Complete results from matches for third, fifth and seventh place at the PIAA Class AAA wrestling championships at Giant Center in Hershey.

103-pound consolations
3rd place: Jordan Conaway, New Oxford, d Chris Vassar, Cedar Cliff, 3-1.
5th place: Anthony Cabrera, Liberty, d Evan DiSora, Easton, 3-0.
7th place: Ethan Kenney, Connellsville, d Billy Rappo, Council Rock South, 6-3.

112-pound consolations
3rd place: C.J. Palmer, Delaware Valley, d Dereck Enders, Big Spring, 3-1.
5th place: Thomas Traxler, Bellefonte, d Paul Bewak, Hempfield Area, 5-2.
7th place: Devon Lotito, Liberty, won by DQ over Kevin Flack, William Tennet.

119-pound consolations
3rd place: Brandon Choate, Blue Mountain, d Matt Harkins, Hatboro, 11-5.
5th place: Derrick Nelson, Waynesburg Central, d Nick Bongard, Monsignor Bonner, 3-1.
7th place: Matt Malfaro, Boyertown, d Dylan Nguyen, Red Lion, 7-0.

125-pound consolations
3rd place: Casey Kent, Lasalle, d Jordan Glykas, Northampton, 5-4.
5th place: Cameron Throckmorton, South Western, md Scott Wolfinger, Quakertown, 11-3.
7th place: Matt Rappo, Council Rock South, p Dylan Mogan, Bethel Park, in 2:41.

130-pound consolations
3rd place: Tyler Rauenzahn, Blue Mountain, d Dan Neff, Solanco, 9-4.
5th place: Mitchell Minotti, Easton, d Jordan Toledo, Pleasant Valley, 4-0.
7th place: Mason Popham, Unionville, d Erik Galloway, State College, 3-2.

135-pound consolations
3rd place: Nick Catalano, Canon McMillan, d Travis Shaffer, Derry, 8-6.
5th place: Alex Pellicciotti, Boyertown, d Jacob Chamberlain, Pleasant Valley, 7-0.
7th place: Joey Mazzi, Lasalle, p Seth Ehlo, Central Bucks West, in 0:25.

140-pound consolations
3rd place: Mark Hartenstine, Easton, d Joseph Marino, Garnet Valley, 5-0.
5th place: Brian Brill, Central Mountain, d Matt Martoccio, Council Rock South, 4-0.
7th place: Anthony White, Northeast Catholic, d Brett Harner, Norristown, 3-1.

145-pound consolations
3rd place: Bo Candelaria, Middletown, d Ryan Krecker, Nazareth, 3-2.
5th place: Andy Candiello, North Allegheny, p Billy Randt, West York, in 1:33.
7th place: Donald Paul-Miller, Pocono Mt. East, d Justin Harold, Kiski Area, 2-1.

152-pound consolations
3rd place: Austin Sommer, Northampton, d Zack Shannon, Kiski Area, 5-2.
5th place: Matt Hundenski, Hopewell, p Cameron Fine, Elizabeth Forward, in 1:50.
7th place: Will Resnick, Penncrest, d Jayshon Wilson, Carlisle, 4-3 in OT.

160-pound consolations
3rd place: JM Staudenmayer, Plymouth Whitemarsh, d Colton Spade, Lewistown, 3-2.
5th place: Wade Rivera, Parkland, won by forfeit over Pat LaBuz, Hazleton Area.
7th place: John Bolich, Upper Moreland, d Nick Bonaccorsi, Bethel Park, 3-1.

171-pound consolations
3rd place: Jared Kay, Hazleton Area, d Josh Popple, Coughlin, 4-3.
5th place: Tyler Wilps, Chartiers Valley, p Robbie Fitzgerald, Downingtown East, in 4:53.
7th place: Jermaine Easter, Cathedral Prep, d Matthew Transue, Stroudsburg, 6-5.

189-pound consolations
3rd place: Antonio Giorgio, Warwick, d Phil Sprenkle, Dallastown, 8-3.
5th place: Michael Pollard, Corry, p Kyle McWreath, Trinity, in 4:45.
7th place: Eric Shaffer, Greater Latrobe, d Tarik Haddad, Parkland, 2-0.

