Jan 13, 2015 4 min read

While Peters Township looks to solidify its hold on the top slot in Sub-Section 2B when the Indians visit Upper St. Clair tonight (Jan. 14), Bethel Park and Mt. Lebanon battle for runner-up honors in the division. The Hawks host the Blue Devils at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 14.

Both teams are 3-1 in the league, with both suffering losses to the Indians. Lebo dropped a 39-37 decision to Peters back on Dec. 17. Last week, the Indians toppled Bethel Park, 33-31.

Korey Patterson scored a major decision that afforded BP the lead before PT won the final three matches between 126-138 with AJ Buckiso, Luke and Phil Mary to clinch the victory. Daniel Florentino (113), Mitchell Fitzgerald (170) and Michael McAleavey (182) also won for the Indians.

For the Hawks, who are 7-2 overall, Nino Bonaccorsi (152), Adam Montgomery (220) and Chris Pauley (285) recorded falls. Noah Seeberger and Paul Dunn won decisions. In the match, the Hawks forfeited two weight classes at 106 and 195.

“We are a young team and thin,” said BP skipper Bob Stewart, “but we have 16 hard-working kids who come here every day.”

Dunn and Montgomery are the lone seniors on the club, which boasted six freshmen on the roster to start the season. Among the newcomers are Patterson, Ben Yantek, Hunter Kernan, Jason Montgomery, Seeberger and Chris Loera. In addition are three sophomores, Liam Buehler, Bonaccorsi and Alex Stolpa, along with juniors Teddy Gates, Jeremy Huwe and Pauley.

“We have young wrestlers, but they are all talented and there are some good wrestlers in the junior high program so the future is bright,” said Stewart. “Right now, we are in there with everyone else. We are always in the mix. There are no powerhouses,” he said after Franklin Regional, Belle Vernon and Connellsville.

So Stewart expects the match against Mt. Lebanon, which is 8-6 overall, to be competitive and close. “It’s for the second seed out of the section for the WPIAL team tournament,” he explained. “The loser must then battle to survive.”

The WPIAL section team championships will be held Jan. 21. The team tournament begins Jan. 26 and commences with the finals set for Jan. 31. Three Class AAA teams advance to the PIAA tournament and the state championships will be held Feb. 5-7 in Hershey.

C-M takes 2nd

Three days after edging Waynesburg, 29-24, to capture the top seed out of the Section 4-4 sub-division, Canon-McMillan finished runner-up to Red Raiders during the Tri-County Athletic Directors Association Wrestling Tournament held Jan. 10 at Ringgold.

Cameron Fontenot and James Zeremenko won individual titles at 126 and 195. Fortenot upended top-seeded Hunter Neely from Bentworth, 5-1, in the finals. Zeremenko pinned Ryan Keys of Waynesburg in 2:10. Brendan Furman edged Ryan Stienstraw of McGuffey, 2-1, in overtime for the heavyweight crown.

Matt Oblock finished runner-up at 132, falling in the finals, 3-1, to A.C. Headlee, who became the first four-time champion in the 10-year history of the event. Headlee was one of four champions from Waynesburg. The others were Shaun Wilson (13), Shane Piper (152) and Colin McCracken (182). Headlee earned Oustanding Wrestler honors.

Logan Macri was also a silver medalist for the Big Macs. He lost, 10-1, to Gavin Teasdale, who improved to 20-0 overall this season.

During the dramatic section dual, Jared Hladyzc posted a pin 74 seconds into the 220-pound bout to seal the match for the Big Macs. The fall was one of only two for C-M in the competition. Furman recorded a fall at heavyweight.

Fontenot and Micah Kusturiss picked up major decisions at 126 and 145 for the Big Macs.

Tim Hritsko (120), Lesko (170) and Zeremenko (195) won by decisions.

Lions roar

South Fayette received pins from Mike Carr (138), Scott Rzepecki (145), Ben Previte (145), Brett Beltz (170) and Rasaun Culberson (195) and breezed to victory, 60-12, against Fort Cherry. Jasper Wolfe (126) won by technical fall and Alec Fraser posted a major decision for the Lions, who improved to 11-1 overall.

The Lions also posted a 46-24 win against Mt. Lebanon. Colin Dunn (106), Andrew John (113), Wolfe (126), Shane Ging (132), Beltz (160), JJ Walker (170) and Joe Bastaroli (182) recorded falls for South Fayette.

Kellan Stout won with a pin at 195 for the Blue Devils. Sean Perri (145), Turner Gray (152), Bakhtiyar Zaynullaev (220) and Ryan Dustevich (285) earned decisions for Lebo while Brian Perri won by forfeit at 120.

County tourney

The Allegheny County Tournament will be held Jan. 16-17 at Fox Chapel High School. While there will be 38 teams participating, four area grapplers will be looking to defend their titles. Mt. Lebanon boasts two returning champions in Kellan Stout at 182 and Zeynul Zaynullayev at 285. Mike Carr of South Fayette is the reigning 138 champion while Greg Bulsak of South Park returns but will wrestle at 170 this year.