BP edges USC in wrestling
Tom Kologzieg works on picking up back points against Andrew Troy during 152-pound action. Kologzieg scored a 7-3 decision and helped Bethel Park edge Upper St. Clair, 39-37, in wrestling.
Bethel Park’s Paul Dunn (top) and Upper St. Clair’s Brooks Wilding (bottom) work to get a leg up on each other in 145-pound wrestling action. Wilding used a third-period reversal to decision Dunn, 6-4, but Bethel Park won the match, 39-37.
By Eleanor Bailey
Sports editor
ebailey@thealmanac.net
Bethel Park used a thrilling come-from-behind victory over Upper St. Clair, 39-37, to prepare for its showdown against Peters Township in Section 2B wrestling action.
With the win, the Hawks improved to 3-0. The Indians, likewise, are undefeated in the division.
BP will host PT at 1:30 p.m. today, Jan. 9. Another key bout will occur at Mt. Lebanon on Jan. 16.
“Peters is the tops in the section. They are the team to beat un the sub-division,” said BP skipper Bob Stewart. “So St. Clair was a big section match just to keep up with them.”
When the Hawks slipped behind, 37-15, with four matches remaining, they appeared on their way to defeat rather than a dual with their top section rival.
However, BP recorded falls in three of the final bouts and a forfeit win at 195.
Junior Sam Gercak felled Keith Wyatt in the 220-pound bout to secure the win for the Hawks.
Back-to-back falls by Adam Montgomery at 170 and Matt Nolan at 182 also highlighted BP’s comeback.
“Our heavier weights came through for us,” Stewart said. “We needed those falls. That was the only way we were going to win.”
After heavyweight Mo Slinger scored a fall 46 seconds into the match, USC dominated BP at the lower weights.
Though the Panthers forfeited to Theodore Gates at 106, they used falls by John Wertz at 113 and Corey Wilding at 132, a forfeit at 120, a major decision by Garrett Walnoha at 126 to construct a 28-6 advantage.
Sandwiched in between a rousing battle at 145 between Brooks Wilding and Paul Dunn, won 6-4 by USC, BP rallied for a pin by Jordan Meyers at 138 and a 7-3 decision by Tom Kologziej at 152.
After Dmitry Wilding recorded a first-period fall to expand USC’s advantage to 37-15, BP rallied for the victory.
“Wow,” said Stewart. “This was a good match for the kids.”
Good because the Hawks are a young squad. They feature just five wrestlers on their roster: Michael Vogel at 126, Justin Fonner at 132, Nick Hesiler at 160, Dan Sullivan at 170 and Nate Grygo at 195.
Grygo recently had a strong showing at the Powerade Tournament. The two-year captain secured seventh place after posting a 5-2 record.
“He wrestled well,” said Stewart. “Our expectations for him are high. He’s a leader on this team. A leader by example.”
Because of their youth, the Hawks benefit from that example.
“We are young but we we make up for it with our work ethic,” Stewart said. “They do what we ask of them and that enables us to pull each match out.”
In other wrestling action, pins by Connor Schram, William Pihiou, Sammy Minor, Cody Wiercioch, Alex Campbell and Angelo Broglia enabled Canon-McMillan to pull off a 56-9 win over McGuffey and remain unbeaten at 4-0.
In Class AA action, South Fayette and Chartiers-Houston primed for their Section 1A showdown with big wins over South Park and Avella respectively.
In a 55-21 triumph, Seth Carr, Brandon Keck and Brad Haney recorded the fall for the Lions, who are 3-0. Grant Fetchet posted a major decision at 152.
Tanner Sutton, Antonio Tatano, Dylan Schultz-Terling and Josh Kraushaar picked up pins for the Buccaneers, who are also 3-0.
SF visits CH at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16.
Despite pins from Darian Lutton and Noah Wilps, Chartiers Valley dropped a 48-28 decision to Trinity in other action.