215-pound consolations
3rd place: Nick Ruggear, Oxford, d Joe Stolfi, Souderton, 9-4.
5th place: Sean Sadosky, St. Mary's, d Taray Carey, Whitehall, 8-3.
7th place: Brandan Clark, Methacton, d Travis Friend, Cumberland Valley, 2-1.

285-pound consolations
3rd place: Adam Lazenga, Bethel Park, d Marcus Robbins, Norristown, 6-2.
5th place: Caleb Baker, General McLane, d Averee Robinson, Susquehanna Twp., 3-2.
7th place: Cody Mason, Jersey Shore, d Dave Dewan, Springifeld, 5-1.

Join The Patriot-News from the Giant Center in Hershey for the third and final day of the PIAA wrestling championships. Action starts with Class AAA semifinals and consolations at 8 a.m., then continues with the AA championship and consolation finals this afternoon, and Class AAA finals at 8 p.m. tonight.

Bracket links:

• Class AAA winners
• Class AAA consolation
• Class AA winners
• Class AA consolation

HERSHEY, Pa. | The four inches, 20 pounds and 12 months of
maturity have turned Bethlehem Catholic High School
sophomore Randy Cruz from a boy into a young man, according
to Golden Hawks coach Jeff Karam.
Cruz is certainly wrestling like a man among boys this
postseason -- and that trend is continuing during this
weeks PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships. The
District 11 and Southeast Regional champion reached
todays 112-pound final at the Giant Center with a 9-2
win over Bentons Colt Cotten in Friday nights
semifinals.
Randys been on fire and its turned into a
bonfire, Karam said of Cruzs postseason
dominance. Hes in a zone, definitely. I saw his
success coming after last year ... hes sprouted up and
is a young man.
The cool, calm and collected Cruz, who is quiet and mostly
emotionless during and after his matches, will be joined in
the 2:30 p.m. finals by junior teammate Kyle Dehaut, a 7-6
winner over Burrells Travis McKillop in the semifinals
at 152 pounds.
Bethlehem Catholic went 2-0 in the semifinal round while
Pen Argyl was 0-for-3.
The Racciato brothers, senior Phil at 145 and freshman
Mikey at 130 pounds, along with freshman 103-pounder Matty
Williams all lost by decision in the semis. Mikey Racciato
bounced back with a consolation-round pin and will wrestle
for third place. Phil Racciato and Williams will try for
fifth place.
Cruzs three state tournament wins are by first-period
fall, 7-2 decision and 9-2 decision. His closest competition
this postseason came in the district final -- a 3-0 win over
Pen Argyls Jamie Welsh, also a dominant effort.
The confidence I built in districts and regionals is
really big, said Cruz, who improved to 37-5.
I dont show it out on the mat jumping up and
down because Im usually tired after my matches. But
Im real excited and really happy to make it this far.
This is a new experience for me, wrestling in the state
final.
Cruz will wrestle Athens senior David White, who is 44-3,
for the gold medal.
As a freshman, Cruz finished sixth in the state at 103
pounds. But this is a new year and a new wrestler, according
to Karam.
Last year he was wrestling 103, the second-year
Bethlehem Catholic coach said, but if there was a
95-pound class, hed have been there. He was light.
This year hes every bit of 114 pounds. Its made
all the difference.
Cruzs improvement since last season is not as drastic
as the huge leap forward Dehaut, who did not qualify for
states last year, has made.
Also a district and regional champ, Dehaut used a
five-point move in the first 45 seconds to forge a
comfortable lead and then held on in the final seconds for a
one-point victory.
That was huge, Dehaut, 37-6, said of the
takedown and three back points. That allowed me to
dictate the match. He had to come to me and I was able to
use my defense. He got in on me late, but Im very
comfortable on my butt.
Growing up, all you dream about is the state final.
Its a cool feeling.
Dehaut will meet freshman Cody Wiercioch of Charleroi, who
is 37-1, in the final.
Pen Argyl has had a season to remember but endured a
frustrating semifinal round.
At 130 pounds, Mikey Racciato dropped a 9-8 decision to
senior Frank Martellotti of Shady Side Academy, a 2007 state
champion who finished third the past two years. Martellotti,
who is 48-2, scored a key takedown in the final seconds of
the first period for a 4-1 lead. He built his advantage to
9-4 in the final 30 seconds before the younger Racciato made
the final score close with a penalty point, an escape and a
takedown.
The takedown at the end of the period kind of screwed
me, said Mikey Racciato, who pinned Michael DePalma of
Jeannette in the consolation semifinals. (Martellotti)
got the lead and kind of slowed things down. I knew he was a
state champ and three-time placewinner, but I thought I
could beat him. I didnt. Oh well. My goal was top four
so Im pretty good with that.
At 145, Phil Racciato lost an 11-4 decision to South
Fayettes Nick Carr, who finished second at the
Southwest Regional. Carr, who improved to 31-2, led 3-0
entering the final period as the typically explosive older
Racciato struggled to get going on offense.
Williams dropped an 11-5 decision to Brad Farley of
Bermudian Springs in the 103-pound semifinals.
Pen Argyl is guaranteed four state placewinners as junior
112-pounder Jamie Welsh will wrestle in the seventh-place
consolation bout.
Catasauquas Curtis Garner was the sixth semifinalist
to represent the Lehigh Valley on Friday night. Garner, a
senior 215-pounder, dropped an 8-4 decision to Lackawanna
Trails Eric Laytos and will wrestle today for fifth
place.
The consolation finals begin 1 p.m. at the Giant Center,
with the championship finals set for 2:30 p.m.
Michael Blouse can be reached at 800-360-3601 or
mblouse@express-times.com. Talk about sports in the region
at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

