Thad Westley was on a mission this past weekend. The Golden Eagle junior carved out a No, One seed for the 2003 District VI Class AA wrestling tournament by virtue of a stellar 31-6 record against the tough dual and tournament schedule on Tyrone\u2019s card. He was out to complete a family odyssey.
\n\u201cIt was good to win it for the school, but my dad won districts when he was in 11th grade,\u201d explained Westley, \u201cand I had a little pressure on me to do that. It was one of my goals to win it when I was in 11th grade.\u201d
\nWestley, who has 85 career wins as a junior, becomes the Eagles\u2019 first district champ in 10 years, since Todd Snyder won at 152 in 1993. His father Mark Westley was one of three Tyrone district champs in 1974 joining Clay Fink and Tim Snyder.
\n\u201cThis is a tribute to Thad\u2019s work ethic!\u201d exclaimed Tyrone coach Blair Packer. \u201cHe outworks just about everybody, he\u2019s always out front in runs, when it comes to drilling, he\u2019s always on it doing things the way they are supposed to be done. When it comes to competition, he is tough as nails. He is just an all around wrestler. Thad is such a pleasure to have wrestling for you.\u201d
\nThad Westley pinned Jason Hughes (23-7) of Westmont-Hilltop, in 2:59 in the semifinals for his third commanding win of the tournament. In the finals, Westley controlled the match against returning champ Lee Manning (26-5) of United. Manning won the 119-pound title in 2002. Westley opened the scoring with a takedown in the first period, then added an escape in the middle and another takedown in the third period for a 5-1 win. In four victories over the weekend, Westley (35-6) gave up just three harmless escapes.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve been working hard on every aspect of my wrestling,\u201d said Westley. \u201cI went back to my old style of using legs, tying up the hands, staying hip-to-hip. We have been working in practice on staying in good position. Our six guys that move on will be working together, trying to focus on perfecting everything and winning more matches than we did last year.\u201d
\nWhile Westley was the lone Eagle in the finals on Saturday night at Tyrone Area High School, he won\u2019t be alone next weekend at the Regional Tournament at University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown. Terry Tate finished third (275), Brett Harris (130) and David Miller (135) finished fourth and Robert Waite (103) and Brice Mertiff (145) placed fifth to join Westley in qualifying for Regionals. District VI sends the top five placers at each weight on to Regionals.
\nTerry Tate (31-6) was edged by second seed Jon Neese (24-1) of Marion Center, in the semifinals, to drop into the consolation semis. Tate pinned Rich McKrush (22-7) in 3:59 and earned the third place honors by decking Ralph Morgan (28-8) of Mount Union, in 3:34.
\nBrett Harris (29-12) opened the day on Saturday by shutting out Jeff Paup (16-11) of Glendale, 3-0 in second round consolation action, then stepped up the intensity pinning Thad Pajak (19-11) of United, in 2:30, in the consi-quarters and Brent Gephart (30-3) of Penns Valley, in the consi-semis in 2:39. Gephart had been the top seed at 130, and had pinned Harris in the third period of the dual meet. In the third place consi-finals, Harris was pinned by Ligonier Valley\u2019s Mike Krisfalusi to place fourth.
\nDavid Miller (29-12) dropped a 10-4 decision to nemesis Preston Shawver (29-5) of Penns Valley, in the semifinals. After a Miller 6-0 victory in the second round of the King of the Mountain Tournament at Lock Haven, No. Two seed Shawver has now defeated the Tyrone sophomore three straight times. In the consolation semis, Miller came back with a vengeance, pinning Bob Gates (23-8) of Blairsville, in 1:14. In the consifinals, Miller was unable to solve Shane Hower (25-7) of Mount Union, falling 6-4 to finish fourth.
\nRobert Waite (21-15) pinned Nathan Stains (15-14) of Southern Huntingdon, in 2:05 in a second consi round match and pinned Jesse Marlatt (15-17) of Penns Valley, in 2:52. In the dual, Robert won by a 15-0 tech fall over Marlatt and pinned Stains at the Blair\/Huntingdon County Tournament. In the consi-semis, Waite dropped a 10-2 major decision to Jared Baxter (28-8) of Forest Hills. Waite qualified for Regionals with a 31-2 major decision over Tim Loxley (14-7) of Penn Cambria, for his fifth place finish.
\nBrice Mertiff (25-13) the No. Two seed at 145, pinned Mark Ferrance (15-11) in 0:33 in a second round consolation match then followed that one with a fall over Justin Wilkinson (17-14) of West Branch, in the consi-quarters. In the consolation semifinals, Brice dropped a close 4-2 decision to top seed Mike Wise (31-4) of Penns Valley. During the season, Wise won a pair of tough verdicts over the Tyrone sophomore, besting Mertiff 9-6 in the opening round of the King of the Mountain tourney and 8-7 in the dual on a last-second takedown. In the must-win match for fifth place, Mertiff picked up his team-leading 21st pin of the year, decking Somerset\u2019s Jason Evans (24-11) in 1:48.
