Two area wrestlers won their opening-round matches and are through to the quarterfinals in their respective weight classes after Day One of state championship competition at Hershey’s Giant Center.
In Class AA, Ridgway’s Logen McClain, at 138 pounds, major-decisioned Zach Kelly of Northern Lebanon, 10-0, to advance today against Central Cambria’s Max Murin.
At 160 pounds, Coudersport’s Gage Arnold came away with a slim 3-2 decision over Hunter Kennedy of Panther Valley and will take on Moshannon Valley’s Larry Brown today.
Bradford High’s Tyler Thompson is still in medal contention at 138 pounds despite dropping his opening match by pin to Ellwood City’s Tyler Alberts in 1:25.
“He simply got caught,” BHS coach Jamey Miller said. “There’s no better way to describe that.”
Coming into Thursday’s opening day, Thompson’s goal was to win a match. After the first match, Thompson told his coach he was changing his outlook.
“He went out there for the second one determined that he was going to make that podium,” Miller said.
Thompson didn’t win a medal for his performance Thursday, but he did do enough to make it to Day 2 by dispatching Ridgway’s Lukas McClain by a 10-4 decision. Thompson gets back on the mat this morning as wrestling begins at 9 a.m. for a second-round consolation match against Marion Center’s Charlie Beatty.
“We’ve seen videos of him this year,” Miller said of Beatty. “Style-wise, I think it’s actually going to make for a good match. I think Tyler’s head is in the right spot.”
Six other Class AA area wrestlers are battling through the consolation ladders in wrestle-backs.
Ridgway’s 113-pounder Kyle Bush and 285-pounder Colton McClain, Port Allegany’s 160-pounder Jake Kallenborn and Kane’s 152-pounder Aiden Hulings all enter Friday in the second-round consolation bracket.
Bush was decisioned by Everett’s Garret Cornell, 9-5, and then received a bye in the consolation ladder. Colton McClain pinned Everett’s Kyle Peterson in 3:36 in his opening match before being decisioned by Tri-Valley’s Dan Scheib 9-4. Colton McClain opens Friday against Dawson Otis of Wyalusing.
Hulings also won his opening match, an 8-1 decision over Saucon Valley’s Dane Csencsits before losing to Robby Patrick of Ligonier Valley, 17-2, by technical fall. Hulings draws Wyalusing’s Josh Haley in the Friday morning consolation bracket.
Ridgway’s Bryce Barkley at 126 pounds and Lukas McClain at 138 lost both their matches and are eliminated.
In Class AAA, St. Marys’ Tyler Dilley at 120 pounds lost by 4-0 decision to Council Rock North’s Aidan Burke, but then beat Altoona’s Hunter Hileman by 5-4 decision in the first-round consolation match. Dilley opens Friday against Franklin Regional’s Colton Camacho.
Alec Bittler, at 138 pounds, is eliminated after losing by technical fall to Northampton’s Daniel Moran, 23-8, and then dropping a 3-2 decision to Bethlehem Catholic’s Luca Frinzi.
point blank he’s getting on that podium one way or another.
Where he’s sitting in the bracket
“They haven’t met for a couple years now.
I don’t know what i was thinking
He went out there for the second one determined that he was going to make that podium.
Coming into today the main goal was to win a match. As soon as he lost that first one he immediately switched gears. “I”m making that podium.”
We’ve seen videos of him this year. Style-wise, i think it’s actually going to make for a good match. I think Tyler’s head is in the right spot.
Ridgway
113- Kyle Bush (1-1)
Decisioned by Garret Cornell (Everett) 9-5
Friday
Bye to second-round consolation bracket where he wrestles ZJ Ward (Freedom)
126- Bryce Barclay (0-2)
Decisioned by Nicholas Vonelli (Notre Dame) 6-5; lost to Gage Bayless (Reynolds)
132- Lukas McClain (0-2)
Decisioned by Tanner McHugh (Tamaqua) 5-4; decisioned by Tyler Thompson (Bradford) 10-4
138- Logen McClain (1-0)
Major-decisioned Zach Kelly (Northern Lebanon) 10-0
Friday
Wrestles against Max Murin (Central Cambria) in quarterfinals
285- Colton McClain
Pinned Kyle Peterson (Everett), 3:36; decisioned by Dan Scheib (Tri-Valley) 9-4
Friday
Wrestles against Dawson Otis (Wyalusing) in second-round consolation bracket
Port Allegany
160- Jake Kallenborn (1-1)
Decisioned by Tanner Vogel (Wyomissing) 10-4; decisioned Cody Jenkins (South Allegheny) 1-0
Friday
Wrestles Colin Fegley (Mahonoy) in second-round consolation bracket
Coudersport
160- Gage Arnold (1-0)
Decisioned Hunter Kennedy (Panther Valley) 3-2
Friday
Wrestles against Larry Brown (Moshannon Valley) in quarterfinals
Kane
152- Aiden Hulings (1-1)
Decisioned Dane Csencsits (Saucon Valley) 8-1; lost to Robby Patrick (Ligonier Valley) by technical fall 17-2
Friday
Wrestles Josh Haley (Wyalusing) in second-round consolation bracket
CLASS AAA
St. Marys
120- Tyler Dilley (0-1)
Decisioned by Aidan Burke (Council Rock North) 4-0
Wrestles Hunter Hileman (Altoona) in first-round consolation bracket
138- Alec Bittler
Lost by technical fall to Dan Moran (Northampton) 23-8
Wrestles Luca Frinzi (Bethlehem Catholic) in first-round consolation bracket
CLASS AA
Ridgway
The Elkers are led by the McClain brothers trio, Kyle Bush and Bryce Barclay.
At 113, junior Bush (28-3) won the Northwest and will face the winner of the match between Tri-Valley junior Cal Schoffstall (30-15) and Everett sophomore Garrett Cornell.
At 126, Barclay (27-8) was fourth in the Northwest and will wrestle a preliminary round match against Notre Dame Green Pond sophomore Nicholas Vonelli (34-11).
At 132, junior Lukas McClain (26-8) will take on Tamaqua senior Tanner McHugh (36-4).
At 138, junior Logan McClain (33-4) will face Northern Lebanon Zach Kelly (41-9).
At 285 pounds, senior Colton McClain (30-5) will wrestle in a prelim against Everett senior Kyle Peterson (30-11).
Port Allegany
Junior Jake Kallenborn (30-5) will take on Wyomissing senior Tanner Vogel (34-6) at 160 pounds.
Coudersport
At 160, Coudersport senior Gage Arnold (37-2) opens with Panther Valley junior Hunter Kennedy (35-10).
Kane
Sophomore Aiden Hulings (24-6) is in a preliminary match against Bermudian Springs senior Ashton West (40-5).
Bradford
Junior Tyler Thompson (33-7) will wrestle in a prelim against Ellwood City senior Tyler Alberts (36-7).
The winner gets Pequea Valley sophomore Gabe Miller (40-0).
CLASS AAA
St. Marys
At 120 pounds, sophomore Tyler Dilley (24-4) is the Northwest Regional champion and will take on Council Rock North senior Aidan Burke (15-7).
Burke placed second in the Southeast.
At 138, sophomore Alec Bittler (25-4) was the Northwest third-place finisher. He will take on Northampton senior Dan Moran (40-5).
