Glenn Kaiser recaps Friday’s action at the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships in Hershey. (Kyle Waterman photo courtesy of Glenn Kaiser)
NORTH & SOUTH SOLID AS A ROCK
By Glenn Kaiser
HERSHEY, PA-Council Rock North and Council Rock South wrestling teams each have two semifinalists in Hershey. The Indians’ Luke Lucerne (120) and Cameron Robinson (145), along with the Golden Hawks’ Kyle Waterman (106) and Shane Hanson-Ashworth (120) will take to the mats in the Giant Center tomorrow morning at 9:00am, to compete for a berth in the championship finals of their respective weight classes. With their quarterfinal victories, they will all medal no lower than sixth place in the 2019 PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships.
CR North’s Luke Lucerne (34-8) has been on fire as of late, but never this hot. Lucerne knocked off Manheim Central’s Will Betancourt 4-1, in a 120-pound quarterfinal bout. Betancourt (37-4) was the Southcentral Regional champion, Lucerne used a late takedown and cradle to beat him. Lucerne will have to get past Nazareth’s Sean Pierson (38-3), the Northeast champ in his semifinal tilt to get the opportunity to wrestle for a state title. Lucerne’s teammate, Cam Robinson at 145-pounds, will be the favorite in his semifinal match tomorrow against Paniro Johnson (37-5) from Erie Cathedral Prep. Robinson (35-4) appears to be on a mission to clash with Becahi’s Ryan Anderson (37-1) in the 145-pound state final. Cam was Cam on Friday afternoon, winning 7-1 versus Wilson West Lawn’s Brandon Connor.
CR North 106-pounder, Kyle Hauserman (39-6) will also medal, as he has advanced to the fourth round of consolations. Hauserman blanked Red Land’s Fox 7-0 to do so. Hauserman secured a first period fall in his first consi-match over Liberty’s Connor Werner.
Kyle Waterman (38-9) was dominant in his 12-4 major decision over Wyatt Fox (Red Land) at 106-pounds. Waterman put Fox in danger early with a tight half combination scoring back points, opening up a large lead to coast into the semis. His opponent will be Seneca Valley’s Dylan Chappell (41-4), the Southwest champ. The Golden Hawks 120-pounder, Shane Hanson-Ashworth (41-8), took advantage of a late match gator roll attempt by Liberty’s Matt Maloney, winning 7-1, after catching Maloney on his back on the line to end the bout. Hanson-Ashworth is also smoking hot as he has continued his streak of winning since being crowned the SE Region champ. It’s possible that an all Council Rock final may occur in the 120-pound title bout, if Hanson-Ashworth can defeat a rugged Kurtis Phipps (36-4) from Norwin. Phipps was the SW champ at this weight. The Golden Hawks remain in fifth place in the team standings with 40 points. The Indians are hovering in 13th place with 25 pts.
The Golden Hawks will add two additional medals with Max Mendez (113) and Branden Richinni (126). They are both alive and well. Mendez suffered a first-round loss but has wrestled back, winning twice, including a rematch victory of last week’s SE title match with Sam McMonagle (WC Henderson). Richinni lost his quarterfinal match at 126-pounds but rebounded with another win over Neshaminy’s Colton Jordan in sudden victory overtime 3-1. Richinni captured the SE crown a week ago from Jordan. This was the third week in a row these two have met.
Souderton’s Tyler Williams (38-2) has reached the 138-pound state semifinals for the second straight season. He celebrated exuberantly after his 10-0 quarterfinal victory over Ty Linsenbigler (Hempfield Area). Williams will be up against a formidable foe in Dashawn Farber (37-7) from Nazareth in the semifinals. Farber was also a regional champ, out of the Northeast. William Tennent’s A.J. Tamburrino will medal with his first trip to Chocolate Town, USA. Tamburrino (35-5), is the favorite to win the consolation bracket at 145, he lost to Anderson (Becahi) in his quarters bout 4-2. Tamburrino will tangle with another Lehigh Valley foe in Nazareth’s Nathan Stefanik Saturday.
No big men will medal from the SOL, Patrick O’Neill (North Penn) and a host of other contenders could not navigate their way thru the wrestle-backs Friday. O’Neill (160) actually was the loser to CR South’s Matt Colajezzi 4-2 in a second round consi-bout. Colajezzi exited soon after with a 7-3 loss to Nazareth’s Connor Herceg. Only nine medals will be accounted for by SOL grapplers, let’s hope some of them are gold…
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