Despite Valiant Push Team PA Falls at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic
The match wrestling fans wanted to see never took place but one that everyone thought was a lock proved to be suspenseful.
The Nation’s top ranked wrestler at 132 lbs., Chad Red (Indiana), was unable to make the required weight, which was 137 lbs. with a 5 lbs. allowance, thwarting a showdown with Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe). The 3x PIAA State Champion and Ohio State recruit competed his senior season at 138 lbs. but elected to compete at 132 lbs., with the 5 lbs. allowance, to face Chad Red in a rematch. At Flo’s Who’s #1? event in October 2015 Chad Red won a wild (3-1) match over Plecher. Instead Luke faced Owen Doster (New Haven, Indiana) who was slated to compete the preliminary bout for Team Indiana against Team WPIAL. Doster faced Shaler Area senior Mike Heinl in the preliminary match at 132 lbs. falling (6-4).
Also missing out on a chance to compete for Team USA was Georgia’s Thomas Bullard who is a 4x State Champion. Set to wrestle at 160 lbs. in the Main Event Bullard suffered a back injury during a practice session on Friday and was forced to sit out. His replacement was Drew Hughes (Lowell, Indiana) who competed in the preliminary match at 170 lbs. against Team WPIAL. Hughes, a 2x State Champion and Michigan State recruit, is a pinning machine who went undefeated his senior season at 170 lbs. going (46-0) with 42 of those victories coming by fall.
Team Pennsylvania got off to a terrific start at 182 lbs. when 2x PIAA State Champion Greg Bulsak (South Park) stormed out against Keegan Moore (Minnesota) who entered ranked #3 in the Nation by Flo. Bulsak got the first takedown and then turned Moore on his back three times to pick up 8 points. Bulsak had to fight off a comeback by Moore who controlled the last two periods picking up three takedowns. Bulsak held on to win (13-8) to put Team PA up (3-0).
At 195 lbs. Sam Colbray (Oregon) entered ranked #2 in the Nation by Flo and proved why as he controlled a (6-4) decision over PIAA State Champion Jake Jakobson (Stroudsburg). At 220 lbs. PIAA State Champion Jacob Robb (Armstrong) had a tall task taking on the fourth ranked wrester in the Nation according to Flo Matt Stencel (Oregon Clay, Ohio). Despite a strong effort by Robb Stencel was able to pick up a hard fought (8-5) decision.
With Team USA up (6-3) PIAA State Champion Jake Beistel (Southmoreland) took on Indiana’s Shawn Streck a 2x State Champion ranked #3 in the Nation by Flo. Beistel was unable to figure out the Purdue recruit falling (8-4). Team USA stud Danny Vega (Arizona) continued the roll as he dominated North Hills senior Gage Curry on his feet at 113 lbs. picking up a major decision (15-6).
Holding a (10-3) advantage over Team PA 4x PIAA State Medalist Tyshawn White (Central Dauphin) stopped the run by taking down Tyler Warner (Ohio) at 120 lbs. White was impressive on his feet the first two periods and a late comeback by Warner fell short as the Ram held on (10-6). At 126 lbs. 3x PIAA State Champion Luke Karam (Bethlehem Catholic) took on 5x Florida State Champion Kyle Norstrem (Brandon, FL). After a scoreless first period Karam was cut by Norstrem in the second period and added to his lead by picking up a slick takedown. Karam held on to win (3-0) and make it two in a row for Team PA.
Luke Pletcher was visibly disappointed in his match at 132 lbs. against Owen Doster (Indiana) as Chad Red sat in the second row. Pletcher simply overwhelmed Doster racking up 23 points in a tech-fall victory. The bonus point win by Pletcher put Team PA up in the dual for the second time. Heading into 138 lbs. Team PA lead (14-10) in the dual with five matches left.
In a crucial bout 3x PIAA State Champion Micky Phillippi (Derry Area), ranked #3 in the Nation by Flo, faced #5 Mitchell McKee (Minnesota). The last time these two met in October 2014 Phillippi came away with a (4-2) decision over McKee at the Super 32 Challenge. This time around a strong McKee came out swinging picking up a takedown in the first period. In the second period McKee continued the pressure gathering a reversal and going to work on top effectively turning Micky to his back earning a fall in (3:46). The pin by McKee was a dagger into the hopes of Team PA as the USA All-Stars went ahead (16-14).
2x PIAA State Champion Mike Carr (South Fayette) revived Team PA’s chances with a narrow (1-0) win over Hunter Marko (Wisconsin). Ranked #7 in the Nation at 138 lbs. by Intermat the Minnesota recruit is a 4x State Champion. After a scoreless first period Carr escaped in the second period but was hit for stalling as Marko looked to get to his attacks. In the third period Carr was relentless on top grinding down Marko for the entire period earning a hard fought (1-0) decision and putting Team PA back on top (17-16).
Next up at 152 lbs. were two wrestlers with a ton of history facing each other. In their most recent meeting Hayden Hidlay (Mifflin County) fell to Griffin Parriott (Minnesota) at the 2015 Super 32 in October (3-1 SV). This time around wasn’t much different as both wrestlers went after it getting in on several deep takedown attempts. With the score knotted up (1-1) in the third period Hayden nearly scored on pass-by to a single leg as time expired. In sudden victory Hayden appeared unrattled securing the victory with a takedown (3-1 SV) over his foe Parriott.
