BV’s Brown dominates at Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic
Elijah Brown entered Saturday’s bout in the 52nd edition of the Pittsburgh Wrestling Classic at Peters Township High School’s AHN Arena without an ounce of apprehension.
The Belle Vernon senior, who will continue his career at Penn State, was up against his toughest competition of the year in Arizona State commit Kal-El Fluckiger of Chandler, Ariz., in the main event at 215 pounds. But Brown didn’t let Fluckiger’s reputation affect his performance in earning a 15-0 technical fall in 1:12.
Fluckiger, who represented the United States All-Stars, was ranked seventh in the country by FloWrestling at 215, while Flo had Brown at No. 16. Fluckiger won the Super 32 championship with a fall in the finals against DuBois’ Kendahl Hoare, who handed Brown his only setback this season.
It should be noted Brown avenged his loss to Hoare, but Fluckiger was considered the favorite.
Brown didn’t seem to care, as he used a double leg five seconds into the first period, and followed up with three tilts in the next 67 seconds for the victory that pulled the Pennsylvania All-Stars within nine of Team USA at 23-14.
Dean Bechtold of Owen J. Roberts followed Brown with another technical fall for the home team, but it wasn’t enough as Team USA earned a 23-19 victory, which was its fifth consecutive win in the main event of the Classic, and the 13th in 14 years.
Brown enjoyed the atmosphere and was happy to perform at his highest level against someone he may wrestle in college.
“I think when I competed at states and some of the other bigger tournaments, I was a little bit conservative in my approach,” Brown said. “I could have probably blown those matches out, but I wanted to be cautious due to the significance of them. I didn’t have any pressure at the Classic. I wrestle my best when I just go out there and have fun. Once I get to that point, subconsciously, it will make me really tough to beat.”
Brown finished his high school career at 173-20 with two state championships.
In addition to victories by Brown and Bechtold, the Keystone State had three other individual winners in the main event in Will Detar, Keanu Dillard and Adam Waters.
In a No. 1 vs. No. 2 battle at 189, Waters, of Faith Christian Academy, scored a takedown with one minute remaining for a two-point lead before hanging for an 8-7 decision over Michael White, who was ranked first in the country by Flo.
Detar earned a 4-1 decision in sudden victory at 127, and Dillard won in double overtime, 5-1, at 133.
While the Pennsylvania All-Stars came up short, Team WPIAL dominated the Oklahoma All-Stars, 56-3, in the second dual meet of the event.
Canon-McMillan’s Collier Hartman finished his high school career in style with a fall in 1:34 over Brayden Mixay at 139. Hartman scored a takedown six seconds in the bout and earned four near-fall points for a 7-0 lead before allowing Mixay to escape with 54 seconds left in the period. Hartman scored his second takedown and pinned Mixay 28 seconds later.
Hartman will continue his academy and wrestling career at the Naval Academy. He ended his high school career with a record of 151-41 and two fourth-place finishes in the PIAA Class 3A tournament.
Beth-Center’s Malachi Peak earned a fall in 5:19 over Connor Wines at 189. Peak, a California student who wrestles for the Bulldogs as part of a co-op, built up a 7-2 advantage with an escape and two takedowns before pinning Wines.
Peak, who will continue his academic and wrestling careers at Washington & Jefferson College, finished his high school career with a record of 103-38 and a berth in the state tournament as a senior.
Peak’s future teammate, Lucas Barr, escaped in the third period and hung on for a 5-4 decision over Eric Casula in the first of two bouts at 133.
Barr took a 3-0 lead with 18 seconds remaining in the first period following a takedown. Casula escaped and recorded a takedown for a 4-3 lead in the second period with 56 seconds left in the frame.
Barr tied the bout with an escape seven seconds later before Casula allowed him to escape to start the third period.
Barr finished his high school career as the Highlanders’ all-time wins leader with a record of 177-36. A four-time state qualifier, Barr placed sixth in the PIAA at 133 his senior season.
The WPIAL All-Stars didn’t have any trouble in winning 11 of 12 individual bouts.
Team Pennsylvania women hammered Team Oklahoma, 51-3, in the first event of the day.