QUARRYVILLE >> Oxford’s Jeremy McKinney had waited far too long to compete to not finish the job in the 23rd annual Solanco Mule Classic, Saturday.
McKinney’s drought lasted 650 days without wrestling in a PIAA competition, thanks to COVID-19 cancelling Oxford’s 2020-21 regular season and McKinney not being selected to the postseason.
When he finally got his chance to get after it again, he didn’t hesitate. He didn’t seem to lose any steam, either. With an abundance of motivation spurring him on, McKinney overwhelmed Conestoga’s Jake Allred in the 189-pound final, to start his junior season as a champion.
“It feels good,” McKinney said. “It stunk being out the whole season last year. It feels really good to be back. I worked all offseason to be where I am now.”
Oxford’s Jeremy McKinney. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
The last time McKinney competed in the PIAA, he was a 145-pound freshman making an unexpected run to regionals.
Now, he’s 40-some pounds heavier, and his fitness has elevated, as well. In the semifinals he shook off a 5-0 deficit and pinned John Carroll’s Mike Cox, for his third win by fall of the tournament. In the finals, Allred led in the first, but McKinney’s pace wore the Conestoga junior out, eventually leading to a disqualification for too many stalling penalties.
“It tells me I can rumble with anyone,” McKinney said. “I have the best gas tank.”
Oxford’s Cannon Hershey celebrates after a 3-2 win over Dallastown’s Zach Luckenbaugh in the 126-pound final. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Oxford senior, Cannon Hershey (126 pounds), won his first Mule Classic title after finishing runner-up his previous two trips.
Hershey hit for the proverbial cycle, using a technical fall, a pin and a major decision to reach the finals, where he defeated Dallastown’s Zach Luckenbaugh by decision, 3-2.
“I finally won,” Hershey said. “It’s the start to many more. I pushed the pace and did my business.”
Other Hornet medalists were Jordan Schaible (eighth at 120), Austin McMillan (second, 132) and Reiland Canaday (seventh, 138).
Oxford’s Austin McMillan. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Kennett finished with an area-high, eight medalists, and placed sixth as a team, seven points behind the highest District 1 finisher, Pennsbury.
The surprise of the day for the Blue Demons, was Kane Lengel (120), who knocked off the top seed, Friday, and then used a third-period comeback against Salesianum’s Colin Honaker in the semis. Lengel dropped a 6-3 decision to Red Lion’s Jackson Orrell in the finals.
“(Lengel) works so hard in the room,” Kennett coach Kevin Reigel said. “I was hoping he could unlock some of what we know he has, and he did that.”
Kennett’s Kane Lengel works to control Salesianum’s Colin Honaker in an 8-6 come-from-behind win in the 120-pound semifinals. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Josh Barlow (160) and Darrale Barrett (172) took their lumps in the finals, both losing by major decision, and sophomore John Pardo (215) wrestled back from a Friday loss to take third. It was a productive, yet humbling day for Kennett, who also saw Owen Coats (eighth, 106), Joey Wuchter (seventh, 132), Josh Kochersperger (third, 152) and Bailey Shindle (fourth, 285) reach the podium.
“We came in wanting to get a lot of good wrestling, and we did,” Reigel said. “You always want medals and to place high, but this shows we’re a good team, but not a great team, and we’re working towards that.”
Kennett’s Josh Barlow. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Conestoga took 11th out of 24. Along with Allred, Mitch Baker (third, 138), Bryce Beltrante (seventh, 160) and Hayden McLellan (fifth, 172) placed.
Baker lost in the quarterfinals to Central Dauphin’s Matt Repos, but won four straight in the consolation bracket.
“It feels really great,” Baker said. “I did a lot of training in the offseason and I took a tough loss to (Repos), but I bounced back well and battled my way back to third.”
Conestoga’s Mitch Baker crossfaces Susquenita’s Jaxen Zimmerman during a 7-6 win in the 138-pound consolation final.(Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Garrett Landon (152) led the way for Avon Grove with a fourth-place finish, and Christian Ford (sixth, 113) and Dominic Osborne (seventh, 189) also medaled.
Avon Grove’s Garrett Landon. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Downingtown East had a pair of newcomers, Valen Piff (106) and Noah Pagaduan (138), earn hardware, both taking sixth.
Downingtown East’s Valen Piff. (Nate Heckenberger – For MediaNews Group)
Team Standings
1. Central Dauphin, 164.5; 2. Dallastown, 158.6; 3. Red Lion, 134; 3. Solanco, 134; 5. Pennsbury, 131; 6. Kennett, 124; 7. Salesianum, 114.5; 8. Donegal, 107; 9. Oxford, 103.5; 10. Susquenita, 98.5; 11. Conestoga, 65; 12. Downingtown East, 51; 16. Avon Grove, 50
Championship Finals
106- Liam (Central Dauphin) dec. Schmidt (Pennsbury), 8-2
113- McLendon (Susquenita) tech. fall Hinkel (Donegal), 6:00
120- Orrell (Red Lion) dec. Lengel (Kennett), 6-3
126- Hershey (Oxford) dec. Luckenbaugh (Dallastown), 3-2
132- Caldwell (Susquenita) dec. McMillan (Oxford), 4-2
138- Repos (Central Dauphin) dec. Fulton (Solanco), 5-1
145- Moccia (John Carroll) maj. dec. Grodzki (Pennsbury), 10-0
152- Dobbins (Dallastown) pinned Sullivan (Salesianum), 1:25
160- Garvick (Central Dauphin) maj. dec. Barlow (Kennett), 9-1
172- Griffith (Sanford) maj. dec. Barrett (Kennett), 13-1
189- McKinney (Oxford) won by disq. Allred (Conestoga)
215- Agresti (Salesianum) pinned Mossengo (Red Lion), 1:08
285- Bisking (Dallastown) dec. Stewart (Central Dauphin), 1-0
Consolation Finals
106- Harvey (Red Lion) dec. Quigley (Susquenita), 11-5
113- Clawson (Penn Manor) maj. dec. Ferree (Central Dauphin), 12-0
120- Honaker (Salesianum) dec. Bare (Solanco), 4-2
126- Williams III (Solanco) pinned Brish (Blue Mountain), 3:37
132- Hazlett (Governor Mifflin) dec. Carulli (Dallastown), 3-1 SV
138- Baker (Conestoga) dec. Zimmerman (Susquenita), 7-6
145- Kist (Salesianum) pinned Deisley (Red Lion), 2:16
152- Kochersperger (Kennett) dec. Landon (Avon Grove), 8-4
160- Grassel (Penn Manor) dec. Deller (Dallastown), 4-0
172- Freeney (Dallastown) forfeit Lang (Governor Mifflin)
189- Castagna (Solanco) dec. Gabbett (Pennsbury), 3-1
215- Pardo (Kennett) dec. Champ (Donegal), 8-3
285- Brotzman (Donegal) pinned Shindle (Kennett), 1:27
