PIAA Class AAA wrestling: South Western duo leads group of four York wrestlers in quarterfinals
South Western wrestler Seth Janney in video below:
South Western's Derek Wilson and Seth Janney each advanced to the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals, but the manner in which each accomplished the feat had absolutely no similarities.
The South Western duo highlighted a day where four York County wrestlers reached the Class AAA quarterfinals.
Wilson, a 120-pound junior, was the first to punch his quarterfinal ticket. He did so pulling double duty, winning his preliminary match, 13-6, over Laurel Highlands' Zeke Beatty, and then downing Central Mountain's Keanan Bottorf, 4-1, with a third-period reversal.
"I honestly don't know how that happened," said a jubilant Wilson after his reversal. "I felt like I was going over and just rolled through it and got the reversal. I felt more comfortable (with the lead). I just stayed tough on top and rode him out."
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Wilson will face Garnet Valley's Matthew Marino in a quarterfinal at 1:30 p.m. today. Marino advanced after his opponent, Northampton's Zack Scheetz, was disqualified.
"I think I have a good chance," said Wilson who was able to take a look at Marino after his own match. "I'm not going to tie up with him, because, by the looks of his last match, he's pretty strong."
Janney, a sophomore, earned a first-round bye and spent a grand total of 1:41 on the mat as he pinned Downingtown East's Billy McGinley. Janney's pin marked his eighth in as many matches this postseason, something that has Janney feeling confident and fresh entering today's 220-pound quarterfinal round.
"It's a great feeling to do that," said Janney of pinning all of his opponents this postseason. "It definitely brings out a lot of confidence, and if it's there I'll take it.
"Those close matches, they really wear you out. If you're on the mat less, you are just going to be that much more ready."
Janney will face Selinsgrove's Andrew Boob, an 8-0 winner over Northampton's Jason Kocher.
When asked on what he'd like to accomplish, Janney said: "Take it one match at a time, looking to keep winning, keep doing my stuff and just getting the 'W.'"
Central York's Dylan Chatterton is also onto the quarterfinals after pinning Mifflin County's Trent Hidlay in 1:16. He will face Hempfield Area's Sam Krivus, a former PIAA champion ranked No. 1 nationally by InterMat, in a 138-pound quarterfinal.
Chatterton was taken down early, but was able to turn the tables quickly to deck Hidlay.
Northern York's 145-pounder Jonathan Ross made it four locals in the quarters after he downed Owen J. Roberts' Dominick Petrucelli, 9-0. He will face Easton's James Saylor in a semifinal.
Getting to the PIAA quarterfinals, something only eight wrestlers from each weight class can say they did, is a victory in its own right. That's something not lost on Wilson.
"It means a lot. I came here last year and went 0-and-2," Wilson said. "This year I have more confidence. It's my second year here and I'm not as nervous. I just want to, you know, prove myself to these people."
In addition to the four York County wrestlers in the quarterfinals —Wilson, Chatterton, Ross and Janney — five other locals will advance to today's action, beginning at 1:30 p.m. with second-round consolations and quarterfinals.
Spring Grove's Dalton Rohrbaugh (106) and Levi Witmer (132) will compete in the consolations after each lost in the first round. Rohrbaugh fell, 2-1, to Council Rock North's Aiden Burke while Witmer was pinned by former PIAA champion Greater Latrobe's Luke Pletcher.
South Western's Owen Wherley and Dallastown's Nick Shields are also in the consolation bracket after first-round losses. Wherley dropped a 4-1 decision to Council Rock South's Zack Trampe in a 126-pound, first-round bout that Wherley just couldn't get anything going in. Shields, meanwhile, was pinned in 1:30 by Mifflin County's 145-pounder Hayden Hidlay, the fifth-ranked wrestler nationally by InterMat.
New Oxford's Zurich Storm went 2-1 at 113 pounds and will also wrestle today in the second round of consolations. Storm beat Council Rock South's Ben Radner, 7-4, in a preliminary bout before losing to KJ Fenstermacher, 9-1, in the first round. In consolations, Storm defeated Kiski Area's Noah Levett, 12-7.
Spring Grove's 160-pound Marcus Kehr saw his season end in heartbreaking fashion. After tying his preliminary bout with Upper Moreland's Dominic DeLaurentis, 7-7, DeLaurentis took down Kehr, who appeared to be in immediate pain. Kehr had to be carried off the mat and defaulted out of the tournament after injuring his left ankle.
West York's Garrett Stauffer also saw his season come to an end. He dropped his first-round bout to Greater Latrobe's Ethan Smith, 5-3 then fell to Bethel Park's Nino Bonaccorsi, 6-0.
"This is for them, that's the idea," said South Western coach Nate Murren when asked about what it means to send two kids to the quarterfinals.
Contact Andrew Mease at 771-2022
Spring Grove wrestler Dalton Rohrbaugh in video below: