Magnificent Seven: PA Wrestlers win half of FloNationals titles
INDIANA, PA – Some came seeking redemption, others to continue the roll that they came in on. All were seeking a FloNationals belt.
Seven Pennsylvania wrestlers won FloNationals high school titles on Friday night at the Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex Center in Indiana.
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TAMI KNOPSNYDER/PA POWER WRESTLING Brian Courtney of Athens fights off a takedown attempt by Justin Mejia of California.
Athens’ Brian Courtney continued his incredible March, as he followed up his Outstanding Wrestler Award performance at the PIAA Class AA tournament by dominating the competition at 120 pounds, while Belle Vernon’s Jarod Verkleeren made up for some lost time by winning the 145-pound title after he wasn’t allowed to wrestle in the PIAA postseason.
Those stories almost overshadowed Franklin’s Dakota Geer winning a second title, Nazareth’s Sammy Sasso holding on for a last-second victory as well as Southern Columbia’s Jaret Lane, Nazareth’s Travis Stefanik and Bethel Park’s Nino Bonaccorsi capturing titles.
Pennsylvania went 7-1 in the finals, with only Mifflin County’s Trent Hidlay taking second.
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TAMI KNOPSNYDER/PA POWER WRESTLING Nazareth’s Sammy Sasso controls Michigan’s Kanen Storr at 138 pounds.
“It’s such high-quality competition out here in Pa.,” Sasso said. “It’s good to be around these guys,wrestling them at states, tournaments you go to. It’s good to have that competition during the season.”
Courtney had Twitter buzzing on Friday night, as he further established himself on the national scene. After posting close victories over defending state champions Jonathan Gabriel, Cole Matthews and Max Murin in Hershey, Courtney left no doubt in Indiana. He scored two falls and three major decisions, including a 17-4 throttling of returning champion Paul Konrath of Indiana and a 14-6 win over three-time California state champion Justin Mejia.
“It feels great,” Courtney said. “I think it’s a lot of hard work that’s paying off.”
Courtney scored a takedown with 17 seconds left in the first period, then turned up the heat in the second for a 7-2 lead. He doubled that output in the third.
After his run at the state tournament, Courtney gained a reputation for being outstanding in scramble positions and for his ability to fight off leg attacks. At FloNationals, he showed that he also has some nice leg attacks of his own.
“I don’t think they’re expecting it too much,” Courtney said of his opponents. “They’re expecting the scramble. I’ve finally developed a shot that I can get into.”
Verkleeren started things off for the Keystone State, as he beat T.K. Megonigal of Virginia 3-1.
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TAMI KNOPSNYDER/PA POWER WRESTLING Bethel Park’s Nino Bonaccorsi fights a takedown attempt by Michigan’s Jelani Embree at 170.
“I was real excited, motivated,” said Verkleeren, who lost a high-profile battle with Belle Vernon Area High School regarding a wrestleoff that cost him his postseason. “I didn’t end my season how I wanted it. It feels good to get a national title under my belt after everything that has happened.”
Verkleeren scored a takedown off a first-period scramble, and that was enough, as he fought off a single-leg attempt by Megonigal in the third, then got in deep on an attack of his own that didn’t result in points but took time of the clock.
Stefanik also made a first-period takedown stand up at 152. In fact, it was the only scoring in his 2-0 victory over Virginia’s Hunter Bolen.
A third-place finisher in the PIAA Class AAA tournament, Stefanik said the FloNationals belt will help his confidence level.
“It’s a big move forward for me. I came out here as the fourth seed and ended up as No. 1,” he said. “ It feels great. This is one of the toughest tournaments in the country, so winning this makes me feel like I can wrestle with the best guys in the country.”
California’s Anthony Mantanona put Hidlay on his back in the opening seconds of their 160-pound bout and never looked back. Hidlay kept trying to close the gap, but couldn’t do it in a 15-10 loss.
Bonaccorsi fell behind Michigan’s Jelani Embree 3-0 in the second period but scored an escape and a takedown to tie it at 3 heading into the third period.
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TAMI KNOPSNYDER/PA POWER WRESTLING Nazareth’s Travis Stefanik battles for position against Virginia’s Hunter Bolen.
“I just tried to keep attacking and being relentless,” said Bonaccorsi, who has committed to the University of Pittsburgh.
The Bethel Park junior took the lead with an escape, then scored a late takedown for a 6-3 victory.
“He felt strong the whole match,” Bonaccorsi said. “It’s hard to keep up with constant attacks. I knew if I kept going at him I’d at least get one.”
Geer followed up that performance with an 8-2 victory over Michigan’s Brandon Whitman to give Pennsylvania its fourth win in the first five finals matches. It was Geer’s second FloNationals belt and helped take some of the sting out of a third-place finish at the PIAA Class AA tournament for the Franklin wrestler, who was the 2015 state champion, and is headed to Edinboro.
“States kind of sucked, getting third, but this kind of sweetens it a little bit – relieves some of the pain from states,” Geer said.
Southern Columbia’s Lane beat Ben Kamali of Michigan 8-2 in the 106-pound final. The big move came in the second period. Lane trailed 2-0 at the time, but was able to reverse Kamali and pick up three nearfall points.
“I felt like I could get a chin whip,” said Lane – who did exactly that. “I locked it up and was close to not getting it, I just had to keep digging really hard, step over and get him on his back.”
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TAMI KNOPSNYDER/PA POWER WRESTLING Southern Columbia’s Jaret Lane (right) looks for a fall against Michigan’s Ben Kamali at 106 pounds.
The championship was a long time coming for Lane, who was second at the PIAA tournament this season and second at Fargo a year ago.
Sasso closed out Pennsylvania’s big night by beating three-time Michigan state champion Kanen Storr for the 138-pound title. Tied at 1 in the third period, it looked like the next takedown would win the match. Storr scored that takedown off a scramble with about a little more than a minute remaining, but Sasso quickly reversed him. The tournament used college rules, which proved to be huge, as Sasso finished with exactly 1 minute of riding time for the extra point and the 4-3 victory.
“I was tired, he was tired,” Sasso said. “I just feel like I wanted that belt more. I just held him down. He had a couple of rolls in him, I just had to fight that off and keep wrestling.”
106 LBS
1st Jaret Lane, PA (Bison Legend) DEC Benyamin Kamali, MI (Detroit Catholic Central), 8-2
3rd Thomas Hicks, TN (Bradley Central) DEC Carson Manville, VA (Bandits), 8-7
5th Ronald Stewart, MO (Thoroughbred wrestling academy) FOR Brandon Betancourt, CA (Clovis)
7th Malyke Hines, FL (Kissimmee Osceola) MD Gable Fox, IA (Elite Takedown Club), 11-2
113 LBS
1st Ian Timmins, NV (Team Nevada) DEC Michael Millage, IA (Elite Takedown Club), 5-1
3rd Jaxon Cole, UT (North Summit High School) DEC Hunter Lucas, OH (Team Stomp), 4-0
5th Esco Walker, NC (Hopewell/Darkhorse) DEC Dominic LaJoie, MI (Gaylord W.C.), 9-4
7th Lukus Stricker, OH (Archbishop Hoban) DEC Ryan Moore, KY (Etc), 2-0
120 LBS
1st Brian Courtney, PA (Athens Area High School) MD Justin Mejia, CA (Clovis), 14-6
3rd Paul Konrath, IN (Maurer Caughlin WC) DEC Josiah Kline, AZ (Ironwood Ridge High/Eierman Elite), 6-0
5th Keaton Geerts, IA (Elite Takedown Club) DEC Kj Fenstermacher, PA (Dark Knights), 6-4
7th Jet Taylor, OK (Sallisaw High) DEC Tanner Cox, UT (Maple Mountain High School), 9-3
126 LBS
1st Taylor LaMont, UT (Champions Wrestling Club) DEC Durbin Lloren, CA (Buchanan), 4-0
3rd Zack Donathan, OH (Mason) DEC Quinn Kinner, NJ (Seagulls), 5-4
5th Knox Fuller, TN (Bradley Central) DEC Jacori Teemer, NY (Long Beach), 4-2
7th Wilfredo Gil, NJ (Ramapo) DEC Jacob Mariakis, GA (Ridgeland), 4-3
132 LBS
1st Dresden Simon, MI (Flat River Wrestling) F Ben Freeman, MI (Walled Lake Central), 3:49