Now up (20-16) with two bouts remaining Team PA’s Jake Wentzel (South Park) met Indiana’s Drew Hughes at 160 lbs. In the Preliminary match between Team Indiana and Team WPIAL Hughes, a pinning machine, competed at 170 lbs. where he easily pinned Anthony Welsh (Beth-Center) in (1:03). That performance earned him the Outstanding Wrestler Award for Team Indiana. With 4x Georgia State Champion Thomas Bullard out of the line-up for Team USA Hughes was given the chance to compete in the Main Event. And compete he did against 2x PIAA State Champion Jake Wentzel. Opening the bout with a takedown Hughes went to work from the top position cranking Wentzel over for swipes. When the dust settled Hughes won an impressive (6-0) match controlling from the top position and thwarting Team PA’s chances.
In the grand finale 6x Minnesota State Champion Mark Hall needed a win with Team USA up (22-20) on the Keystone State All-Stars. Hall would take on 2x PIAA State Medalist Austin Bell (Belle Vernon Area) who placed third in Hershey the last two seasons. Bell is a hard-nosed grappler who had a ton of success during the regular season winning titles at the Ironman, POWERade, and Escape the Rock. Bell, who many thought didn’t stand a chance against the Penn State recruit Hall, proved everyone wrong. Bell was aggressive from the first whistle and electrified the crowd with a takedown 0:17 seconds into the match. Bell rode tough on top but action was stopped several times for a bloody Mark Hall nose.
Hall was able to escape and collect a takedown of his own in the first period but with 0:18 seconds left in the period Bell earned a crucial escape to tie the bout (3-3). In the second period Bell picked up another escape and went ahead (4-3) but Hall was able to close out the second period with a takedown leading (5-4) after two. After a quick escape by Hall both wrestlers looked diligently for a takedown. Bell nearly had one as he got a single leg and brought it off the mat however Hall slipped out to avoid falling behind. With under 60 seconds left in the match Hall successfully slide by Bell to gather a takedown going ahead (8-4) where the bout would finish.
It was a valiant effort by Bell who proved he can not only hang with the best but compete with the best wrestlers in the Nation. Like Bell’s effort, Team PA fell short of an upset over Team USA (25-20). Of course Chad Red was out of the line-up but the Team USA roster will still full of studs and Team PA battled tough picking up hard fought wins at several weights. Team PA’s Outstanding Wrestler award went to Hayden Hidlay at 152 lbs. while Team USA’s Outstanding Wrestler was Mitch McKee (Minnesota) at 138 lbs. The “Turning Point Award” for the Main Event went to Drew Hughes (Indiana) for his shut-out at 160 lbs. in his second match of the evening.
USA All-Stars 25 PA All-Stars 20
182 – Greg Bulsak, South Park dec. Keegan Moore, Jackson County Central, MN, 13-8
195 – Samuel Colbray, Hermiston, OR dec. Jake Jakobsen, Stroudsburg, 6-4
220 – Matt Stencel, Oregon Clay, OH dec. Jacob Robb, Armstrong, 8-5
285 – Shawn Streck, Merrillville, IN dec. Jacob Beistel, Southmoreland, 8-4
113 – Danny Vega, Ironwood Ridge, AZ major dec. Gage Curry, North Hills, 15-6
120 – Tyshawn White, Central Dauphin dec. Tyler Warner, Claymont, OH, 10-6
126 – Luke Karam, Bethlehem Catholic dec. Kyle Norstrem, Brandon, FL, 3-0
132 – Luke Pletcher, Latrobe tech. fall Owen Doster, New Haven, IN, 23-8, 4:12
138 – * Mitchell McKee, Albertville, MN pinned George Phillippi, Derry, 3:46
145 – Mike Carr South Fayette dec Hunter Marko Amery, WI, 1-0
152 – * Hayden Hidlay Mifflin County dec Griffin Parriott New Prague, MN, 3-1 sv 0:57
160 – Drew Hughes, Lowell, IN dec Jake Wentzel South Park, 6-0
170 – Mark Hall II Apple Valley, MN dec. Austin Bell Belle Vernon 8-4
* Outstanding Wrestlers
In the Preliminary Match Team WPIAL held off a tough Team Indiana winning 9 of 13 bouts in a (27-18) victory.
WPIAL All-Stars 27 Indiana 18
113 – Aaron Burkett, Chestnut Ridge dec. Geoffrey Davis, Fort Wayne Wayne, IN, 2-0 SV
120 – * Ethan McCoy, Latrobe dec. Drew Hildebrandt, Penn, IN, 7-4
126 – Chris Eddins, Greensburg Salem dec. Gaige Torres, Portage, IN, 6-3
132 – Mike Heinl, Shaler dec. Owen Doster, New Haven, IN, 6-4
138 – Shaun Wilson, Waynesburg dec. Evan Eldred, Westfield, IN, 8-4
145 – Damon Greenwald, Burrell dec. Jordan Vaughn, Franklin Central, IN, 5-4
152 – Steven Lawrence, Portage, IN, pinned Derek Verkleeren, Belle Vernon, 4:29
160 – Mitch Hartman, Belle Vernon dec. Cayden Whitaker, Martinsville, IN, 2-1
170 – * Drew Hughes, Lowell, IN pinned Anthony Welsh, Beth-Center, 1:03
182 – Blake Rypel, Cathedral, IN, dec. Milton Kobaly, Belle Vernon, 10-5
195 – Jake Kleimola, Lake Central, IN, dec. Drew Phipps, Norwin, 4-3
220 – Mike McAleavey, Peters Township dec. Sam Hipple, Carmel, IN, 2-1
285 – Hayden Rice, Norwin dec. Sean Galligar, Columbia East, IN, 2-1
* Outstanding Wrestlers