Father Judge), 5-1
132- Coppolo (Bellefonte) maj. dec. Dunkelberger (Philipsburg-Osceola), 15-3
138- Uhler (New Oxford) dec. Strouse (Northern York), 3-0
145- Smith (Central York) pinned Trainor (Octorara), 2:13
152- Porter (Central Mountain) dec. Horvath (Downingtown East), 2-1
160- Quinn (Owen J. Roberts) dec. Weitoish (Philipsburg-Osceola), 11-10
170- Boaman (Owen J. Roberts) pinned Spicer (Father Judge), 1:43
182- Forbes (New Oxford) pinned Dillman (Conestoga Valley), 2:35
195- Miller (Central Mountain) dec. Moore (Philipsburg-Osceola), 7-1
220- Reed (Huntingdon) pinned Lage (Father Judge), 4:57
285- Mosey (Central Dauphin) pinned Daetrel (Radnor), 3:56
