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closeVIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Bellefonte’s Mitchell Port captured perhaps the biggest title of his wrestling career Friday night.
Port completed his three-day run through a 64-wrestler bracket by defeating South Dakota wrestler Josh Keszler 5-1 to earn the 119-pound title during the National High School Coaches Association Junior National Championships at the Virginia Beach Convention Center.
Port went 6-0 during the tournament, defeating wrestlers from six different states. Port advanced to the finals with a 4-2 victory over Keith Surber of Illinois. His tournament also included a decision victory over Georgia’s T.J. Mitchell in the quarterfinals along with a pin, technical fall and major decision.
The title continued a junior year where Port went 40-4 and placed fourth at the PIAA Class AAA Championships. He’s believed to be the first Bellefonte wrestler to win a junior national title.
Three other Centre County wrestlers placed during the championships which are being attended by dozens of college coaches.
State College’s Erik Galloway went 4-3 to finish eighth at 130 pounds in the junior division. Galloway’s
tournament ended with a 4-1 loss to Maryland’s Peter Tatanish.
Brad Grieb gave Bellefonte its second placewinner by finishing seventh at 160 pounds in the sophomore division. Grieb went 5-2 and defeated fellow Pennsylvania wrestler Bobby
Scheivert 8-6 in Friday’s place bout.
State College’s Scott Bosak went 3-3 and finished eighth at 130 in the sophomore division. Bosak, who participated in four overtime bouts, lost to California’s Timmy Box 10-5 in the seventh-place bout.
Bald Eagle Area Justin Giedroc (103) and Bellefonte’s Nate Alterio (140) also participated in the sophomore tournament.
Bellefonte’s Shane Alterio lost to California’s Scott Sakaguchi 11-6 at 145 pounds in the first round of the senior tournament which started Friday.
Tyrone’s A.J. Schopp placed sixth at 119 pounds in the junior tournament.
In Print
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