^ Athletes from The Express-Times region competing at the
PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey, Pa.:
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
103 Jr. Anthony Cabrera (35-7), Liberty; Fr. Evan DiSora
(35-8), Easton.
119 Sr. Anthony Marino (31-7), Liberty.
125 Sr. Jordan Glykas (24-11), Northampton; Jr. Zach
Horan (37-1), Nazareth.
130 So. Mitch Minotti (40-3), Easton.
140 Sr. Mark Hartenstine (42-2), Easton.
152 Sr. Austin Sommer (38-4), Northampton.
160 Sr. Wade Rivera (43-4), Parkland.
215 -- Sr. Taray Carey (33-1), Whitehall.
CONSOLATION BRACKET
112 So. Devon Lotito (26-7), Liberty.
145 Jr. Ryan Krecker (35-5), Nazareth.
189 Jr. Tarik Haddad (37-11), Parkland.
ELIMINATED
119 Jr. Franco Ferraina (30-9), Nazareth.
135 Jr. Joey Rizzolino (32-13), Easton.
140 Sr. Tyler Torcivia (34-9), Nazareth.
189 Sr. Chris Pintado (29-9), Liberty.
285 Sr. Chris Bourizk (28-6), Whitehall.

Join The Patriot-News for Day 2 of the PIAA Wrestling Championships at Giant Center in Hershey. Action starts at 8 a.m. with AA quarterfinals and ends with a 9 p.m. round of AA consolations.

Bracket links:

• Class AAA winners
• Class AAA consolation
• Class AA winners
• Class AA consolation

Day 1 of my 'wrestling' trip included a 10-minute drive to the casino. Ugh!

Express-Times Photo | MICHAEL BLOUSEThis is the horse, No. 5, I threw 20 bucks on at Penn National. He won, I lost. Sorry for the poor quality of this picture. I was pretending to be an Express-Times staff photographer.Blogger's note: I am rearranging the letters in everyone's name in this post to protect their identity and my safety.

I love wrestling. But even more than loving wrestling, I love the time the wrestlers aren't actually wrestling so I can spend some serious QT with my crew out here in Hershey, Pa. And we all enjoyed plenty of QT on Thursday -- Day 1 of the PIAA Wrestling Championships at the Giant Center.

