Font Resize
The tournament had everything a wrestling enthusiast could want: a new member to the 100-win club, a still undefeated wrestler, a freshman champion, an unexpected champion, all undefeated champions, and the continuation of an eight-year winning streak.
While Elco was winning its eighth straight county team championship, Cedar Crest's Cody Lloyd added to his Lancaster-Lebanon League tournament title this year by capturing the county title at 145 pounds, going undefeated on the day (5-0).
His third win of the day, a pinfall victory over Northern Lebanon's James Rhoads, was the 100th win of Lloyd's career. It also marked the first time that Cedar Crest ever had a pair of active wrestlers with at least 100 career wins; Sean Hughes - more on him later - being the other.
"It's pretty cool, but it's just another win," said a level-headed Lloyd on his feelings after win No. 100. "My past record won't help me win my next match."
As for Hughes, he entered Saturday's tournament with 107 career wins, and after going 5-0 to win the 120-pound weight class sat at a career 112-31 record. The 112 wins are just one shy of the Cedar Crest career record of 113.
"It's pretty great, you know, breaking a record," Hughes said on hopefully
Mike Fiore (152) joined Hughes and Lloyd at the top of the podium for Cedar Crest after a 5-0 day.
Elco's Dylan Hickernell, wrestling at 195 instead of his usual 182-pound weight class, upped his record this season to 35-0 after a 5-0 day to help Elco win its eighth straight team championship.
Hickernell had a tough time in his final match of the day against Palmyra's Jake Lehman, as both entered with identical 4-0 records on the day. Lehman, after giving Hickernell all he could handle, dropped the decision, 7-3.
Elco head coach Chad Miller bumped Hickernell up to a stronger 195 pounds while Zach Carley jumped into Hickernell's spot in a weaker 182-pound weight class. Carley made Miller's decision pay off as he won at 182 as a relatively unknown to most of the spectators in the gym.
"It was very good work by Carley," Miller said on Carley's run to the title. "182 wasn't tough, but he did well and I expected him to win.
"We asked Dylan to bump up," added Miller on his decision to move Hickernell up. "It was the best decision team-wise, and both guys were rewarded."
Also winning gold for Chad Miller's squad was Zach Layser (138) and Tom Price (160).
"It feels pretty cool," said Inman when asked how it felt to win a championship as a freshman. "I didn't really expect it, but it's a good warm-up for next weekend. (We wrestled) a lot of matches."
Tanner Pyles (113) and T.J. Renninger (133) joined Inman atop the podium.
"I'm proud of our showing," said Annville-Cleona head coach Mike Miller. "We brought 10 and got nine medals."
Northern Lebanon had 5-0 champions at 170 pounds and 285 pounds from senior Ryan Daub and junior Anthony Deyo, respectively.
Palmyra also had a successful day from top to bottom, bringing in a total of nine medals - two golds, six silvers and a bronze. Ben Martin (215) and Evan Bogden (106) took home the gold for the Cougars. Martin did so in impressive fashion, with three under-a-minute pins and two forfeits.
Elco won the team title an eighth consecutive time with 319 ½ team points, while Palmyra came in a distant second with 270 points. Annville-Cleona (230 ½), Cedar Crest (212), Northern Lebanon (138 ½) and Lebanon (56 ½) rounded out the standings.
"Next week starts a whole different level," said Chad Miller on the impending postseason schedule. "It's like the L-L tournament all over again with us heading down there (Hempfield) for sectionals. We know what to expect."
"I've got
