Pennsylvania is known to be one of the strongest states in the country and this year was no different at the NCAA Championships.

PA has 47 grapplers competiting this weekend in Omaha, Nebraska which is 16 more than 2nd Place Ohio.

2nd) Ohio – 31

3rd) New Jersey – 29

T4th) California & New York - 24

T6th)  Illinois & Iowa - 14

8th) Michigan – 13

9th) Colorado – 11

10th) Washington – 10

Here's a list of the PA kids…highlighted in red are from our area.

165 Rendos, Andrew Bucknell Brockway
133 Ortenzio, Bryan Penn Camp Hill
149 Kyler, Matthew Army Clearfield
125 Pataky, Brad Penn State Clearfield
165 King, Jarrod Edinboro Connellsville
133 Bell, Steve Maryland Connellsville
157 John, Kyle Maryland Coopersburg
157 Fittery, Steve American Denver
149 Bucher, Brandon George Mason Dillsburg
141 Ciasulli, Seth Lehigh Easton
141 Krom, Alex Maryland Easton
133 Oliver, Jordan Oklahoma State Easton
184 Clymer, Ben Hofstra Germansville
141 Clymer, Scott Liberty Germansville
285 Arnone, Joshua Cornell Honesdale
285 Tomei, Ryan Pittsburgh Irwin
125 Young, Shane West Virginia Jeannette
197 Drury, Dennis North Carolina Jenkintown
174 Henrich, Chris Virginia Lansdale
141 Kemmerer, Zack Penn Linfield
157 Harrison, Hadley Clarion McKean
165 Morrison, Rob Rider Mechanicsburg
174 Resnick, Jim Rider Media
141 Nauman, Tyler Pittsburgh Middletown
197 Kennedy, Joseph Lehigh Milford
197 Lapotsky, Eric Oklahoma Mt. Carmel
149 Ward, Bobby N.C. State Nazareth
165 Schmelyun, Rick Bloomsburg New Oxford
184 Salopek, Michael Virginia North Huntingdon
133 Mytych, Steve Drexel Northampton
197 Wilps, Matthew Pittsburgh Chartiers Valley
285 Haddad, Ziad North Carolina Orefield
133 Choate, Cortlandt Brown Orwigsburg
157 Hostetter, Jarrett Millersville Oxford
174 Smith, Shane Millersville Pennsburg
157 Moley, Matt Bloomsburg Phoenixville
125 Zanetta, Anthony Pittsburgh Keystone Oaks
125 Frey, Garrett Princeton Pittsburgh
133 Clair, Sean Eastern Michigan Plum
149 Shober, Glenn Navy Reading
125 Childress, Jonathan Liberty Red Lion
184 Bradshaw, Patrick Edinboro Saegertown
165 Jones, Donald West Virginia Slickville
184 Bosak, Steve Cornell State College
149 Fleming, James Clarion West Mifflin
133 Fisk, Matthew Lehigh Wyalusing
149 Albright, Eric Pittsburgh York
 

Contratulations to Coach Marc Allemang for being named Section 5 "Assistant Coach of the Year."   This was a well deserved honor as he's worked countless hours with the boys and always maintained a postive attitude. Eventhough he's a Bethel Park graduate we're happy he's on our side.

2003 and 2004 NCAA participant … has an 82-24 career record

Junior – Placed first at the East Region Championship, Slippery Rock Open and the National Catholic Championship … East Region Championship "Outstanding Wrestler" … was ranked as high as 16th in the country by InterMat Wrestling … led the team with a 30-5 record, setting a school record for wins by a junior … was a perfect 17-0 in dual matches … had a team-high 11 pins … finished third at the WVU Open

Sophomore – Placed first at the East Region Championship and the National Catholic Championship … East Region Championship "Outstanding Wrestler" … led the team with a 31-10 record … was 11-2 in dual matches … had a team-high 11 pins … finished third at the Ashland Open and the Slippery Rock Open … placed sixth at the Penn State Open

Freshman – Third on the team in wins with a 21-9 record … third in dual meet wins with a 13-5 mark … led the Dukes with eight pins … placed third at NCAA East Regional

High School – Placed fourth in WPIAL as a senior … section champion as a junior, section runner-up as a senior … four-year letterman

Personal – 2004 NWCA All-Academic Team … 2003 NWCA All-Academic Honorable Mention … member of the Dean's List and Director of Athletics Honor Roll … secondary education major

If you would like to view the SW Regional Brackets CLICK HERE.

The winner of the Penguin ticket package drawing was Stu Kurland (have fun Alex)!  Stu is a Mt. Lebanon fireman and the salesman was Andy Buttlar.  Thank you to everyone who helped sell raffle tickets and big props to Lucy Vayo for setting up the Rollier's & Shop 'n Save days. 

~Steve Patrick

Saturday, Feb 28th – Mt. Lebanon High School

Congratulations to the five Lebo grapplers for placing in the Section 5 tournament and earning a spot in the WPIAL tourney next weekend at Canon Mac! 

Andy Butlar (103), Adam Kemerer (130), and Chris Vayo (140) each won their consolation finals match to take 3rd Place while Evan Brem (112) and Jack Hnath (152) took 4th Place. 

CLICK HERE to view a complete list of place winner's from all of the sections.

Saturday, March 20th at the Fitzgerald Field House, University of Pittsburgh.

Love wrestling? Come watch some of the best High School wrestlers in our State and the country!

The WPIAL All-Stars will square off against the New York All-Stars at 6:00

The Pennsylvania All-Stars face Team USA at 8:00.

CLICK HERE to view the latest USA Team line-up.

The WPIAL & PA teams will be announced once the High School State Championships have been completed.

The Varsity Blue Devils are getting ready to host the Individual Section 5 tournament at Mt. Lebanon High School.  Lebo will send 5 boys with 20+ wins on the year into the tournament.   Andy Buttlar (103, 21-14, Sr), Adam Kemerer (130, 23-11, Jr), Jack Hnath (152, 24-10, Sr), Austin VanHorn (160, 20-9, Sr), and Scott Allen (171, 24-10, Jr).  The remainder of the team is as follows: Evan Brem (112, 12-19, Fr), Michael Kostas (119, 6-9, Jr), Steve Gannon (125, 16-18, Jr), Giancarlo Lies (135, 15-19, So), Chris Vayo (140, 13-8, So), Steve Patrick (145, 2-4, Sr), Evan Brailey (189, 18-13, Sr), Jeremy Hinds (215, 7-12, Sr), and Steven Riggs (285, 12-15, Sr). 

If you're a wrestling fan, then please come and support the boys in their quest to become State Champions!

Wrestling Schedule

Section 5 Tournament – Mt. Lebanon High School – (Click Here to View Brackets)

Saturday, February 27th

10:30 AM Start – Quarterfinals, Semi-Finals, and Consolations.

6:00 PM – Consolation Finals & Championship Finals

Big props to four of our 1st year youth grapplers for placing in the Ft. Cherry Novice Tournament! Luke Iovino and Matt Zanone took 1st Place while Steven Vines and Parker Reed captured 2nd Place trophies.  They've been working really hard all winter long and getting better with each practice.  Well done kids…keep working hard!

Also, Tuner Gray put in a good showing at the Trinity Odd Age Open.  He captured 1st Place in the 11u – 85 lb division.  Nice Job T! 

Congratulations to Sammy White for taking 1st Place (12u / 80 lbs) at the Brooke Open in West Virginia this past weekend.  It was Sammy's first open championship and he is pumped up!!!  Nice work Sammy.