Bentworth duo, Rangers’ Welsh, Pioneers’ Whyte qualify for states
Jonathaqn Guth/For the Observer-Reporter
ALTOONA — The hard part is out of the way for Bentworth’s Owen Ivcic and Drake McLure.
The duo qualified for the PIAA Class 2A Individual Wrestling Championships by qualifying for the semifinals Friday night in the PIAA Class 2A Southwest Regional tournament at Altoona Area School District Field House.
Action continues this morning at 9 a.m. with consolation rounds. The top seven in each weight class will advance to the state tournament.
It’s the third trip to the Giant Center in Hershey for Ivcic and the second for McClure.
Ivcic, a junior, has always made the state tournament, and was more focused on today’s action than being content with advancing.
“I am not finished,” Ivcic said.
Ivcic earned a 19-3 technical fall in 1:42 to open his day in the round of 16 before recording a pin in the quarterfinals at 160 pounds.
“I just wanted to go out there and take care of business today,” Ivcic said. “Our guys always come ready to wrestle.”
McClure, a sophomore, is happy that the pressure of qualifying is off, and he looks forward to seeing what he can do in the semifinals against Bishop McCort’s Jax Forrest.
“It is nice to qualify for the state tournament twice in two years,” McClure said. “The weight is lifted off my shoulders of not qualifying. I feel like I have pretty decent scrambling skills, and even though he’s No. 1 in the country, I am just going to try my best and see what happens.”
Forrest is ranked No. 1 in the country by FloWrestling. The junior has committed to Oklahoma State, but McClure was close by last year when a Bentworth wrestler defeated Forrest.
Forrest has only lost three bouts in his high school career, but one came last year at the Altoona to McClure’s former teammate, Chris Vargo.
The current Edinboro freshman defeated Forrest, 13-7, in last year’s regional final at 127.
“That’s what made it go from 0 percent to 1 percent in beating him (Forrest),” said McClure in reference to Vargo’s victory. “Even if it doesn’t work out, I can come back and get as high as third. I was cutting a lot of weight last year. This year, I am not cutting as much weight, so that also makes me feel much better.”
McClure won his bout in the round of 16 by 16-0 technical fall before pinning his way to the semifinals in the round of eight at 133.
Fort Cherry’s Braedon Welsh recorded a fall in his first bout and an 11-4 decision in the quarterfinals to advance to his fourth state tournament. The senior and Brown University commit is the top seed at 215.
West Greene’s Colin Whyte will make his second trip to Hershey after qualifying for the semifinals at 285. Whyte won by fall in his first round and quarterfinals bouts.
McGuffey has eight wrestlers alive for an opportunity to qualify for states out of the consolation rounds.
Bentworth and West Greene each have a wrestler alive in the consolations.
Burgettstown has five and Jefferson-Morgan four in contention for a spot on the podium. Beth-Center has four coming back and Washington three.