Feb 1, 2017 3 min read

CLAYSVILLE – One week ago, it took a late victory from McGuffey’s Noah Cline for the Highlanders defeat Derry and capture a section wrestling championship.

The teams met again Wednesday night, this time in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament.

Unfortunately for McGuffey, things didn’t go their way this time as there was no saving the Highlanders late Derry cruised to a 42-18 victory.

Derry advances to the AA semifinals Saturday at Chartiers-Houston.

“After last week, I told the kids it meant nothing,” Derry head coach Mike Weinell said. “I told them next week was the tournament that mattered, so we had a fresh start tonight. We didn’t have a great match last week. We lost a couple of close one. It happens. We have a good team and I think we can win it all. That was the message and we came out and performed.”

Other than one forfeit, McGuffey only won four bouts, all by decision.

Those went to Jett Pattison (126 pounds), Jeff McConn (145), Bryton Johnson (152) and Luke Shingle (195).

The biggest difference between Wednesday night and a week ago occurred before the match, when McGuffey lost the coin flip.

That prevented the Highlanders from getting the matchups they needed.

“Last Wednesday, they made a big mistake of not watching who we weighed in and had to forfeit one bout,” McGuffey head coach Mark Caffrey said. “I knew they wouldn’t do that again. And we needed to get the toss to win. We didn’t. That hurt us in at least three different matchups. They wrestled well tonight. We wrestled so-so. They deserved to win.”

Derry got off to a fast start when Dominic DeLuca pinned Dalton McCuen at 182 pounds.

The Trojans opened a 36-9 lead, getting a pin from Noah Wiencek (heavyweight), a technical fall from Jason Baker (120) and a major decision from Trey Weinell (138).

“We started fast,” said Mike Weinell. “We got the matchups we wanted this time around and everyone wrestled pretty well right from the get go.”

McGuffey advanced to the quarterfinals with a 57-24 victory over Laurel.

After losing three consecutive bouts by fall and trailing 18-3, the Highlanders went on a run. McGuffey recorded pins in seven of the next eight bouts.

Ed Shingle (heavyweight), Seth Burgdolt (106), Jake Garrety (120), Pattison (126), Teague Nicolella (132), Mason Burgdolt (138) and McConn (145) all recorded pins for the Highlanders.

“This team started two freshmen and six sophomores,” Caffrey said. “I am very proud of this team. It is one of the youngest teams I have ever coached to win a section title.”

Derry advanced to the quarterfinals with a 63-14 victory over Ellwood City, who only dressed six wrestlers.

Nicolella was honored prior to the matches for recording his 100th career victory.