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Bloodied Spencer not deterred
He had a cut on his nose, his lip was open and blood crusted on the corner of his mouth. His nose had flecks of red around it, the result of a nose bleed that just wouldn't stop.
Yep, this 119-pound sophomore from Avella was a mess and anyone who looked at his face last Saturday night in Charleroi High School's gymnasium could tell that.
But they would also notice the smile. That was the result of Spencer's strong showing in the WPIAL Class AA Wrestling Championships.
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"I was up there in little league," he said. "But I've never been to Giant (Center)."
Last season, Cody Myers of Southern Huntingdon ruined Spencer's dream by beating him 9-0 in the battle for the fifth, and final, qualifying spot at 112 pounds at the War Memorial in Johnstown.
He's determined not to let that happen again.
"I didn't feel too bad about it," he said. "I was just a freshman then. I knew I'd have another chance."
It comes beginning today in the two-day regional tournament. The first of two sessions gets under way at noon and quarterfinals are 4 p.m. Semifinals begin 11 a.m. Saturday and run through to the finals, which are expected to begin 6 p.m.
Spencer will take a 28-6 record into his first-round bout against Richland's Alex Lehman, a senior who placed fourth in District 6 with a 33-7 record.
Lurking in the weight class is Troy Dolan, a two-time state champion and the wrestler who sprung the leaks on Spencer's face before walking away with a 10-2 decision Saturday.
"The first one happened in the first 30 seconds," Spencer said. "It was a low shot and I hit my nose off his chin."
The match was stopped five other times for repeated bleeding and Spencer used nearly four of the five minutes allowed for blood time.
"Every time the match was stopped and they were trying to clean the blood up, (Dolan) was getting his wind back," Spencer said. "I've got cotton balls stuffed up my nose and he's rested and ready to beat on me again."
Tucker Conklin can relate to Spencer, though he can do it with a much cleaner face. Conklin dropped an 8-0 decision to top-seeded Phil Sorrentino of South Allegheny in the WPIAL finals at 152 pounds.
The junior from West Greene understands that advancing, no matter in what position, is all that matters now. He enters the regional tournament for the third consecutive season, and doesn't want it to be a jumping-off point again for his season.
"It's do-or-die now," said Conklin, who has a 33-9 record and takes on Richland sophomore Chad Miller (6-4, 29-9) in the first round.
"I've been to Giant Center to watch. It's the end of the year so all of the kinks should be worked out. You are out for yourself now. It makes you want to go harder. I have to be more aggressive and try to score some more points. In the finals, he was more aggressive."
Notes
Besides Dolan, David Fogle (112) of Forest Hills, Jordon Shields (130) of Burrell, Kory Bissett (140) of West Greene, Matt Moore (160) of Blairsville and Paul Snyder (Hvy) of Mt. Pleasant are defending champions.
