Pittsburgh, PA – In the 45th Annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic, Team USA won their eighth straight match against Team Pennsylvania in a 29-18 victory on Friday night inside the University of Pittsburgh’s Fitzgerald Field House.

In the preliminary bout between Team New York and Team WPIAL, the Empire State held on to win 25-18. It was also a historic night for the Classic as fans saw the first ever contested bout between female wrestlers. It was a match in Freestyle and between Pennsylvania’s Vayle Baker of Benton, PA and Wisconsin’s Gabrielle Skidmore. The two, ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the Nation at 117 pounds, have wrestled  previously with Baker winning the most recent. She repeated the result winning 4-4 on criteria having scored the last points.

The main event between USA All-Stars and Pennsylvania All-Stars included World Champions, World Team members, Fargo Champions, and multiple time state champions. The honorary Team USA coach was none other than World and Olympic Champion Kyle Snyder – a participant in the 40th Annual Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic in 2014.

Despite two falls for Team Pennsylvania, the Keystone State was out-matched by a 29-18 margin.

3-time State Champion Julian Chlebove (Northampton) scored a fall over Ohio’s Luke Baughman at 132 pounds and 2019 State Champion Dan Mancini (Owen J. Roberts) pinned New York’s Zach Lawerence, who did double duty competing earlier in the Preliminary round match against Team WPIAL, at 160 pounds.

2-time State Champions Ryan Anderson (BECAHI) and Carter Starocci (Cathedral Prep) each had impressive wins over highly ranked opponents. Anderson, ranked #1 in the Nation by Flo Wrestling, took out 4-time Michigan State Champion #4 Kevon Davenport at 145 pounds 3-2. Starocci, ranked #2 in the Nation by Flo Wrestling came out on top against #3 Abe Assad (Illinois) in a tight 3-1 win that ended the night.

Team USA was lead by #2 Julian Ramirez (Blair) at 170 pounds who defeated #10 Edmund Ruth (Susquehanna Twp.) with a pair of takedowns and back points to win it 8-3. 2-time Cadet World Champion Kurt McHenry (Maryland) scored a major decision over Beau Bayless (Reynolds). Two #1 ranked wrestlers in the Nation Mike Colaiocco of Blair at 126 pounds and Jojo Aragona of Pope John Paul XXIII at 138 pounds each recorded hard fought victories over their Pennsylvania opponents.

 

Team USA defeats Team PA, 29-18

 

195 #3 Devin Winston Kansas City, MO maj. dec. Donovan Ball New Cumberland, PA, 10-1

220 #4 Owen Trephan Summerville, SC dec. Jacob McMaster Greenville, PA, 9-2

285 #5 John Birchmeier Ashburn, VA dec. #10 Kawaun DeBoe Erie, PA, 8-4

113 Kurt McHenry Leesburg, VA maj. dec. Beau Bayless Greenville, PA, 15-5

120 #2 Eric Barnett Greenville, WI dec. #19 Sean Pearson Nazareth, PA, 7-5

126 #1 Mike Colaiocco Sparta, NJ dec. Darren Miller Vandergrift, PA, 7-5

132 #5 Julian Chlebove Bath, PA fall Luke Baughman Wadsworth, OH, 5:35

138 #1 Jojo Aragona Sparta, NJ dec. Jacob Ealy Aliquippa, PA, 5-1

145 #1 Ryan Anderson Bethlehem, PA dec. #4 Kevon Davenport Pontiac, MI, 3-2

152 #2 Cameron Amine Brighton, MI dec. #3 Ryan Vulakh Lansdale, PA, 6-1 (SV)

160 #15 Dan Mancini Pottstown, PA fall  Zach Lawrence Delason, NY, 0:53

170 #2 Julian Ramirez Miami, FL dec. #10 Edmund Ruth Harrisburg, PA, 8-3

182 #2 Carter Starocci Erie, PA dec. #3 Abe Assad Carol Stream, IL, 3-1

 

 

Women’s Freestyle Match

 

117 #1 Vayle Baker Benton, PA dec. #2 Gabrielle Skidmore Spooner, WI, 4-4

 

 

Team New York Defeats Team WPIAL, 25-18

 

113 Terry Adams Staten Island, NY dec. Marino Angelicchio Latrobe, PA, 4-3

120 Jimmy Ryan Staten Island, NY dec. Kyle Burkholder Greensburg, PA, 2-2 (TB1)

126 Kenny Hayman Canonsburg, PA dec. Tyler Kellison Liverpool, NY, 4-2

132 Colton Camacho Delmont, PA dec. Alex Sampson Victor, NY, 8-6

138 John Worthing Tioga, NY dec. Nick Coy Jeanette, PA, 4-2 (SV)

145 John Rocco Kazalas Sewickley, PA dec. Hunter Shaut Ilion, NY, 2-1

152 Zach Lawrence Delason, NY dec Cam Connor New Kensington, PA, 8-4

160 Charlie Grygas Delason, NY dec. Colby Morris Waynesburg, PA, 4-2

170 Christian Clutter Washington, PA dec. Aaron Wolk Chapaqua, NY, 1-0 (TB1)

182 Scott Joll Rostraver, PA fall Patrick Welsh Olean, NY, 2:20

195 Robbie Penhollow Falconer, NY dec. John Vargo Charleroi, PA, 9-5

220 Will Leonard Cornwall, NY maj. dec. Oggie Atwood Kittanning, PA, 12-1

285 Joey Slackman Commack, NY dec. Jake Slinger Pittsburgh, PA, 9-4