State College wrestling suffers heartbreaking loss in PIAA Class 3A team championships
It’s been a remarkable season so far for State College’s wrestling program — even if Saturday didn’t end quite like the Little Lions hoped.
In head coach Jason Nickal’s second season at the helm, the program already made history by reaching the PIAA Class 3A team championships quarterfinals for the first time in 25 years. On Saturday morning, the regular season came to a close with a heartbreaking 29-27 loss to Boyertown in the consolation quarterfinals — a dual the Little Lions led with two bouts left — inside 1st Summit Arena.
State College finished 17-6 on the year and within the top 8 in the state.
“Our kids did really well. We knew that there was a potential of winning six (bouts), and still winning the dual. We were getting some bonus points from our guys down low and in the middle weights,” Nickal said. “We were minimizing the damage, giving up some regular decisions throughout the dual. We knew we couldn’t give up the bonus points in the last couple matches.
“We put ourselves in position to win, so I couldn’t ask more from the team. We had a good chance. The guys fought hard, and we were right there.”
The dual began with State College in a slight hole as the Bears’ Jacob Stanchak topped Camden Fletcher, 9-5. However, like Nickal said, the Little Lions’ lower and middle weights stepped up and snapped off three straight victories.
State College’s Noah Young responded by sticking Liam Vance in 2:47 at 114 pounds. Young’s brother, Luke, then rattled off five takedowns in an 18-2 technical fall of Carter Fogle in 3:28.
Kael Davis continued the momentum by going on a scoring spree over the second and third periods of his 14-2 major decision over Boden Waite at 127 pounds. Davis collected a pair of takedowns in the second period, while giving up a reversal, and recorded several nearfall points thanks to tilts in the third period.
The Little Lions led 15-3 after Davis’ victory.
“We had a good performance at 107 during this dual. Camden Fletcher came to battle. He was another one with a minute left, we might have won that match,” Nickal said. “But (1)14, (1)21, (1)27 those guys have been there for us all year long, no matter what. It’s great to have them.”
Boyertown clawed its way back with three straight victories to get within 15-14.
Then, State College’s James Whitbred, who is a Penn State commit, opened the lead back up for his team.
Whitbred snapped off six takedowns — three alone in the second period — in a 19-4 technical fall of Carter Stouch in 3:30 at 152 pounds. The Bears got a decision at the next bout to make it 20-17 in favor of the Little Lions with four bouts left.
State College’s Teag Sanderson, who is the son of Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, came out and recorded a 14-1 major decision at 172 pounds. Noah Williams followed Sanderson with an 11-5 victory to give the Little Lions a 27-17 lead.
But Boyertown got back-to-back falls to close out the dual and complete the rally for the win.
“We hit a stretch with (1)52, (1)72 and (1)89, it gets momentum back in our favor. We just got to find a way to win one or two more matches throughout the dual, and we come out on top,” Nickal said. “I’m happy, our (coaching staff) first time here at the state dual tournament, now we know what to expect.
“It’s definitely something to build on.”
Boyertown 29, State College 27
PIAA Class 3A Consolation Quarterfinals
Saturday at Johnstown
107: Jacob Stanchak, B, dec. Camden Fletcher, 9-5
114: Noah Young, SC, pinned Liam Vance, 2:47
121: Luke Young, SC, tech. fall Carter Fogle, 18-2 (3:28)
127: Kael Davis, SC, major dec. Boden Waite, 14-2
133: Brody Tobias, B, dec. Jon Whitbred, 16-10
139: Cole Fogle, B, dec. Mason Sanderson, 7-2
145: Liam Diamond, B, tech. fall Nico Diaz, 18-3 (4:07)
152: James Whitbred, SC, tech. fall Carter Stouch, 19-4 (3:30)
160: Logan Oakes, B, dec. Doc Reviglio, 7-5
172: Teag Sanderson, SC, major dec. JD Heiser, 14-1
189: Noah Williams, SC, dec. Josh Larrimore, 11-5
215: Kaleb Dumin, B, pinned Rhys Mitchell, 2:10
285: Brody Ayers, B, pinned Quillan Phillips, 1:27
Takedowns: SC 25, B 17
Records: State College (17-6), Boyertown (25-2)
