Posts by Eric Knopsnyder
Greater Latrobe’s Gabe Willochell a ‘funky’ semifinalist
Greater Latrobe coach Mike Ciotti describes Gabe Willochell as “funky.” Sometimes, he can be a bit too funky. But not during this postseason, and not during this state tournament. Willochell, ranked No. 11 at 126 pounds, pinned Downingtown East’s Lukas Richie on Friday afternoon to reach the AAA semifinals. That came on the heels of…
Read MoreGavin Garcia Wins 7th PJW State Title
JOHNSTOWN – Gavin Garcia etched his name into Pennsylvania wrestling history on Sunday. The Southern Columbia eighth-grader won his seventh Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling title, becoming just the fourth wrestler to hit that mark. He joins Cary Kolat (1988 Jefferson-Morgan) and Rocky Anderson (1997 Southmoreland/Mount Pleasant) with seven. Only Nico Cortese (2004 Franklin Regional) has more.…
Read More1 vs. 2 match highlights Northwest Regional
ALTOONA – Facing the No. 1-ranked wrestler in Class AAA at 195 pounds, State College senior Cole Urbas got a little help from an unexpected source – his younger brother, Lance. Cole Urbas, who is ranked second in the state, won the high-profile showdown with Luke McGonigal of Clearfield 1-0 on Saturday night in the…
Read MoreKeaton Furry doing well after brain surgery
Keaton Furry, the North Star wrestler who underwent brain surgery hours after competing in the District 5 Dual Meet Championships last weekend, is recovering well, according to his coach and family members. The mass that was found on his brain was not cancerous, doctors told the 126-pound senior’s family. It is believed that the cyst…
Read MoreHow Beau Bartlett Stunned Gavin Teasdale
Beau knows wrestling. And how to knock off previously undefeated PIAA champions. Wyoming Seminary freshman Beau Bartlett proved both of those things on Saturday, as he capped an incredible day by beating Jefferson-Morgan’s Gavin Teasdale in the 126-pound finals of the POWERade tournament. “I knew coming in that we’re both just wrestlers,” Bartlett said. “Eventually,…
Read MoreSurprises Under Tree at Southmoreland Holiday Classic
ALVERTON – No. 15 Christian Sequete posted a pair of upsets on his way to the 182-pound title at the Southmoreland Holiday Classic as well as the Outstanding Wrestler Award. The Butler senior started the day by beating Beth-Center’s Dominic Fundy, who is ranked No. 2 in AA at 195 pounds. Sequete followed that up…
Read MorePenn State Preview: Lions Eye Another Title
When the NCAA finals drew to a close in St. Louis last March, it looked like Penn State had not only won its sixth team championship in seven years, but that another one in 2018 would be little more than a formality. After all the Nittany Lions would return five individual champs – Zain Retherford…
Read MoreNo. 13 Josiah Jones Picks Oklahoma
Josiah Jones saw what Lou Rosselli did with the Regional Training Center at Ohio State, and the Bishop McCort Catholic senior is confident that Roselli can do the same with Oklahoma’s RTC. That’s part of the reason why Jones, who at No. 13 was the highest remaining uncommitted senior in the state, chose Oklahoma University…
Read MorePitt Season Preview: Gavin Looks To Lead Turnaround
PITTSBURGH – The No. 24 Pitt Panthers will look much different in the 2017-18 season. From new head coach Keith Gavin to some fresh faces in the lineup – including Pennsylvania natives Kellan Stout and Jake Wentzel – to a new regional training center to a renovated wrestling room, the program is in a much…
Read MoreTrent Hidlay Picks N.C. State, But Not For The Reason You Think
There seemed to be a misconception in some people’s minds that Trent Hidlay was destined to attend North Carolina State simply because his older brother, Hayden, wrestles there. That wasn’t the case at all, Trent said Monday, hours after announcing that he would indeed be joining coach Pat Popolizio’s Wolfpack. “If (Hayden) wasn’t there, I’d…
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