Hempfield Area’s Ty Linsenbigler Knocks Off Defending State Champion Jeffrey Boyd

HERSHEY, Pa.: A year ago, Hempfield Area’s Ty Linsenbigler walked on to the floor at Hershey’s Giant Center and could barely contain his nerves.

He managed to win a pig-tail match, but he lost his next two bouts and left the venue full of disappointment and without a medal.

That served as motivation over the offseason. Linsenbigler worked on the neutral position and his defense over the summer and came into this year’s PIAA Class 3A Championships in a different frame of mind.

Linsenbigler needed it. Despite nursing an injured ankle, the Spartans sophomore had nothing to lose in his 138-pound bout and showed it in a 3-1 first-round grind over McDowell returning state champion Jeffrey Boyd.

“I’m pumped,” said Linsenbigler, who came in ranked No. 7 in the state, according to PA Power Wrestling. “I knew I was going to do it. Once I saw the brackets come out, I was really pumped up for this match.

“It’s huge for my confidence. Last year, I went 1-2 here, so it’s really big winning in the first round, especially against a returning state champ. It gets me ready for the next match.”

Linsenbigler’s improvement showed in the first period. Boyd was in on a couple of shots, including one at the end of the two-minute stanza that hurt Linsenbigler’s ankle, but he couldn’t finish for points.

The ankle wasn’t a problem for Linsenbigler on bottom in the second. He escaped in the first 10 seconds to take a 1-0 lead.

Neutral was a different story. Linsenbigler tried to shake it off, but it was bothersome to the point where he couldn’t get off shots. Still, his defense was good, and he was able to take his lead to the third.

“He took a shot, and I heard it pop,” Linsenbigler said. “I yelled a little bit, but I was glad the ref didn’t stop it. I didn’t want him to know I was hurt.

“I could feel it when I was on my feet. I just tried to wrestle through it, and I think I did a good job of that.”

No kidding.

Boyd surged off bottom in the third to even the match with 1:43 showing on the clock. Then came a series of scrambles that sparked the interest of the Class 3A crowd.

There were times when both wrestlers were in trouble, but no points were awarded. A late scramble saw Boyd go high crotch, but Linsenbigler came over the top, got the ankle, and rolled through for a takedown with three seconds left.

“I felt toward the end of the match, I was wrestling really defensive even though it was tied,” Linsenbigler said. “When he shot in, I just did what I do in practice, which is find ways to get out of it, and I came out on top.

“I knew I had it. I love doing that stuff in practice, seeing how far I can go before I get taken down. I wasn’t planning on that, but it was fun out there. I really enjoyed it.”

Linsenbigler held on for dear life the last three seconds to avoid a reversal and claim the victory. Next up is plenty of rest in the hotel and a Friday quarterfinal match against Souderton’s Tyler Williams, the No. 4-ranked wrestler in the state.

“I think I have the hardest way to the finals with my draw,” Linsenbigler said. “Getting this out of the way gives me confidence. I feel if I wrestle like that, I will make the finals.”