CLEARFIELD — Defending state Class AA champion Brookville walked away with top honors at Saturday’s District 9 Class AA wrestling finals, winning six individual titles at Clearfield High School to continue its four-year run atop the team standings, but Coudersport’s depth allowed it to edge Ridgway, which had four champions, for second place. Eight Falcons finished with a medal and a berth in the PIAA Northwest Regional, doubling their total from 2016 and leading a strong contingent of 23 of the Allegheny Mountain League’s best to Sharon next weekend.
“We brought 13 down here, and to get over half of those out is pretty outstanding. I think eight is the most Coudersport’s ever taken to regions,” assistant coach Aaron Rendos said.
Three AML wrestlers earned gold, with Port Allegany junior Jacob Kallenborn knocking off unbeaten Coudy senior Gage Arnold, 4-3, in the 160-pound final to share the Most Outstanding Wrestler award with Brookville three-time champion Gavin Park. Bradford’s Dillon Keane outlasted Kane’s Alec English, 4-2, in the 145-pound final, while Falcon 170-pounder Isaac Wright surprised top-seeded Garrett McClintick (Brockway), 2-1, to claim his spot atop the podium.
“Dillon wrestled absolutely phenomenal,” Bradford coach Jamey Miller said. “I can’t complain. All the kids wrestled their guts out. They wrestled better than they have all season. They wrestled a little harder and cleaner. They just came up short. Overall, I was pleased without a doubt.”
“Pretty amazing,” Port coach B.J. Greenman said after Kallenborn became just the second Gator in the 45-year history of the tournament to win the award, joining two-time state medalist Isaac Greeley (1993). “The kids work all year around just for the postseason, and to come out with that on top of a district title is amazing for Jacob.”
In the third meeting of the season between the longtime friends after Arnold (33-1) had taken the first two by decision, Kallenborn (28-4), trailing 3-2 late in the third period, ended a last-minute scramble with a takedown at the buzzer for the victory.
“This is the highlight of my varsity career, definitely,” he said. Of the frenetic final seconds, he noted, “I didn’t have anything to lose and he was undefeated and expected to win, so I guess that was in my favor. I was just hoping that he would either let go of my leg or I would be in control long enough that I would get the 2. When I did, I was so happy. It was crazy.”
Teammates Trey Stiles and Reese Vollmer will be joining Kallenborn at regionals, along with the Oswayo Valley trio of Dylan Pesock, Isaiah Barney and Grant West, Bradford’s Tyler Thompson, and Smethport’s Akete Kindle. Five wrestlers from Big 30 fringe school Kane will also be going, led by silver medalists Noah Blankenship, Alec English and Aiden Hulings.
As for Coudy, Wright and Arnold will have plenty of company, with fellow Falcons Trevor Olney, David Kudrick, Dustin Kudrick, Julian Smith, Eli Ayers and Corey Thompson all moving on.
“We got eight through. Not the places I know some of these kids were hoping for, but it’s just a qualifier and we’re going to gear up for next week,” Rendos said. “It’s a whole new ballgame when you add District 10. I’m confident. We’ve wrestled twice in District 10, so we’re familiar with some of the kids and some of the styles they have. The goal is to keep moving on. The top four from there go to states, so we’re hoping to get just as many through to the next level.”
In Class AAA, St. Marys brought home the team title with 184 points.
Winning titles for the Dutch were Alec Bittler (138), Cameron Resch (145) and Christian Steffan (220). Finishing second for the Dutch were Tylor Herzing (106), Tyler Dilley (120) and Mitchell Cashmer (182). Placing third were Gregory Tettis (113), Zach Becker (170), Brandon Cherry (195) and Joe Kucenski (285). Taking fourth were Hayden Tettis (126) and Marcus Reed (132).
AA Championship Finals:
106: Anthony Glasl (Bkw) 3:46 Zach Holland (Cv)
113: Keelan Kunselman (Bkv) 7-5 Kyle Bush (Rdg)
120: Gavin Park (Bkv) 1:11 Hunter Martz (RV)
126: Bryce Barclay (Rdg) 3-0 Noah Blankenship (Kane)
132: Lukas McClain (Rdg) 11-0 Devon Norlin (J)
138: Logen McClain (Rdg) 3-1 David Kudrick (Cou)
145: Dillon Keane (Brad) 4-2 Alec English (Kane)
152: Caleb Hetrick (Bkv) 7-6 Aiden Hulings (Kane)
160: Jacob Kallenborn (PA) 4-3 Gage Arnold (Cou)
170: Isaac Wright (Cou) 2-1 Garrett McClintick (Bkw)
182: Noah Cieleski (Bkv) TF 15-0 5:49 Kaleb Witherite (Cv)
195: Xavier Molnar (Bkv) 0:55 Tyler Van Tassel (Key)
220: Tyler Cook (Bkv) 8-1 Tom Wurster (Cl)
285: Colton McClain (Rdg) 5-4 UTB Stephen McClure (Cv)
AA Third-place matches:
106: Reese Vollmer (PA) 4-3 UTB Dylan Pesock (OV)
113: Blake Passarelli (Cv) 8-3 Mason Songer (RV)
120: Trevor Olney (Cou) 2:52 Luke Tomaski (Rdg)
126: Kai Sorbin (Bkv) 12-2 Trey Stiles (PA)
132: Dontae Constable (Bkv) 2-1 Tyler Thompson (Brad)
138: Isaiah Barney (OV) 4-2 C.J. Shreffler (Cr)
145: Josh Hancock (Cr) 6-2 Dustin Kudrick (Cou)
152: Mike LeFay (Cl) 4-3 Julian Smith (Cou)
160: Caleb Peace (Bkv) 4-3 Teddy Race (Kane)
170: Braden MacBeth (Bkv) 2-1 UTB Akete Kindle (Sm)
182: Eli Ayers (Cou) 2-1 Grant West (OV)
195: Ty Stahli (Kane) 2-0 Ben Smith (Cl)
220: Corey Thompson (Cou) 9-7 Justin Smith (Bkw)
285: Timmy McCauley (Cr) 10-7 Colby Whitehill (Bkv)
