Jake’s ladder: Waynesburg’s Stephenson wins WPIAL Class 3A title
By Jonathan Guth
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
CANONSBURG — It has been a tough wrestling season for those close to the Waynesburg program.
The Raiders didn’t qualify for the team playoffs and dealt with injuries, but a strong showing in the individual postseason tournaments could have the team feeling confident heading into next season.
The optimism went up a notch Saturday evening at Canon-McMillan High School in the finals of the WPIAL Class 3A Individual Championships when Jake Stephenson earned a title in the 189-pound weight class after a 7-1 victory over Central Catholic’s Nezumiiro Green in the final.
After a scoreless first period, Stephenson rode out Green in the second before scoring an escape and two takedowns in the third for his first district championship.
“I just believed and trusted in my training,” Stephenson said. “I just went out there and wrestled my match and my pace.
The senior improved to 16-0 this year, but he was out nearly six weeks of the season battling through a concussion.
“I had a concussion during football season, but getting one in wrestling season was a setback,” Stephenson said. “However, I think, in a way, it may have been good for me because my body is not all beat up.”
Stephenson, who is coached by his father, Bob, was excited to see teammates Brock Evans (3rd at 160) and Roan Tustin (5th at 215) advance to the PIAA Class 3A Western Regional, which will be held next week at Canon-McMillan on Friday and Saturday to determine who qualifies for the state tournament. The top five in each weight class will move on to Hershey.
“Obviously, we didn’t have team success this year, but that didn’t stop us from still working hard and coming into practice every day,” Jake Stephenson said. “Wrestling is a family sport, so it is awesome to have my brother and my dad in my corner.”
Peters Township sophomore Nicholas McGarrity made it two district titles in as many years with an 11-0 major decision over Connellsville’s Tommy Gretz in the finals at 107. Despite knowing he is halfway to being a four-time WPIAL champion, McGarrity didn’t want to look past next week’s action.
“I hope to be able to get four WPIAL titles, but right now, the big thing is wrestling well next week and getting back to states,” McGarrity said. “I felt really good about getting that first takedown, and I thought I did really well on top. I would say top is my best position.”
McGarrity won his first two bouts by fall on his way to the championship, but had a battle with Franklin Regional’s Beau Fennick in the semifinals. McGarrity used a reversal in the second period for a 2-0 decision.
McGarrity had wrestled 114 during the regular season but made the drop to 107 prior to the section tournament. He is pleased with the move, and feels it will be best for him next week at the regional tournament, and hopefully at states.
“I expect to see a lot of these guys I wrestled this weekend next weekend, which is why I was glad to have been so dominant during this tournament,” McGarrity said. “I hope to do a little bit better in my semifinals match next time, but I was happy with the way I wrestled.”
Moving up to Class 3A hasn’t been much of a problem for Belle Vernon’s Elijah Brown, as the junior and University of Pittsburgh recruit defeated Kiski Area’s Cooper Roscosky, 6-4, in the 215-pound final for a second WPIAL championship. Brown won gold in Class 2A last season.
“I was able to get some near-fall points, and I think I am way better on top this year than last year,” Brown said. “There are good people everywhere, so you find that in 2A, but it is such a difference having the top four guys in the state all in one district. That is probably the biggest change.”
Brown defeated Roscosky for the third time this season. Many in attendance were anticipating Brown’s third match this year with Ringgold’s Jake Conroy but Conroy suffered a 5-4 setback to Roscosky in the semifinals.
Conroy, who battled back to finish fourth, is the only one to defeat Brown this season, as he earned a 14-10 decision in double overtime over Brown in a dual meet on Jan. 22.
Brown avenged the loss in the section finals a week ago by earning a technical fall. He wouldn’t be surprised if he faced Conroy at the regional tournament.
“I am not sure how they are going to seed the regional, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I saw Jake (Conroy) in the semis,” Brown said. “I really threw myself into training following that loss to Jake. He is a good wrestler, but I got super tired going into the second, so I have really been working on my conditioning and being tougher on top.”
Trinity’s Dom Canali was runner-up at 127 to Butler’s Santino Sloboda. The Hillers’ T.J. Allison (3rd-139), Parker Jennings (6th-114) and Devin Junko (7th-145) finished in the top seven to advance to the west regional.
Canon-McMillan’s Collier Hartman finished third at 133. Teammates Mason Calgaro (5th-145), Owen Rush (5th-285), Giono Gardner (6th-121), Brayden Collins (6th-215) and Ayden Solomon (7th-172) all moved on to the regional tournament.
The Leopards’ Deydon Soto (6th-139) and Kole Doppelheuer (7th-152) advanced.
Peters Township’s Darius McMillon was third at 152.
South Fayette’s Luke Dunlap not only won his 100th career match over the weekend but placed fourth at 152. The Lions’ Talan Mizenko was fifth at 139.
The Rams’ Evan Tolliver (4th-127) and Cristian Lowther (5th-160) qualified for the regional tournament.