McGarrity’s comeback nets regional title
By Joe Tuscano
for the Observer-Reporter,
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
CANONSBURG – It was a comeback for the ages and Nick McGarrity couldn’t be happier.
McGarrity, a sophomore from Peters Township, rallied from a 6-3 deficit in the final two minutes to take a 9-8 victory from Andrew Alexander of Mifflin County in the 107-pound weight class at the PIAA Class 3A West Region Tournament Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.
The win will go a long way to building confidence when McGarrity settles in at the Giant Center for the PIAA Championships.
“Honestly, I was nervous at the beginning when I gave up that first reversal,” said McGarrity, who became the first Peters Township wrestler to win two regional titles. “In the third period, I knew I had to score points as fast as I could.”
McGarrity wasn’t alone on top of the awards stand as far as local wrestlers are concerned. Belle Vernon’s Elijah Brown eked out a 1-0 decision from Cooper Roscosky of Kiski in the 215-pound finals. It was the fourth time the two wrestlers had met this season.
Thomas Jefferson, thanks to a pin by Shep Turk in the heavyweight championship match, secured the team title over Connellsville by 2.5 points.
The top five wrestlers in each weight class advance to the PIAA Class 3A Individual Championships in Hershey. First-round action begins Thursday morning.
Local wrestlers joining McGarrity and Brown in Hershey are Collier Hartman of Canon-McMillan (3rd at 133); Darius McMillon of Peters Township (4th at 152); Jake Conroy of Ringgold (4th at 215); Dom Canali (3rd at 127) and TJ Allison (5th at 139) of Trinity; Talan Mizenko of South Fayette (3rd at 139); and Jake Stephenson of Waynesburg (5th at 189).
McGarrity trailed Anderson 6-3 after one period and it stayed that way through two.
“I’ve never been down by that much before,” said McGarrity. “I’ve never given up a six-point move.”
McGarrity’s second takedown of the period, with 48 seconds remaining, gave McGarrity a one-point lead.
“I knew he had it in him (to rally),” said Peters Township head coach Derrick Evanovich. “It was getting a little scary when he was having trouble getting off bottom. Once he got into the third period and got that first takedown, I was feeling pretty confident at that point.”
Brown made an escape nine seconds in the second period stand for his 44th win of the season.
“It gets harder every time,” said Brown. “I turned him last week and I think he was a little bit wary of that.”