A lighter Moore produces Section 4 title
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Waynesburg’s Ryan Howard wins by fall over New Castle’s Micah Killion in Saturday’s 220-pound bout.
Trinity’s Cole Whitmer (left) wins by fall over West Allegheny’s Nico Flati in 1:33 at 182 pounds
Canon-McMillan's Costa Moore has Tyler Diggins of Moon in trouble during their 106-pound final at the Section 4-AAA Tournament Saturday at Chartiers Valley High School. Moore won by fall in 3:58.
Holly Tonini/Observer-Reporter
Canon-McMilllan’s Gerrit Nijenhuis wins by fall over West Allegheny’s Dante Flatti in Saturday’s 170-pound bout.
Observer-Reporter
South Fayette’s Quentin Franklin is at 100 percent for the Section 4-AAA Tournament.
HEIDELBERG – Costa Moore had to drop down to start working his way back up.
The sophomore from Canon-McMillan wrestled at 113 pounds all season but decided to drop to 106 for the individual postseason.
So far, you can’t argue with the results.
Moore looked strong in pinning Tyler Diggins of Moon in 3:58 in the finals of the Section 4-AAA Tournament at Chartiers Valley High School Saturday afternoon. The top five wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the WPIAL Class AAA Championships next weekend at Canon-McMillan High School.
Moore was one of 10 Big Macs to advance. Four of them – Moore, Jimmy Baxter (113), Ken Hayman (126) and Gerrit Nijenhuis (170) – will go as champions.
Waynesburg also had four first-place finishers in Cole Homet (120), Trey Howard (145), Luca Augustine (152) and Ryan Howard (220) and advanced a total of eight wrestlers.
Trinity’s Cole Whitmer (182) and South Fayette heavyweight Quentin Franklin also took home gold medals. The Hillers had six third-place finishers and 10 qualifiers and South Fayette had three fifth-place finishers and six qualifiers.
Moore, the top seed in the weight class, scored the first seven points of the bout against Diggins before turning him and registering the pin in the second period.
“I felt bigger and stronger at 106,” said Moore. “I feel like I have a good shot to make it (to states). I was up there for the team tournament so I got to see what it was like.”
Moore said the plans to drop to 106 were in the works all season but he gradually made his way down.
“This was one of the toughest weight classes to get down to,” said Moore. “It was the toughest thing I’ve ever done. I was more competitive at 106. This was my first time down all year. I sweated it out.”
Hayman also did not give up a bout point but his encounter went the distance. Hayman rode Jordan Watters of West Allegheny for the second period and got an escape and takedown in the third for a 3-0 decision at 126.
“Usually, everything comes natural on top,” said Hayman, who is one of Moore’s workout partners. “I was able to throw a leg in and control the far arm. I’m working on my conditioning this year more than my previous years. I’m trying to stay in the best shape I can. That way, I know I can win every third period.”
Baxter also did not allow a bout point but his match lasted just 1:11 before he pinned Kyvon Grace of Moon to win at 113.
Homet also enjoyed a first-period pin, sticking Luke Potts of Chartiers Valley in 1:25 at 120. Howard made a first-period takedown and second-period escape stand for a 3-0 victory over Tanner Rohaley at 145 and Augustine escaped in the third overtime for a 2-1 decision over Eli Brinsky of South Fayette.
It was Augustine’s third victory over Brinsky in his varsity career and all were close wins for the Waynesburg 152-pounder.
“He’s a really tough kid,” said Augustine. “Every match gets closer and closer, and that’s how it should be.”
Howard wrapped up Waynesburg’s day with a pin of Micah Killion of New Castle in 4:16 at 220.
Whitmer made quick work of Nico Flati of West Allegheny, pinning him in 1:33 at 182 pounds.
“I’m trying to be more aggressive,” said Whitmer. “I want to try and get the first takedown. That’s definitely the most important factor.”
Franklin escaped in the third overtime period for a 2-1 win over Gio Ramos of Canon-McMillan at heavyweight.