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South Fayette, USC, Bethel Park top county winners

By Eleanor Bailey 4 min read
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Mike Carr prepares to turn Hunter Kernan of Bethel Park during 145-pound championship action during the Allegheny County Tournament. The South Fayette senior pinned Kernan in 4:28 to claim his third title in the tournament.

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Eli Grape won the 195-pound weight class during the Allegheny County wrestling tournament. The Upper St. Clair junior scored a decision in overtime to claim first place.

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Eli Grape goes head-to-head with Francis Duggan of North Allegheny during the 195-pound championship bout during the Allegheny County Wrestling Tournament. The Upper St. Clair junior edged Duggan in overtime to win the weight class.

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Nino Bonaccorsi scored a technical fall against Derrin Deitz of Fox Chapel to win the 170-pound weight class during the Allegheny County wrestling tournament.

A trio of wrestlers, lead by Mike Carr of South Fayette, captured championships during the Allegheny County tournament held at Fox Chapel.

A defending state champion, Carr claimed his third title by pinning Hunter Kernan of Bethel Park in the 145-pound final. The fall over his sophomore opponent came at the 4:28 mark in the match.

Carr’s performance helped the Lions secure the team title. The Lions edged North Allegheny, 172.5-168.5. The Tigers had been the team champions three years running.

In addition to Carr, the Lions benefited from the performances of seven additional place winners. Rasaun Culberson reached the 220-pound finals and finished runner-up to Moon’s Nathan Barcaskey. Shane Ging grabbed the bronze at 138. Christian Dedi scored fourth place at 170. Ben Previte finished fifth at 152. Cory Supan secured sixth at 195. Colin Dunn was seventh at 106. Joe Bastaroli added eighth at 182.

South Fayette begins its quest for the Section 1-AA title when the Lions travel to Freedom for the team tournament. The Lions take on Burgettstown at 6 p.m. Jan. 27. The winner takes on the winner between Freedom and Chartiers-Houston at 7:30 p.m.

The WPIAL team tournament commences next week with the championships set for Feb. 6. The Lions are ranked second behind defending champion Burrell in the Class AA team standings.

Meanwhile, Grape captured his title at 195. He decisioned Francis Duggan of NA, 1-0, in overtime. Four of Grape’s teammates followed him to the podium. Jay Pollock garnered runner-up honors at 285. Grant Walnoha finished fourth at 113. Vinny Palm and Thomas Kyle placed seventh and eighth respectively at 132 and 138.

Grape now has the Panthers poised to battle for the Section 2-AAA title. The Panthers face Belle Vernon (9-1) at 6 p.m. Jan. 27 while host Peters Township challenges Connellsville (10-5). The winners meet at 7:30 p.m. for the championship.

Earlier, Peters Township defeated Upper St. Clair, 42-24, to capture the subsection 2-B title in Class AAA.

“It was a total team effort,” said PT head coach Jason Carpetta. “The kids did what they needed to do. Each individual did his part.”

With falls at 106 and 170, Jordan Marosz and Luke Mary led the way for the Indians, who won 9 of 14 bouts.

A.J. Buckiso started the Indians off right. With the match starting at 152, he scored a 6-5 overtime win against John Wertz. Of Buckiso’s victory, Carpetta said, “A.J. set the tone.”

Jeff Merkart (160), Mary, Alec Belack (195) and Mike McAleavey at heavyweight followed with victories while, in between, USC picked up forfeits at 182 and 220 with Jack Martin and Grape. USC also scored a forfeit win at 145 with Palm.

Kyle scored the lone fall for the Panthers at 138.

Meanwhile, Bonaccorsi earned the Allegheny County championship at 170. He easily defeated Derrin Deitz of Fox Chapel, scoring a technical fall at 5:06 in the match. In addition to Bonaccorsi and Kernan, Ben Yantek joined his BP teammates on the podium, taking eighth place in the 132-pound weight class.

Other local champions in the county meet included the South Park tandem of Jake Wentzel at 160 and Greg Bulsak at 182. Both were defending champions and reigning PIAA winners.

Both Mt. Lebanon and Chartiers Valley, which battle in a dual meet on Feb. 5, placed three wrestlers at the county championships while Keystone Oaks had two medalists.

For the Blue Devils, Shamil Zaynullaev finished fourth at 220, Brian Perri placed fifth at 120 and Turner Gray took seventh at 152. For the Colts, Zachary Macy was eighth at 106, Michael Resignalo followed in fifth at 145 and Collin Eger was seventh at 160. Dan Black and Joe Kazalas secured sixth-place honors at 182 and 285 respectively.

Finally, Canon-McMillan will travel Jan. 27 to West Allegheny to defend its Section 4-AAA title. The Big Macs, who are ranked No. 4 in the WPIAL, will take on Montour at 6 p.m. while the host Indians will battle Waynesburg. The winners meet for the title at 7:30 p.m.

The Big Macs tuned up for the section finals by defeating South Fayette, 41-26, in a non-league dual meet.

Logan Macric (113), James Zeremenko (182) and Nick Kony (195) recorded falls for the Big Macs. Jasper Wolfe (120), Carr (145), Previte (152) and Culberson (220) picked up pins for the Lions.

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