Four SOL wrestlers advanced to the semifinal of the state wrestling tournament. Check out Glenn Kaiser’s recap of the top SOL wrestlers.
Four SOL Wrestlers Reach Semi-Finals In Hershey
by Glenn Kaiser
As expected, the 113 pound duo of Norristown’s Zach Fuentes and Pennridge’s Scott Parker advanced to the semifinals in the PIAA AAA State Wrestling Championships after winning their quarterfinal bouts Friday afternoon at the Giant Center in Hershey, PA. Fuentes, the SE Regional Champ easily handled Hayden Hidlay, a freshmen from Mifflin County 7-3. And Scott Parker continued to dispose of some of the PIAA’s best 113 pounders in the top half of the bracket by knocking off Jake Gromacki (NW Regional Champ) from Cathedral Prep 3-2. Parker avenged a loss from last year’s state tournament Thursday night with a 10-7 win over Dom Forys from North Allegheny. Parker looked determined, as he turned it up a notch Friday to earn the right to become a state finalist against top ranked Ethan Lizak of Parkland. Fuentes will battle A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg) in his semi. Fuentes advanced to the quarters with a fall over Todd Hetrick in 5:14. If all goes well, these two SOL wrestlers could meet Saturday night to duel for the prestigious state title they both seek.
At 132 pounds, Central Bucks East’s Fransesco Fabozzi used a headlock to come from behind in his quarterfinal bout to pin McDowell’s Nick Gibson. Fabozzi also had a fall Thursday night over first round opponent Travis Roper (Wyoming Valley West). Fabozzi will tangle with Tyler Smith from Franklin Regional in the semis.
Brett Harner (182) continued his fabulous season with a quarterfinal victory over Alex DeCiantis of North Allegheny. Harner’s 6-2 victory advanced him to the semifinals where he will wrestle Marcus Johnson (Governor Mifflin). Harner is expected to advance to the finals and potentially have a rematch with Bald Eagle’s Jacob Taylor.
Unfortunately for Council Rock North’s John Dutrow, his dreams of a state title where extinguished by Father Judge’s Joey Galasso in a 138 pound quarterfinal. Dutrow was hoping to see Galasso in the state finals at this weight, but with both in an extremely tough top half of the bracket, they met in the quarters. It was Dutrow’s first loss of the season after winning 40 in a row. Dutrow advanced in the medal round, and will contend for a bronze on Saturday if he can restart the winning streak and win two in a row.
Other SOL wrestlers losing in the quarters were Justin Staudenmayer (160-Plymouth-Whitmarsh), a 4-2 loser to returning state champion Garrett Peppelman (Central Dauphin), Dom Rigous (170-CB South), a 3-0 loser to Colton Peppelman (CD), and PJ Steinmetz (195-CR South), who was pinned in overtime by Kiski’s Matt McCutchen. All three advanced in the medal round and will reach the podium - Saturday’s actin will decide how high. Ben Ross advanced with a fall in his second round consolation bout and will bring home the second of two medals for Pennridge at 120. At 220, Tyler Callendar will also medal for CR North as he won his medal round bout 6-3 over Shaun Heist of Parkland.
Norristown is tied for eighth place with Kiski Area in the team standings. Cannon Mac (40 points) leads the tournament just ahead of Central Dauphin (36 pts.)
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