\n\u201cIt was a tough tournament,\u201d said Packer. \u201c I wish we could have won a couple other matches. The closer you get (to Hershey) the road gets tougher and tougher as it goes. Brice and Dane both lost close ones. Two years ago when I came here we had three go to Regionals. Last year we took five, now this year we have six, with only one senior among the group. With a little bit of hard work and dedication on the kids part, we should have a nice group and could take even more next year.\u201d
\nBellwood-Antis will take two grapplers to the Regionals this weekend following a second place finish by Blue Devil senior Jared Ervine and a fifth place by junior Will Edwards.
\nErvine (20-9) is the first Bellwood-Antis finalist since the Torsell brothers, Vince at 275, in 1999 and Shane at 152, in 1995. The last B-A district champ was Tony Montanaro who capped his third District crown with the Outstanding Wrestler Award in 1994. Ervine won a tough 3-2 battle over Rob Reynolds (24-6) of Glendale, in the semifinals to punch his ticket to the Regionals. In the finals at 152, top seed Cody Gallaher (37-3) of Forest Hills, pinned Ervine in 5:24. A seventh seed, Ervine was the only wrestler lower than a fourth seed to reach the finals.
\nWill Edwards (18-7) decisioned Ray Harris (16-12) of Penn Cambria, by an 8-2 count in second round consi action and reversed a 3-1 loss in the dual meet to edge Dane McCloskey (24-12) of Tyrone, 2-0 in the consi-quarterfinals. In the consolation-semi, Edwards fell to Donny Clark (26-7) of West Branch, 9-2. In the dual meet Clark triumphed 10-0. With a Regional bid at cost, Edwards slipped past John Whistler (19-9) of Richland, 7-5 to earn the fifth place spot.
\n\u201cAll of our kids wrestled very well this weekend,\u201d said Bellwood-Antis coach Ron Wilson. \u201cWe lost a couple heartbreakers. There were some close matches, we could have won and have some other kids move on This is supposed to be fun and I think the kids saw that they can compete. It was nice to get two to move through. We will try to improve on that a bit next year.\u201d
\nDane McCloskey majored Nathan Berezansky (19-11) of Central Cambria, 11-1 in the consi second round, before falling out of the tournament with the loss to the Blue Devils\u2019 Edwards. Adam Swayne (13-18) was pinned by Corey Deffibaugh (22-10) of Claysburg-Kimmel, and Max Soellner (4-6) had his season ended by Brian Gresh (12-5) of Central Cambria, 14-0 in a second round consolation match. Swayne dropped a 5-1 decision to Deffibaugh in the Team Duals.
\nJosh Ervine (13-17) saw his freshman season at Bellwood-Antis, come to an end with a 7-5 loss to Steve Sudik (14-15) of West Branch, at 125 and B-A senior Dan Himes (8-5) lost to Alan Collins (20-5) of Glendale, by a 3-2 score at 145, in second round consi-action. Blue Devil sophomore Dwayne Cherry pinned Central\u2019s David Douglas (14-15) in second round consi-action at 160, then exited the tournament with an 8-1 setback to Ryan Bailey (25-4) of United, in the consi-quarters.
\nForest Hills ran away with the team title with 217 points and will have five champs and a total of eight wrestlers at Regionals, Mount Union finished a distant second with 184 points and had a District VI high nine qualifiers. Tyrone finished third with 145 points, Penns Valley fourth with 142 points and seven qualifiers and United rounds out the top five with 135 points and six qualifiers. The second five includes Cambria Heights 130 points and five qualifiers, including three District champs, Claysburg-Kimmel 114.56 points and five qualifiers, Central Cambria 102 and four qualifiers, West Branch 98.5 points and two qualifiers and Westmont-Hilltop 85 and four qualifiers. Bellwood-Antis finished in a tie for 18th place with Moshannon Valley with 51 points.
\nForest Hills junior Jake Strayer, was chosen the Outstanding Wrestler by the media. Strayer (37-0) won his third district title and already has two Regional crowns and a State title in his bag. Jim Bowser of Forest Hills was named the Coach of the Year.
