Fort LeBoeuf stops Burgettstown’s unbeaten run
Parker Sentipal (left) of Burgetstown controls Aiden Grogg of Saucon Valley during their 121-pound bout in the PIAA Class 2A Team Tournament in Hershey Friday. Sentipal won by decision.
Joe Tuscano/Observer-Reporter
Gavin Suica (top) of Burgettstown puts the squeeze on Braden Pfanders of Saucon Valley to the point where Pfanders mouth piece is coming out during their 133-pound bout in the PIAA Class 2A Team Tournament in Hershey on Friday. Suica won by fall.
Dylan Slovick (right) tangles with Cole Hubert of Saucon Valley during their 127-pound bout in the PIAA Class 2A Team Tournament in Hershey Friday. Slovick won in ultimate tiebreaker.
Parker Sentipal (left) of Burgettstown goes head-to-head with Jake Bennett of Fort Leboeuf during the 121-pound bout in the PIAA Class 3A Team Tournament in Hershey Friday. Sentipal won by decision.
HERSHEY – The first loss of the season did the most damage to Burgettstown High School wrestling team.
The 31-23 loss to Fort LeBoeuf in the semifinals of the PIAA Class 3A Team Tournament ruled out a gold medal.
But the Blue Devils are a feisty group so if there is a third-place medal available, Burgettstown is up to the challenge.
The loss to Fort LeBoeuf will sting for the night but the Blue Devils have shown resilience.
And they don’t point fingers.
“The kids know the swing matches,” said Burgettstown head coach Joey Vigliotti. “I can’t call out anyone and say who should have won. That’s wrestling man, especially at this level. If that doesn’t happen, points don’t get put up on the board.”
Burgettstown never led in the dual meet, but the Blue Devils were never that far behind. It was not until Brody Beers got a decision at 152. That’s when the candle blew out.
“That was a great job by us and a great job by them,” Vigliotti said. “Even the kids with losses, they put their hearts on the line. It’s a team sport. The kids that probably should have won know who they are. The kids who could have done a little bit more know who they are. You get to this level, all the teams are good.”
Fort LeBoeuf will take on Faith Christian Academy today in the finals. Burgettstown gets the winner of the dual meet between Brookville and Notre Dame Green Pond.
“It doesn’t get any easier (Saturday),” We’ll probably hit Notre Dame Green Pond.
“When it comes to Saucon Valley (in the quarter final match), I guess our hammers were better than their hammers. They’re the returning state champs. But hey, we can hang in there with the best of them. I’m proud of our home grown program. We have 62 kids in the graduating class.
“All of these kids have wrestled their whole lives with Burgettstown written across their chest.
Fort LeBoeuf, the District 10 runner-up, won eight bouts, four of them by two points or less. Burgettstown won five bouts, only one by two points or less.
Fort Lebeouf hurt Burgettstown in the upper weights, winning all four of them, two by pins and two by major decision.
Joe Sentipal, who wrestled at 139, and Rudy Brown, who wrestled at 160, got pins for the Blue Devils (17-1).
Burgettstown, which came into the tournament as the WPIAL champ, reached the semifinals with a 30-28 victory over Saucon Valley.
Darius Simmons (107) and Gaven Suica (133) had the only pins for the Blue Devils.