Reifer continue his roll

Guy Cipriano

HERSHEY — During the third period of his first ever PIAA Class AAA bout, Elizabethtown junior Shane Rosenberry sent Philipsburg-Osceola senior Bo Reifer toward the hockey boards.

Instead of crashing like somebody on skates, Reifer skipped onto his toes and grazed into one of the more than 50 advertisements inside Giant Center.

The scramble had no impact on Thursday’s bout. Reifer won 12-6.

Still, it represented another example of the athletic ability Reifer (38-3) has displayed throughout a perfect postseason.

Reifer, the District 6 and Northwest Regional champion, improved to 7-0 this postseason by handling Rosenberry, the third-place finisher from District 3.

There are multiple reasons Reifer has flourished in the difficult 189-pound weight class. But Reifer’s ability to tip-toe his way through precarious situations has put him in a position to become P-O’s first state placewinner since James Yonushonis finished sixth in 2002.

Maneuvers such as Thursday’s are a product of an extensive athletic background that included time spent as P-O’s starting quarterback and three years as the Mounties’ 189-pounder.

“It helps a lot with your ability, stamina and conditioning,” Reifer said. “You can use it in situations and stay out of trouble.”

Reifer’s ability helped him score frequently during his PIAA debut. On a day when many wrestlers shut down their offense, Reifer scored multiple points in every period, including the third when, instead of clinging to an 8-5 lead, he took Rosenberry down and added two insurance nearfall points.

“He opened up a little more than I expected him to,” P-O coach Tim McCamley said. “But the guy he wrestled liked to roll around a lot.”

Nothing that occurred on the mat illustrated Reifer’s pre-match nerves. After four years of sitting in the stands and watching the tournament, Reifer was the first Mountie to reach the Giant Center floor since David Wood in 2004.

“I was so nervous about 10 minutes before the match that I could have puked,” Reifer said.

The excitement created by Reifer and heavyweight Mike Horton’s presence in the tournament was visible in Section 108, where more than 50 P-O fans watched the duo compete. Reifer and Horton’s fan club included former P-O state champion and Oakland Raiders long snapper Jon Condo, who flew in from California to attend the tournament.

“This is a fun trip,” Reifer said. “You can’t beat it really.”

A similar thing can be said for Reifer’s postseason.

He edged Erie Strong Vincent’s Edwin Taylor in overtime to claim the regional title last week and defeated Bellefonte’s Josh Wensel in the district finals. Reifer will enter his quarterfinal bout today against Hempfield’s T.J. Valore (34-5) on a 10-bout winning streak that started after a loss to Warwick’s Antonio Giorgio during the finals of January’s New Oxford Tournament. Giorgio (44-0) is on the same half of the bracket as Reifer, whose other two losses came during January’s King of the Mountain Tournament.

“Bo’s been very capable of this, not just this year, but in the past,” McCamley said. “He’s just putting it all together at the right time and peaking at the right time.”

This postseason represents a stark contrast to the one Reifer experienced last year. Reifer’s junior year ended when he sprained his collarbone and sternum during the regional championships.

“I have been looking for this,” he said. “After I defaulted at regionals, I based my senior year on making states and doing well.”

Reifer said he has some extra motivation this week. His uncle, Lester Edmonds, died earlier this winter. Edmonds, who lived in Clearfield, frequently attended Reifer’s tournaments. Reifer dedicated this postseason to Edmonds.

“He supported me and he wanted me to do well,” Reifer said.

Reifer isn’t the only Mountie who needs one more win to reach the medal stand. Horton, who placed third at the regional tournament, recovered from a 7-4 loss to Upper Perkiomen’s Jared Bennett to defeat Scranton’s Austin Kotska 10-2 in a consolation bout.

Horton, Reifer and senior 215-pounder Dimitri Sidorick, who placed fourth at the regional tournament, call themselves P-O’s “Big Three,” something they stressed on colorful shirts they wore to the championships. The trio has played sports together since elementary.

“It has been fun watching Bo wrestle,” Horton said. “His attacks are non-stop. It’s great having him as one of my best friends and a teammate and being down here with him. He’s wrestling awesome.”