Boiling Springs' Kollin Myers Shakes off Regional Setback, Scores Win over Joe Klock

HERSHEY: Boiling Springs’ Kollin Myers knelt along the boards on the floor of Hershey Giant Center, blood trickling out of his nose and down his face.

Myers was a little battered. He just finished a physical first-round match with Benton hammer Joe Klock during Thursday’s Day 1 of the PIAA Class 2A Wrestling Championships. And despite getting his hand raised, he wasn’t totally pleased.

Maybe it was that Myers was still miffed about being upset by Pequea Valley’s Tanner Ball the week before during regionals. Losses can stick with young wrestlers.

Apparently with this talented sophomore, that’s not the case, at least not from a performance standpoint. Myers got in trouble a few times, but he was able to polish off an impressive 7-3 decision that featured two takedowns and a reversal.

“It definitely put me down a notch,” Myers said of the loss to Ball. “I went home after regionals and knew what I needed to work on.

“I practiced really well in the room, and I was feeling very good. Getting a match like this early is a bonus, because it lets you know where you are at and what you need to work on.”

Myers knew he needed to better from the bottom position. Then again, he struggled a bit against Klock, something that also contributed to his “need to improve” mood.

The difference in this one, Myers’ Gumby-like athleticism. He was able to twist and turn out of spots and minimize the damage Klock could inflict on the scoreboard.

It also helped that Myers turned a single into a double-leg takedown with 13 seconds left in the first period. Klock reversed 48 seconds into the second, but Myers, who was in trouble twice in the period, later escaped and took a 3-2 lead to the final two minutes.

“I struggled in that match, too,” said Myers, who was a state runner-up a year ago as a freshman. “He stuck a leg in and got to an ankle.

“I need to base up. Luckily, I was able to scramble out, but it gives me something to work on the rest of this season and for years to come.”

Myers looked better on bottom in the third. He scooted out the back and was able to turn a reversal 45 seconds in.

Klock escaped, but Myers was better on his feet. The Bubblers ace was able to finish off the decision with a double-leg takedown in the last 10 seconds.

“There are, definitely, going to be better competitors coming up,” Myers said. “I just need to keep working and keeping my head straight. I need to take one match at a time.

“I want to get to the semifinals. That’s my goal. I want to punch my ticket to the podium. I want to get that out of the way and get as as high as I can.”