Feb 12, 2016 3 min read

HERSHEY – It was the semifinals matchup everyone expected in the PIAA Class AAA Team Tournament.

And the wrestlers from Belle Vernon and Bethlehem Catholic made sure it lived up to the hype.

Belle Vernon got out to an early lead but Bethlehem Catholic rallied late, posting a technical fall and two pins to go on to a 33-30 victory over the Leopards in the semifinals of the PIAA Class AAA Team Tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey Friday evening.

“Losses hurt but I’m proud of the team. They went out and fought. What can I say?” said BV head coach Mike Doppelheuer.

Belle Vernon drops to the consolation round, where it will meet the winner of the match between Canon-McMillan and Kiski at 11 a.m. Bethlehem Catholic (19-1) wrestles Boyertown at 1 p.m. for the Class AAA team title.

“We’ve got to bounce back,” said Doppelheuer. “We’ve got to be ready. Hopefully, we get a good night’s sleep. This loss hurts but it’s part of wrestling.”

Belle Vernon (17-2) led 18-13 making the turn from heavyweight to 106. Bethlehem Catholic got a technical fall from Ryan Anderson at 113, a pin by Luke Carty at 120 and another at 126 by Luke Karam.

Perhaps the most important part of the match happened before Belle Vernon sent a wrestler out to the center of the mat. The Leopards won the flip, meaning they got the preferred matchups.

Jarred Papsey got Bethlehem Catholic off to a good start, taking a 9-8 decision from Scott Joll to open the dual meet at 145 pounds. Jarod Verkleeren pinned Ryan Zierner to make it 6-3. Belle Vernon ran off three straight wins in the upper weights – a forfeit to Austin Bell at 182, a 2-1 decision by Milt Kobaly over Adam Soldridge at 195 and a 5-4 win in ultimate tiebreaker by Michael Fine at 220 to make it 18-10.

“We thought we had a chance to beat them,” said Doppelheuer. “We lost a couple close matches … you flip those matches and we’re right in there.”

Belle Vernon, the WPIAL champion, made it to this point by beating Exeter, the third-place team in District 3, 57-17, in the first round and District 1 runner-up, Council Rock South, 46-18. Bethlehem Catholic, the state’s top-ranked team, crushed Tunkhannock, 56-11, and stopping Central Dauphin, 38-13.

The Leopards won 10 of the 14 bouts against Council Rock and never trailed. At one point, the Leopards led, 28-3. Belle Vernon got pins from Logan Seliga at 113, Zach Hartman at 132 to open the dual meet, Bell at 182 and Fine at 220.

Jarod Verkleeren decisioned Lucas Martoccio 7-4 at 152 pound, giving him 100 for his scholastic career. Scott Joll (145) and Mitch Hartmann (170) each won by technical fall.