Former PSU teammates on opposite sides of D6 dual as Strayer’s Rangers top Pataky’s Mounties

Brad Pataky and Jake Strayer go back a long way — even before the days when they were teammates on the Penn State wrestling team.

On Tuesday night, the friends renewed their acquaintances in the District 6 Class 2A Dual Meet Tournament, where Strayer’s Forest Hills team beat Pataky’s Philipsburg-Osceola squad 44-23 in the quarterfinal round.

“You don’t really want to wrestle your buddy,” Strayer said after his third-seeded team won eight of the first nine bouts. “You’d rather beat somebody you maybe don’t know. He’s a super nice guy. Unfortunately, we had to wrestle.”

And, unfortunately for the Mounties (11-5), the dual started at 106 pounds. Not only did P-O have to forfeit to Jude Martyak there, but the Rangers lineup is especially strong in the lightweights.

“We started in one of the strongest parts of their lineup,” Pataky said. “Anytime you get that momentum going in one direction it can continue to evolve. That’s what they did. They continued the momentum throughout the match.”

Easton Toth followed with a 16-1 technical fall over Nick Coudriet, and Tony DiPaola beat Nick Bryan 5-3 at 120 pounds. DiPaola, who often doesn’t get into the Forest Hills lineup, was called for unsportsmanlike conduct after officials said he made a throat-slashing gesture, and the Rangers lost a team point.

“He knew he had a big match today,” Strayer said. “He’s usually not like that. I think the emotions got the best of him.”

Jackson Arrington, who won a state title as a freshman last season, pinned Scott Frantz at 126 to extend the Rangers’ lead to 19-0.

Noah Teeter edged Gabriel Dunkelberger, 8-6, at 132 as the lead ballooned to 22-0.

“We always like to start down low so we can get some momentum, especially with a big crowd,” said Strayer, whose team will face second-seeded Huntingdon at Tyrone on Saturday. “Philipsburg’s a pretty good team. We were a little worried coming in, but our guys came out and wrestled real well.”

Chase Chapman scored four takedowns in the third period for a 12-4 major decision over Garet Connor to get the Mounties on the board.

Forest Hills won the next three bouts, with Dustin Flinn scoring an 11-2 major decision over Austin Foster, Ryan Weyandt pinning Luke Hughes and Erik Gibson shouldering Dominic Shaw. Gibson’s pin gave the Rangers an insurmountable lead.

“When you’re sending him out to seal it, you feel confident it’s probably going to happen,” Strayer said of Gibson.

The Mounties did their best to close the deficit — winning all four of the remaining contested matches. Hunter Weitoish started the string with an 11-2 victory over Michael Vasbinder.

Weitoish and Chapman continued to build on strong seasons.

“They enjoy the competition part, and you can see it in their wrestling,” Pataky said. “From the first whistle to the last whistle, they don’t quit wrestling.”

Pataky praised his former teammate and the wrestlers that Strayer is now leading.

“Jake’s a great human being,” the P-O coach said. “Just a great leader, and you can tell it’s rubbing off on his team. He’s got some really tough kids. Good program, and he’s just an all-around great human being.”

P-O’s Parker Moore pinned Ryan Shaw at 195 pounds, and Chase Klinger got a fall over Dalton Gable at 285. In between, Tyler Anderson took Luke Hribar down and straight to his back for a 5-1 win in sudden victory.

Pataky’s team only lost one contested match in the opening round, as the Mounties beat Ligonier Valley 55-15.

Coudriet, Bryan, Chapman, Foster, Weitoish, Shaw, Moore and Anderson recorded falls in the victory. Klinger won 8-0 over Ligonier Valley’s Ben Balthaser at 285 pounds.

“We came out guns ablazing,” Pataky said. “We had a good opportunity for some of our guys to get some good, quality matches. I think that’s the biggest thing right now. Dual meet wins are great, but you’re preparing your guys for the end of the season.”

Ryan Harbert beat Dunkelberger 6-0 at 132 pounds, and Ligonier received forfeits at 106 and 182.

“I knew we didn’t match up well with them,” Rams coach Tom Brown said. “(They had) tough guys where our best guys are. I just wanted our guys to compete a little better than they did. I told them, win or lose, I wasn’t interested in that. I just wanted them to give their all, and I don’t feel that was their all. We’ve got to perform better than that. … To be beaten like that is a little disheartening.”

The Rams were making just their fourth appearance in the district duals in school history.

“I think we were just happy to be here,” Brown said.

Pataky has been impressed by what he’s seen from his squad.

“I think the entire season, from beginning to end, we’ve grown,” he said. “Our guys have gotten better technically, mentally and physically. We’re getting ready for the end of the year. That’s where you’re judged.”

District 6 Dual Meet Tournament

(Quarterfinal)

Forest Hills 44, Philipsburg-Osceola 23

106-Jude Martyak, FH, forfeit. 113-Easton Toth, FH, tech. fall Nick Coudriet, 16-1 (4:00). 120-Tony DiPaola dec. Nick Bryan, 7-3.* 126-Jackson Arrington, FH, pinned Scott Frantz, :36. 132-Noah Teeter, FH dec. Gabriel Dunkelberger, 8-6. 138-Chase Chapman, PO, maj. dec. Garet Connor, 12-4. 145-Dustin Flinn, FH, maj. dec. Austin Foster, 13-4. 152-Ryan Weyandt, FH, pinned Luke Hughes, 1:07. 160-Erik Gibson, FH, pinned Dominic Shaw, 1:27. 170-Hunter Weitoish, PO, maj. dec. Michael Vasbinder, 11-2. 182-Brycen Rearick, FH, forfeit. 195-Parker Moore, PO, pinned Ryan Shaw, 4:29. 220-Tyler Anderson, PO, dec. Luke Hribar, 5-1 (SV).285-Chase Klinger, PO, pinned Dalton Gable, 3: 11.

* -- Forest Hills was deducted one team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Records: Fo0rest Hills 9-2; Philipsburg-Osceola 11-6

(First Round

Philipsburg-Osceola 55, Ligonier Valley 15

285-Chase Klinger, PO, maj. dec. Ben Balthaser, 8-0. 106-Josh Harbert, LV, forfeit. 113-Nick Coudriet, PO, pinned James Brown, 1:23. 120-Nick Bryan, PO, pinned Bruce Krieger, 3:21. 126-Scott Frantz, PO, dec. Scott Frantz, 4-0. 132-Ryan Harbert, LV, dec. Gabriel Dunkelberger, 6-0. 138-No match. 145-Chase Chapman, PO, pinned Khorter Drury, 1:00. 152-Austin Foster, PO, pinned Payton Matson, 2:42. 160-Hunter Weitoish, PO, pinned Kyrie Miller, 4:28. 170-Dominic Shaw, PO, pinned Ryan Jones, 1:37. 182-Isaac Piper, LV, forfeit. 195-Parker Moore, PO, pinned Killian McWhorter, 1:20. 220-Tyler Anderson, PO, pinned Logan Shaftic, 3:55.

Records: Philipsburg-Osceola 11-5; Ligonier Valley 6-8

This story was originally published January 29, 2020 at 12:10 AM.