\nChampionship Finals (both wrestlers advance)
\n103 – Adam Whetstone (27-3) (Claysburg-Kimmel) pinned Doug Ritchey (19-2) (Central) 3:33
\n112 – Shane Valko (36-2) (Forest Hills) dec. Brock Scott (26-1) (Juniata Valley) 9-6
\n119 – Jake Strayer (37-0) (Forest Hills) dec. Garrett Scott (26-1) (Juniata Valley) 8-7
\n125 – THAD WESTLEY (35-6) (TYRONE) dec. Lee Manning (26-5) (United) 5-1
\n130 – Dominic Inzana ( 25-1) (Cambria Heights) major dec. Jonathan Clemens (25-9) (Mount Union) 9-1
\n135 – Nick Thomas (25-1) (Cambria Heights) dec. Preston Shawver (29-6) (Penns Valley) 3-0
\n140 – Art Moss (30-6) (Forest Hills) dec. Bobby Thompson (23-11) (Penns Valley) 3-2 TB
\n145 – Chris Cence (24-2) (Cambria Heights) pinned James Moss (30-8) (Forest Hills) 4:47
\n152 – Cody Gallaher 37-3) (Forest Hills) pinned JARED ERVINE (20-9) (BELLWOOD-ANTIS) 5:24
\n160 – Jared Ricotta (30-0) West Branch) dec. Rob Sakmar (29-2) (Richland) 6-2
\n171 – Sam Gallaher (24-7) (United) pinned Keith Frank (28-7) (Penn Cambria) 2:50
\n189 – Sean Kisel (34-5) (Forest Hills) dec. Kendall Ridenour (28-8) (Penns Valley) 3-2
\n215 – Josh Kirsch (34-0) (Mount Union) dec. Thad Francisco (24-5) (Glendale) 6-4
\n275 – Nate Morris (25-0) Central Cambria) dec. Jon Neese (24-1) Marion Center 8-5
\nThird Place Matches (both wrestlers advance)
\n103 – Mike Paronish (Northern Cambria) dec. Jared Baxter (Forest Hills) 4-2 OT
\n112 – Gary Paronish (Penn Cambria) dec. Jason Grove (Mount Union) 11-5
\n119 – Chuck Boring (United) dec. Donny Clark (West Branch) 8-7
\n125 – Ryan McIntyre (Claysburg-Kimmel) dec. Justin Berrier (Southern Huntingdon) 4-3
\n130 – Mike Krisfalusi (Ligonier Valley) pinned BRETT HARRIS (TYRONE) 3:58
\n135 – Shane Hower (Mount Union) dec. DAVID MILLER (TYRONE) 6-4
\n140 – Scott Godin (Moshannon Valley) dec. Mike Dunlap (Blairsville) 1-0
\n145 – Mike Wise (Penns Valley) pinned Alan Collins (Glendale) 4:24
\n152 – Dan Dunlap (Blairsville) dec. Drew Aurand 8-1
\n160 – Derek Krouse (Westmont) dec. Jeff Pennington (Marion Center) 7-5
\n171 – Brian Angelotti (Forest Hills) dec. Mike Cameron (Westmont) 11-7
\n189 – Jamie Nagel (Mount Union) pinned Larry Hayward (Mo Valley) 0:27
\n215 – Zach Buzzinotti (United) dec. Brian Gresh (Central Cambria) 6-4
\n275 – TERRY TATE (TYRONE) pinned Ralph Morgan (Mount Union) 3:34
\nFifth Place Matches (winner advances)
\n103 – ROBERT WAITE (TYRONE) maj dec. Tim Loxley (Penns Cambria) 13-2
\n112 – Gary Paronish (Penn Cambria) dec. Jason Grove (Mount Union) 11-5
\n119 – WILL EDWARDS (BELLWOOD-ANTIS) dec. John Whistler (Richland) 7-5
\n125 – Clyde Hendrickson (Mount Union) pinned Jason Hughes (Westmont) 4:52
\n130 – Brent Gephart (Penns Valley) maj. dec. Steve Makin (Central Cambria) 8-0
\n135 – Bob Gates (Blairsville) dec. David Sunderland (Southern Huntingdon) 8-7
\n140 – Corey Deffibaugh (Claysburg) pinned Craig Sheehan (Central Cambria) 1:39)
\n145 – BRICE MERTIFF (TYRONE) pinned Jason Evans (Somerset) 1:48
\n152 – Jeremy Knott (Claysburg) won by default Rob Reynolds (Glendale) 0:18
\n160 – Ryan Bailey (United) dec. Alex McNitt (Penns Valley) 7-6
\n171 – Trey Rogers (Mount Union) dec. Mike Gaston (Blairsville) 4-3
\n189 – Grant Stetz (Westmont) pinned Adam Joseph (Richland) 4:09
\n215 – Brandon Bishop (Cambria Heights) dec. Colby Stover (Penns Valley) 2-1, TB
\n275 – Rich McKrush (Portage) pinned Tony Paris (Claysburg) 1:17<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Thad Westley was on a mission this past weekend. The Golden Eagle junior carved out a No, One seed for the 2003 District VI Class AA wrestling tournament by virtue of a stellar 31-6 record against the tough dual and tournament schedule on Tyrone\u2019s card. He was out to complete a family odyssey. \u201cIt was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-46964","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sports-news-in-the-tyrone-pennsylvania-area"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46964","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=46964"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46964\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=46964"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=46964"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tyronepa.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=46964"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}