3rd Denton Spencer, GA (Camden County) DEC Jake Hinkson, PA (North Allehgeny), 7-5
5th Jarrett Jacques, MO (Eierman Elite Wrestling) DEC Cole Matthews, PA (Bad Karma), 7-2
7th Corey Shie, OH (Cincinnati La Salle) F Marshall Keller, VA (Christiansburg), 2:08
138 LBS
1st Sammy Sasso, PA (Nazareth/Dark Knights) DEC Kanen Storr, MI (Massa Maniacs), 4-3
3rd Hunter Ladnier, OH (St. Edward) DEC Lane Stigall, OR (North Marion), 9-8
5th Brock Wilson, PA (Nazareth) DEC Dakotah Goff, OH (Steubenville Big Red), 9-4
7th Matt Grippi, NY (Iowa Style Wrestling) DEC Nick Santos, NJ (St. Peter Prep / Apex Club), 4-3
145 LBS
1st Jarod Verkleeren, PA (Young Guns) DEC Tyler (TK) Megonigal, VA (Madison warhawks), 3-2
3rd Dillon Ulrey, OR (Dark Knights) F Jake Douglas, WA (Lake Stevens), 4:46
5th Devin Bahr, WI (Law) DEC Sean Sterling, MI (Dundee), 2-1
7th Hunter Richard, NY (Holland Patent) DEC Rian Burris, SC (White Knoll), 6-2
152 LBS
1st Travis Stefanik, PA (Dark Knights) DEC Hunter Bolen, VA (Christiansburg High School), 2-0
3rd Ethan Smith, MD (Aberdeen Eagles) DEC Layne Van Anrooy, OR (Roseburg), 3-1
5th Wyatt Sheets, OK (Stilwell) DEC Aaron Olmos, CA (Mater Dei San Diego/Team Olmos), 4-0
7th Bryce Rogers, FL (Lake Highland Prep) DEC Dale Tiongson, MD (High 5 Wrestling Club), 7-3
160 LBS
1st Anthony Mantanona, CA (Palm Desert HS) DEC Trent Hidlay, PA (Mifflin County/Bison Legend), 16-10
3rd Casey Cornett, KY (Simon Kenton HS DEC Deirrien Perkins, MI (Warren Lincoln WC), 10-3
5th Nathan Vandermeer, MI (Clarkston High School) DEC Brit Wilson, MO (Mexico High School), 1-0
7th Dalton Group, PA (Team Nauman) MD Gavin Wilkerson, PA (Greenville), 14-6
170 LBS
1st Nino Bonaccorsi, PA (Bethel Park) DEC Jelani Embree, MI (Warren Lincoln WC), 6-3
3rd Kevin Parker, NY (Shendndehowa) DEC Jared Krattiger, WI (Higher Level), 4-2
5th Jake Shaffer, PA (Greater Latrobe) DEC Andrew Berreyesa, NV (Reno High School), 7-3
7th Jacob Hart, WV (Independence) DEC Luke McGongial, PA (Clearfield), 5-2
182 LBS
1st Dakota Geer, PA (Team Nauman) DEC Brandon Whitman, MI (Dundee), 9-2
3rd Antonio Agee, VA (Hayfield) DEC Jake Woodley, PA (North Allegheny), 3-1
5th John Borst, VA (Sherando) DEC Alexander Melikian, NY (Iowa Style), 8-6
7th Robert Coleman, OR (Hermiston High School) FOR Anthony Walters, PA (Young Guns Wrestling)
195 LBS
1st Noah Adams, WV (Independence high school) DEC Jay Aiello, VA (Westfield), 9-4
3rd Gavin Hoffman, PA (Bison Legend) DEC Francis Duggan, PA (North Allegheny), 3-1
5th Jacob Raschka, WI (Askren Wrestling Academy) DEC Ian Malesiewski, PA (Cathedral Prep), 3-2
7th Ryan Vasbinder, MI (Byron Center High School) DEC Haydn Maley, OR (Roseburg High School), 10-4
220 LBS
1st Jared Campbell, OH (St. Edward High School) F Alex Daniels, WV (Independence high school), 0:21
3rd Benjamin Goldin, FL (Lake Highland Prep) DEC Evan Ellis, IN (Eastern-Greentown), 3-2
5th Derek Berberick, PA (Greensburg Salem) DEC Josiah Jones, PA (Young Guns), 5-2
7th Floyd Rogers, OH (Green High School) DEC Eric Keosseian, NJ (Howell High School), 5-2
285 LBS
1st Dan Perry, MI (Lapeer) DEC Carter Isley, IA (Bad Karma), 3-2
3rd Gabe Beyer, FL (Lake Highland prep) DEC Andrew Gunning, PA (Dark Knights), 3-2
5th Sammy Evans, TN (Alcoa) DEC Nick Jenkins, MI (Catholic Central high school), 4-0
7th Brendan Furman, PA (Pittsburgh Wrestling Club) DEC Thomas Helton, IL (York), 8-2[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]