Beth-Center makes right moves, moves on in Class AA
FREDERICKTOWN – Derry appeared to be picking up steam with one of its better wrestlers due up, but Beth-Center picked up two big falls to clinch a spot in the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AA Team Wrestling Championship with a 42-30 victory over the Trojans on Wednesday.
The Trojans (11-5) cut the Bulldogs’ lead to 30-24 with three bouts left when Trevor Pettit and Todd Fisher came up big with falls at 138 and 142 to clinch their quarterfinal dual meet. Pettit and Fisher both gave up the first takedowns but rallied for falls. Pettit pinned Nicholas Reeping in 2:38 and Fisher planked Garret Lenhart in 46 seconds.
“We thought we cold get six at 38 and that’s what we did,” Beth-Center coach Gary Welsh said. “We were working to get the best matchups. There were a couple of situations where I was a little nervous.”
Derry’s senior wrestlers have been to the final four the last three years. Trojans senior Trey Weinell was ready to go at 152 in the match came down to the last bout, but he received a forfeit as Beth-Center (12-4) had already clinched the match.
The Bulldogs wrestle 12-time defending Class AA champion Burrell in the semifinals on Saturday at Chartiers-Houston. The action is scheduled to begin at noon. Beth-Center will automatically qualify for the state team tournament with a win over the Buccaneers but can wrestle for third if it loses, as the PIAA takes three teams from the WPIAL.
“All roads lead to Burrell,” Welsh said. “They are the top dog until somebody knocks them off. They just turn out kids every year. It’s like a factory over there. We saw them last weekend at the Bedford Tournament and they looked as good as ever.
“We are going to play the hand we are dealt and not bow down to anybody. We will wrestle to the best of our ability in every match. We know we are the severe underdogs against a team like Burrell. And if we come up short, we can have the chance to wrestle back for third place and a spot in the state tournament.”
The Bulldogs opened the scoring with a technical fall at 160 when Jacob Housel earned a 15-0 victory over Eric Catone in 4:44 for a 5-0 lead.
Dylan Dingle increased Beth-Center’s advantage to 8-0 with an 8-1 decision over Dakota Beeman at 170.
Derry cracked the scoreboard when Brayden Mickinac decisioned J.J. Berish, 5-0, at 182 before the Bulldogs’ Dominic Fundy picked up a fall in 19 seconds over David Smith at 195.
The Trojans had to send out their wrestler first at 220, so Beth-Center had Evan Dreucci wrestler one of the best in the state in Dominic DeLuca, who won by fall in 1:04. Both coaches admitted to playing the chess game when setting up the matchups.
“We kind of had to make Evan (Dreucci) the sacrifice lamb there, but he knows that and accepts his role on the team,” Welsh said. “(Dominic) DeLuca is a phenomenal wrestler and he has had some battles with (Dominic) Fundy and he wrestled my nephew (Tony Welsh) three years ago. I have coached a lot against him, and I can’t wait to not have to coach against him.
“We know that DeLuca and Jacob Baker will wrestle each other this season, but we wanted to do what’s best for the team. It’s not that we are dodging anyone, but that matchup is what worked for us tonight. The toss if very important in wrestling.”
Baker recorded a pin in 5:03 at 285 over Noah Cymmerman for a 20-9 lead for the home team.
Derry’s Kace Sabedra cut the deficit to 20-12 with a 5-0 decision over Joey Holmes at 106.
Beth-Center’s Kyle McCollum got the points back for his team plus one with a 10-2 major decision over Colton McCallen at 113.
“We had some big wins in toss-up bouts, and that was very important,” Welsh said. “We also had some kids that lost, but wrestled well and stayed off their backs and limited the losses to decisions and didn’t give up bonus points.”
The Bulldogs’ Jimmy Gwyer pinned Xavier Merlin in 3:18 at 120 for a 30-12 advantage.
The Trojans’ Tyler Cymmerman pinned Richard LaRosa in 55 seconds at 126 before Jason Baker won by forfeit to cut the deficit to six.
Beth-Center earned a 51-16 victory over Southmoreland (8-3) in the first round. Housel, Dingle, Berish, Fundy, Baker, Holmes, McCollum, Gwyer, LaRosa, Pettit and Fisher picked up victories.