Team USA Upends Pennsylvania at Dapper Dan Classic

Team Pennsylvania was unable to overcome a formidable USA Team falling (31-14) at the 2015 Dapper Dan Classic. Fans with hopes of a PA victory or at least a competitive dual were left disappointed.

Hometown hero Te’Shan Campbell (Penn Hills), who made his decision to attend Pittsburgh next fall, was unable to get past Florida’s 5x State Champion Fox Baldwin. Campbell pushed Baldwin the entire match and nearly mounted a comeback falling (6-4). Fans then witnessed Myles Martin dismantle PIAA State Champion Kellon Stout (Mount Lebanon) as he racked up a (12-4) major decision. Martin, a Ohio State recruit, was slick on his feet picking up take down after takedown. For his performance Martin was named Team USA’s “Outstanding Wrestler.”

At 195 lbs. 4x Minnesota State Champion Lance Benick slipped by Jan Johnson (3-2). At the end of the third period. trailing Benick by a point, it appeared Johnson was unaware that it was the third period. Up (10-0) on Team Pennslyvania Andrew Dunn (Bethlehem Catholic) stopped the bleeding as he defeated Kentucky’s undefeated 4x State Champion Austin Myers in overtime (3-1). As Dunn had his hand raised the Virginia Tech recruit held up his index finger and yelled “I’m number one!”

At heavyweight Burrell senior Al Beattie kept the crowd buzzing as he took down Don Bosco Prep’s Zack Chakonis going up (2-0). After a reversal Chakonis turned Beattie to his back and quickly silenced the crowd with a first period fall in (1:35). For his effort Chakonis was awarded the “Turning Point Award.” Now down (16-3) Pennslyvania’s chances looked slim going into 113 lbs. but that was all about to change. #1 Jabari Moody and 3x PIAA State Champion Devin Brown clashed in a battle of two talented 113 lbs. wrestlers. Brown struck first but the two flurried multiple times each with Brown coming out on top. Late in the first Brown turned Moody to his back but he was saved by the bell. Despite a pair of reversals Moody was unable to stop Brown’s offense and when the dust settled it was a major decision victory for Beown (13-4). Brown’s performance over the #1 ranked wrestler in the Nation earned him being named Team PA’s “Outstanding Wrestler.”

Bishop McDevitt senior David Pipa took to the mat at 120 lbs. and gave the #10 ranked wrestler in the Nation Elijah Oliver all he could handle. Pipa rallied late but Oliver held on for a (5-4) victory. Next up at 126 lbs. was 3x State finalist Korbin Myers (Boiling Springs) who faced Nick Piccininni of New York. The #2 ranked wrestler in the Nation is highly touted but that didn’t prevent Myers from going after the Oklahoma State recruit. Picking up a takedown and escape Piccininni was victorious (3-1). Down (22-7) Team PA faced an uphill battle but their best were yet to come as several top 3 ranked wrestlers in the Nation were due up for PA. 

At 132 lbs. #2 A.C. Headlee took on #5 Jared Prince of Palm Harbor, Florida. Despite coming off a PIAA State Championship over 2x Champion Luke Pletcher Headlee could not get past Prince falling (6-4). It was an upset that basically locked in a Team USA victory. Things didn’t get any better at 138 lbs. for Team PA. 2x State Champion and #1 ranked wrestler in the Nation Sam Krivus could not repeat his Super 32 finals performance over Broken Arrow, OK wrestler Davion Jeffries. In the first period Krivus was deep on a leg but Jeffries countered and went up (2-0). In the second period Jeffries escaped but Krivus was unable to garner any takedown. In the final period Jeffries rode tough on top as Krivus looked defeated and fell to Jeffries (3-0).

In another Super 32 finals rematch #1 Michael Kemerer faced #2 Max Thomson a 4x Iowa State Champion. Kemerer, who last defeated Thomson (9-5) in the 2014 Super 32 Finals, continued his winning streak picking up a (6-3) decision. Kemerer was never out of the match and pushed the action for the entire six minutes. An even more dominate performance came at 152 lbs. when #2 Vinzenzo Joseph took on #3 Freddy Stroker the pairs third meeting in the last year. Joseph poured it on taking down Stroker several times in the first period. Joseph never let up throughout the match and secured a major decision over the 3x Iowa State Champion (13-4).

In the final match Josh Sheilds took on a very tough Joe Smith of Stillwater, Oklahoma at 160 lbs. Smith, who competed at 170 lbs. all this season. was deep on several shots but Shields showed his defensive skills by funking out. Smith was finally able to earn a takedown but Shields quickly escaped. Despite a determined Shields attacking late Smith held on for a (3-2) victory.

In the Preliminary bout a strong Illinois Team outlasted Team WPIAL (33-10)

 

Team USA 31 Team PA 14

170 – Fox Baldwin Florida dec. Te’Shan Campbell Penn Hills 6-4
182 – OW Myles Martin Maryland maj dec. Kellen Stout Mt. Lebanon 12-4
195 – Lance Benick dec. Jan Johnson Governor Mifflin 3-2
220 – Andrew Dunn Bethlehem Catholic dec. Austin Myers Kentucky 3-1 ot
285 – Zack Chakonis New Jersey fall. Al Beattie Burrell 1:35
113 – OW Devin Brown Franklin Regional maj dec. Jabari Moody Illinois 13-4
120 – Elijah Oliver Illinois dec. David Pipa Bishop McDevitt 5-4
126 – Nick Piccininni New York dec. Korbin Myers Boiling Springs 3-1
132 – Jared Prince Florida dec. A.C. Headlee Waynesburg 6-4
138 – Davion Jeffries Oklahoma dec. Sam Krivus Hempfield 3-0
145 – Michael Kemerer Franklin Regional dec. Max Thomsen Iowa 6-3
152 – Vincenzo Joseph Pittsburgh Central Catholic maj dec. Fredy Stroker Iowa 13-4
160 – Joe Smith Oklahoma dec. Josh Shields Franklin Regional 3-2

 

Team Illinois 33 Team WPIAL 10

113 – OW Austin McDermitt Burgettstown m-dec Antoine Bess Jr. Fenton 9-0
120 – Michael Cullen Cary-Grove dec. Brendan Howard Jefferson Morgan 5-1
126 – Kristopher Williams Thornwood dec. Tyler Kenney Connellsville 2-0 ot tb
132 – Alec McKenna New Trier dec. Josh Ridgeway Norwin 0-0 ro
138 – JJ Wolfe Dakota dec. Dom Giannangeli Franklin Regional 2-0
145 – Eric Barone Crystal Lake South dec. Josh Maruca Franklin Regional 2-1
152 – Paul Dunn Bethel Park dec, Luke Fortuna Montini Catholic 4-0
160 – Matt Rundell Oak Park-River Forest dec. Jared Walker South Fayette 8-2
170 – Carver James Dakota dec. Brooks Wilding Upper St. Clair 11-5
182 – OW Xavier Montalvo Montini Catholic fall.Josh Bahr West Allegheny 3:59
195 – Andrew Marsden Crystal Lake Central dec. Zach Smith North Allegheny 5-3
220 – Fred Mantsch Hempfield dec Tyler Johnson Lockport 4-2
285 – D’Andre Johnson Glenbard East dec. Tyler Mears Greater Latrobe 1-0 ro