Beth-Center takes third, earns berth in state team tournament
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Beth-Center’s Todd Fisher works to pin Quaker Valley’s Gino Angeletti in the 145-pound match during the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament at Chartiers-Houston High School on Saturday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Beth-Center’s Kyle McCollum leaves his hand imprint on the arm of Quaker Valley’s Cole White in the 113-pound during the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament at Chartiers-Houston High School on Saturday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Beth-Center’s Kyle McCollum, right, tries to scoot around Quaker Valley’s Cole White in the 113-pound during the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament at Chartiers-Houston High School on Saturday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Beth-Center’s Jimmy Gwyer works on top of Quaker Valley’s Justin Richey in the 120-pound match for his 100th varsity win during the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament at Chartiers-Houston High School on Saturday.
Celeste Van Kirk/Observer-Reporter
Beth-Center’s Jimmy Gwyer celebrates his 100th career victory after defeating Quaker Velley’s Justin Richey in the 120-pound match during the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament at Chartiers-Houston High School on Saturday.
HOUSTON – Determination is 9/10s of a victory.
At least, that’s what Gary Welsh was telling the Beth-Center High School wrestling team after taking a 53-15 thrashing from Burrell in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AA Team Tournament Saturday afternoon at Chartiers-Houston High School.
The Bulldogs apparently listened.
With an overwhelming performance, Beth-Center whipped Quaker Valley, 56-19, in the third-place dual meet.
The victory propelled Beth-Center into the PIAA Class AA Team Tournament for the first time in the program’s history. The Bulldogs will head north Monday to take on District 10 runner-up Conneaut.
Win there and the Bulldogs (11-5) will take their road show to the Giant Center in Hershey Thursday afternoon.
“We had a long wait until the next match and I was afraid it would sit real heavy on them,” said Welsh, who is in his fifth season as head coach. “But our kids had real short memories. … When I took over, they were talking about co-oping with another school. They asked me to build up the numbers. I’m so glad these kids bought in. We took our lumps and paid our dues. A lot of kids quit in those first few years. … We’re going to enjoy this.”
Burrell polished off its 13th WPIAL championship in a row by defeating Beth-Center then rolling past Freedom, 54-21, in the finals.
Burrell (11-2) and Freedom (9-3) bypass Monday’s preliminary round and will head directly to Hershey for Thursday’s first round.
In the third-place match, Beth-Center won 10 of the 14 bouts. Included in that run was Jimmy Gwyer’s 8-2 decision over Justin Tichey, the 100th career win in Gwyer’s varsity career.
“This was a great time to do it,” said Gwyer. “Most of our fans were here and that was great. It was a little demoralizing (losing to Burrell). But we went back in the locker room and had a nice pep talk. It means a lot to get (into the PIAA tournament).”
Quaker Valley took a 4-0 lead with Patrick Cutchember’s 10-1 major decision over Dylan Dingle at 170 pounds but gave it right back by forfeiting to Joe Berish at 182 pounds.
Dom Fundy got his second pin of the day and moved his record to 20-2 when he stuck Geoff Magin in 2:58.
Jacob Baker got B-C six more team points when he won by default over Donovan Cutchember, who suffered an ankle injury in the second period.
Beth-Center went on a four-bout win streak in the lightweights that included pins from Joey Holmes at 106 pounds and Richard LaRosa at 126 pounds.
“We talked about making the state tournament back when we were getting physicals,” said Welch. “I told them our goal is right in front of them so let’s go get it. That’s what they did.”
Beth-Center finished with a bang, and three more pins. Trevor Pettit (138), Todd Fisher (145) and Jacob Housel (160) each added to their pin totals.
“Beth-Center came ready to wrestle and they’re a little more experienced than we are,” said Quaker Valley head Mike Heinl. “Our program is only in its third year and it showed. When we wrestled these types of programs, we get exposed for what we are. We look at Burrell, Freedom, Burgettstown, Beth-Center, and we see we have a long way to go to get where those programs are. We accept the challenge to get like those programs.”
Against Burrell, Beth-Center won three bouts, a decision by Gwyer and pins from Fundy and Baker.
Burrell went on to easily down Freedom, 54-21.
“It never gets old,” said Burrell Josh Shields. “There are always a new group of guys. The kids showed up and put their best foot forward. We dominated both matchups. Overall, it was a complete team effort.”