Section wrestling tourneys end wait
To get an idea of the problems created by an early exit from the WPIAL Team Tournament or not even qualifying for it, consider this: Beth-Center High School’s wrestling team has not had a meaningful dual meet since Jan. 28, a period of 17 days.
That’s been the wait time in Class AA. Class AAA wrestlers must sit another week before starting their section tournaments.
Inactivity is anathema to most sports, but especially so in wrestling.
That’s why the Bulldogs’ top three wrestlers – Anthony Welsh, Nico Brown and Jason Stay – along with the rest of Class AA competitors, will be happy to get back to the mats when the WPIAL Section Tournament begins at three different sites.
Section 1 will be held at Ellwood City, Section 2 at McGuffey and Section 3 at Avonworth.
Beth-Center, Bentworth, Jefferson-Morgan, McGuffey, Mapletown, West Greene and Charleroi will be among the teams competing at McGuffey. Avella, Burgettstown, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, South Fayette, and Washington will be at Ellwood City.
Wrestling in the one-day tournaments begins at 10 a.m. for Section 1 and 2 and 11 a.m. for Section 3. Finals at the three sites are at 6 p.m. The top 5 wrestlers in each weight class advance to next week’s WPIAL Class AA Championships at South Fayette.
Stay, Welsh and Brown are seeded high in their respective weight class. Stay, a senior with a 26-4 record, is No. 1 at 160; Welsh, a junior with a 24-2 mark, is top-seeded at 170; and Brown, a junior with a 24-6 record, is No. 2 behind Bill Bowlen of Jefferson-Morgan at 195.
“I’m ready to get back on the mat,” said Welsh, a state qualifier with a 37-8 record last season. “It’s been a long break. We’ve had some tough practices and I’ve lifted a lot.”
Welsh opens the tournament against the winner of the match between Shawn Hennessy (2-12) of Mapletown and Maurice Delenne (4-10) of Derry. Welsh is one of three wrestlers with a winning record in that weight class.
“I just looked at (the brackets) for a few seconds,” said Welsh. “It looks like (Brennen Coles of Southmoreland) should be the one to get to the finals. It looks like my toughest match.”
The main concern for any wrestler during the layoff is weight control, but the Bulldogs managed to handle it well.
“Having weekends off, you eat a lot,” said Stay, who is hoping to qualify for his first state tournament in this, his final season. “You come in on Monday and try to work it off. I’m OK, one pound under. It can be a struggle sometimes. But, knock on wood, I got down to the weight. Once you make it down, it’s easier to hold.”
Stay wrestles Gavin Uphold (5-7) of Mapletown in the first round and could meet No. 2 seed Trevor Kniha of Jefferson-Morgan in the finals.
“I’m pretty confident,” Stay said. “Right now, it’s all about advancing. I want to win the title but the main goal is to advance.”
Brown improved on each of his last three seasons, advancing one step up the ladder. He made it to the state tournament last season and now wants to be on that medal stand.
“It’s very special because this is my last season,” said Brown. “I fell a little short (of a state medal) last year. I went out the round before the medal round.”
That trek begins with a first-round bout against Dalton Kmetz (1-2) of Frazier. Bill Bowlen of Jefferson-Morgan is the top seed.
“I wrestled him in a dual meet this season and lost 3-1,” said Brown. “We’ve wrestled multiple times and it’s always a close match. It’s tough when you wrestle someone so many times. He knows my shots and I know his shots.”