State College eliminated on 2nd Day of PIAA Class 3A wrestling dual championships
Even though State College wrestling lost 37-33 to Cathedral Prep (20-2) Friday in the second round of consolations to get knocked out of the PIAA Class 3A dual championships in the Giant Center, coach Ryan Cummins had a smile on his face.
He never expected his team to be in that position.
“It was a great experience for us. It gets our program back to where it needs to be,” Cummins said. “With that in mind, I’m really proud of our guys. It was a tremendous effort. Looking back at the beginning of the season, I don’t know if we would’ve got to the top 16 in the state.”
State College (12-6) topped Garnet Valley 38-18 earlier Friday to set up the match with Cathedral Prep. Friday night’s dual with the Ramblers began at 160 pounds, where Harrison Hoopes bumped up for the Little Lions.
Hoopes, who went a perfect 3-0 in State College’s duals, started things off on the right foot. A first period takedown gave the sophomore a 2-0 lead early. He added a reversal and got a penalty point in the second period, and hung on for a 5-0 victory.
“He’s had a terrific tournament. I feel like he’s grown here in the last few weeks,” Cummins said of Hoopes. “I couldn’t be happier for him. He is peaking at the right time here for the postseason.”
After a setback at 170 pounds, the Little Lions strung together back-to-back victories. Lance Urbas collected a forfeit at 182 pounds. Ty Price earned a hard-fought 5-3 win after Urbas. State College led 12-4.
Cathedral Prep went on a run with bonus-point victories. The Ramblers earned three straight pins starting at 220 pounds and ending at 106 pounds. They led 22-12.
“We have a good team. It was just back and forth,” Cathedral Prep coach Mike Hahesy said. “Our kids were just hard nosed, just like State College’s are. It was a good match.”
The Little Lions were able to get some bonus points of their own at 113 and 120 pounds. Hayden Cunningham, who bumped up to 113 pounds, earned a fall 44 seconds into the second period.
Freshman Eric Weaver was caught in a scramble with Elijah Hunt at 120 pounds from the bottom position. Weaver caught Hunt in a reversal, and stuck him with seven seconds remaining in the second period. Cummins and Co. jumped to their feet as State College regained the lead 24-22.
“He looked great. He is another one that has matured this year,” Cummins said. “He got what we needed there. It was a terrific pin. He is steadily getting better every week.”
The Little Lions lost the lead when the Ramblers’ Kaemen Smith picked up a 13-1 major decision at 126 pounds.
State College’s upperclassmen in Owen Woolcott and Clayton Leidy came through just like they have all season. The junior in Woolcott racked up a 11-1 lead before pinning his opponent in 4:00. Leidy needed a takedown at the buzzer to win 3-1.
Cathedral Prep was deducted a team point after Leidy’s win. The Little Lions led 33-25 with two bouts left.
The Ramblers though pinned their way out for the win.
“We had a shot at it. It didn’t quite go our way,” Cummins said. “I think our guys wrestled hard and well. They laid it out on the line. We came up short at the end, but overall we did a nice job here.”
PIAA Class 3A Dual Championships
Friday at Hershey
Second Round Consolation
Cathedral Prep 37, State College 33
160: Harrison Hoopes, SC, dec. Kelyn Blossey, 5-0
170: Luke Sittinger, CP, maj. dec. Noah Prewitt, 11-3
182: Lance Urbas, SC, won by forfeit
195: Ty Price, SC, dec. Hunter Tirpak, 5-3
220: John Campbell, CP, pinned Tate McLaughlin, :53
285: Dorian Crosby, CP, pinned Harrison Schoen, 1:24
106: Jacob Van Dee, CP, pinned Sam Robey, 1:15
113: Hayden Cunningham, SC, pinned Philip Stark, 1:44
120: Eric Weaver, SC, pinned Elijah Hunt, 2:53
126: Kaemen Smith, CP, maj. dec. Carter Weaverling, 13-1
132: Owen Woolcott, SC, pinned Steffan Lynch, 4:00
138: Clayton Leidy, SC, dec. Ben Tirpak, 3-1
145: Paniro Johnson, CP, pinned Kyle Martin, 2:56
152: Marques McClorin, CP, pinned Jason Dry, 1:31
Takedowns: SC 8, CP 13
Records: State College 12-6, Cathedral Prep 20-2
First Round Consolation
State College 38, Garnet Valley 18
145: Chris Wood, GV, dec. Martin, 9-5
152: Hoopes, SC, pinned Matt Flicker, 2:01
160: Desmon Perry, GV, dec. Prewitt, 2-0
170: Braden Newby, SC, dec. Jared Park, 3-0
182: Urbas, SC, pinned David Dorf, :28
195: Price, SC, dec. Dillon Conlon, 7-2
220: Sam Ditrolio, GV, dec. McLaughlin, 8-5
285: Schoen, SC, dec. Nick Mahoney, 3-0
106: Cunningham, SC, pinned Francis Reagan, :14
113: Matt Ricci, GV, dec. Bailey Weaverling, 7-2
120: Kevin Puliti, GV, dec. Weaver, 3-1
126: Griffin Hollingsworth, GV, dec. C. Weaverling, 3-0
132: Woolcott, SC, tech. fall Daniel Husain, 15-0 (4:55)
138: Leidy, SC, pinned Eric Nickson, 3:14
Takedowns: GV 9, SC 12
Records: Garnet Valley 19-8, State College 12-5
