Pennsylvania Wrestlers Dominate Super 32 Challenge

It has become a familier scene in Greensboro, NC in late October at the Nation’s top pre-season wrestling tournament. Pennsylvania wrestlers have been successful at the Super 32 for several years now and 2012 was no different. The tournament has been attracting the top wrestlers from across the United States and in 2012 the field once again did not disappoint as top wrestlers from Hawaii, California, Oregon, Arizona, Texas, and countless other States converged on the Greensboro Convention Center.

Overall Pennsylvania had a Tournament leading thirteen finalists; five Champions; and thirty-five medalists. For brackets click here. If you would like to view brackets from Day 1 of the Tournament for weight classes 106 lbs. 126 lbs. click here you will need to create a login in but it is free.

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At 106 lbs. Pennsylvania’s first finalist was Spencer Lee (Saegertown) who is only an eighth grade student this year. Lee was both the first eighth grade wrestler to make it to a finals appearance and nearly the first to capture the Championship. In the second period Lee was called for locked hands to tie the match (2-2). In the third period Lee escaped but his opponent, Nick Suriano of New Jersey, was able to score a takedown in the last seconds near the edge of the mat to defeat Lee by a score of (4-3). Freshman and returning Super 32 medal winner Luke Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) finished third at 106 lbs. Central Dauphin sophomore Zach Elvin defeated Tyrone Klump (Nazareth Area) by a score of (4-3); both PIAA State qualifiers last season at 106 lbs. In a battle of WPIAL light-weights sophomore Ricky Cavello (Hempfield Area) downed freshman Gage Curry (North Hills) by a score of (3-2).

 

106 lbs. PA Place Winners:

Second:  Spencer Lee (Saegertown) Eighth Grade

Third:  Luck Pletcher (Greater Latrobe) Ninth Grade

 

106 lbs. PA Wrestlers One Win Away From Placing:

Zach Elvin (Central Dauphin) Tenth Grade

Ricky Cavello (Hempfield Area) Tenth Grade

 

At 113 lbs. Pennsylvania wrestlers faced a tough field of competitors that included several Nationally ranked wrestlers while two from PA went home with medals. Sophomore A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg) had a very strong Tournament that included a (8-6) victory over two-time PIAA State Medalist Jake Gromacki (Eire Cathedral Prep) for Seventh Place. Earlier in the Tournament Gromacki had an impressive win over PIAA State Medalist Scott Parker (Pennridge) at 113 lbs. by a score of (2-0). Parker then injury defaulted in the consolation round to end his run at a Super 32 Medal.

 

113 lbs. PA Place Winners:

Seventh:  A.C. Headlee (Waynesburg Central) Tenth Grade

Eighth:  Jake Gromacki (Erie Cathedral Prep) Eleventh Grade

 

113 lbs. PA Wrestlers One Win Away From Placing:

Zach Fuentes (Norristown Area) Twelfth Grade

 

At 120 lbs. Pennsylvania crowned its first Super 32 Challenge Championship as sophomore Sammy Krivus captured his first Super 32 Belt with a (5-1) victory in the finals. Krivus upset Christianburg senior J.R. Wert in the semi-finals while 2012 PIAA Class AA State Champion Darian Cruz (BECA) finished in third place after being upset in the semi-finals. Earlier in the Tournament Cruz defeated 2012 PIAA Class AAA Medalist Zach Ulerick (Middletown Area) by a score of (1-0).

 

120 lbs. PA Place Winners:

Champion:  Sam Krivus (Hempfield Area) Tenth Grade

Third Place: Darian Cruz (Bethlehem Catholic) Twelfth Grade – Committed to Lehigh

 

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At 126 lbs. familier names led the way for the Keystone State. 2012 PIAA Class AAA State Runner-Up Michael Kemerer of Franklin Regional was a Super 32 Challenge Champion last season at 106 lbs. This season the sophomore moved up three weight classes and competed at 126 lbs. In the semi-finals Kemerer faced a formidable opponent in Ryan Diehl. Diehl was also a Super 32 Champion last season, competing at 120 lbs., and by March 2012 the junior was a PIAA Class AA State Champion winning the 113 lbs. bracket. Diehl, a senior this season at Trinity High School in Camp Hill, PA was a 2x West Virginia State Champion prior to making the change to Pennsylvania wrestling. In the semi-finals of the 2012 Super 32 semi-finals at 126 lbs. it took ultimate tiebreaker to determine a winner as the sophomore Michael Kemerer defeated Ryan Diehl (4-3 in UTB). Kemerer would go on to finish as the runner-up when he lost to senior Joey Dance (Christiansburg, VA) by a score of (4-3) in the finals. Ryan Diehl bounced back to finish in third place at 126 lbs. while junior Colby Ems capitalized on an impressive tournament as he finished in seventh place.

 

126 lbs. PA Place Winners:

Second:  Michael Kemerer (Franklin Regional) Tenth Grade

Third Place: Ryan Diehl (Trinity) Twelfth Grade – Committed to Maryland 

Seventh Place:  Colby Ems (East Stroudsburg Area South) Eleventh Grade

 

At 132 lbs. 2011 PIAA Class AA State Champion Jason Nolf (Kittaning) finished in third place. In the consolation round Nolf defeated sophomore Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional) by a score of (4-1). Maruca, a 2012 PIAA Class AAA Medalist at 126 lbs., lost to the eventual Champion in the semi-finals and went on to finish in sixth place. Middletown Area senior Bryce Killian, a 2011 Super 32 medal winner, was one win shy of earning is second medal in Greensboro, NC.

 

132 lbs. PA Place Winners:

Third Place:  Jason Nolf (Kittaning) Eleventh Grade

Sixth Place:  Josh Maruca (Franklin Regional) Tenth Grade

 

132 lbs. PA Wrestlers One Win Away From Placing:

Bryce Killian (Middletown Area) Twelfth Grade

 

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At 138 lbs. Freestyle World Champion Zain Retherford added a Super 32 Challenge Belt to his growing accolades of achievement. The Nation’s top senior wrestler in any weight class, according to Flo Wrestling’s Willie Saylor, cruised to Super 32 Challenge Championship and defeated two top PA wrestlers along the way. Retherford, who will continue his wrestling career at Penn State next year, defeated sophomore Josh Shields (Franklin Regional) by a score of (4-0) before downing junior Brock Zacherl (Brookville) by a score of (3-2). Central Dauphin senior Tyson Dippery had an impressive win over Nationally ranked Fox Baldwin (Florida) by a score of (4-3) but fell in the semi-finals. Dippery would go on to finish in sixth place after injury defaulting. Also placing was Father Judge’s Joe Galasso who finished in eighth place after injury defaulting due to a sprained elbow.

 

138 lbs. PA Place Winners:

Champion:  Zain Retherford (Benton Area) Twelfth Grade – Committed to Penn State

Sixth Place:  Tyson Dippery (Central Dauphin) Twelfth Grade – Committed to Rutgers

Eighth Place:  Joe Galasso (Father Judge) Eleventh Grade

 

138 lbs. PA Wrestlers One Win Away From Placing:

Brock Zacherl (Brookville) Eleventh Grade

 

At 145 lbs. Canon-McMillan junior Solomon Chishko rolled into the finals but suffered an arm injury forcing the 2x PIAA Third Place Medalist to injury default. Also placing for PA was Benton Area senior Colt Cotten who finished in third place. Cotten was pinned by Zach Kelly (Kiski School) in 0:38 in the Championship round by the two met again in the consolation round which Cotten avenged for a (6-5) victory. Kelly went on to finish in sixth place.

 

145 lbs. PA Place Winners:

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