Several highlights of Day 1 of the trip (after the Class AA action was completed and my story was filed):

• Enjoyed a late lunch at Perkins with pals Ssi and Lrdaa. It was already 3:30 p.m., but I ordered the breakfast -- two eggs, sausage, pancakes and potatoes. I was so hungry even this so-so meal tasted terrific.


• This crew I lower my standards to hang out with, they make the hotel lobby of the Scottish Inn on Jonestown Road their home. (I'll provide a little perspective here, the Pen Argyl peeps and Northampton clan are this weekend's running mates.) Crowding the lobby with food, booze, more food, more booze and lots of hardcore wrasslin groupies, it's a great way to spend an evening. Of course, the food is too fancy for me and we needed a trip to the CASINO!!!


• My buddy Rfkna, who is actually more of an acquaintance than a friend because friends share their good fortune, won $4,000 at the Hollywood Casino/Penn National Racetrack on Thursday night. Rfkna really won $4,100 on the slots but I talked him into betting one large on a horse named "Rfkna the Tank" and it finished a distant third. Rfkna may be my hero; but not a friend. Me? I lost $40 on two horse races. My No. 5 horse pictured above prevailed, but my exacta failed. (I'll write it off on my Express-Times entertainment voucher. Ha! Ha! Ha!)


• I tend to disappear from my wolfpack from time to time, and when I return it's usually: "Hey, (insert demeaning name here), where were you?" And I tell 'em it's tournament time in college hoops and I was checking out a real sport. Then comes some sort of bad wrestling joke about how stupid basketball is. Really, it's getting old. And basketball is the cooler sport.

Some of the better-looking peeps I hang with.You want some names? OK, the wolfpack includes ... Heleicm, Rm. Elhsw, Rcia, Xre, Rd. DaoeloP, Lpih, Lpih, Crhi, Upal, Oej, RRtei, Miat, Ddbuha, Rfkna, Ssi, Lrdaa. Those are just a few.

Well, that's a wrap on Day 1 at the PIAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey. Not looking forward to Day 2 today. Way too much wrestling to break up this party! Word.

^ Athletes from The Express-Times region competing at the
PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Championships in Hershey, Pa.:
CHAMPIONSHIP BRACKET
103 Jr. Anthony Cabrera (34-5), Liberty; Fr. Evan DiSora
(34-8), Easton.
112 So. Devon Lotito (25-6), Liberty.
119 Jr. Franco Ferraina (30-7), Nazareth; Sr. Anthony
Marino (30-7), Liberty.
125 Sr. Jordan Glykas (23-11), Northampton; Jr. Zach
Horan (36-1), Nazareth.
130 So. Mitch Minotti (39-3), Easton.
135 Jr. Joey Rizzolino (32-11), Easton.
140 Sr. Mark Hartenstine (41-2), Easton.
145 Jr. Ryan Krecker (34-4), Nazareth.
152 Sr. Austin Sommer (37-4), Northampton.
160 Sr. Wade Rivera (42-4), Parkland.
215 -- Sr. Taray Carey (32-1), Whitehall.
CONSOLATION BRACKET
189 Jr. Tarik Haddad (36-11), Parkland; Sr. Chris Pintado
(29-8), Liberty.
ELIMINATED
140 Sr. Tyler Torcivia (34-9), Nazareth.
285 Sr. Tony Bourizk (28-6), Whitehall.

HERSHEY, Pa. | Matty Williams has learned to appreciate the
daily beatings he gets from Jamie Welsh at Pen Argyl Area
High School wrestling practices.
Ive taken him down once all year,
Williams said with a smile.
It was legit, though, Welsh conceded with a
nod.
Although the Green Knights promising 103-pound
freshman often is frustrated after dueling head-to-head with
his accomplished 112-pound junior teammate, he knows
its for the best. And Williams also knows Welsh has
his back.
It was Welsh who helped to calm Williams before the start
of Thursdays PIAA Class AA Wrestling Championships at
the Giant Center.
Pen Argyls Williams-Welsh lightweight tag-team
accounted for half of the Green Knights winners during
the preliminary round of the three-day state tournament. The
Racciato brothers, Phil at 145 pounds and Mikey at 130, also
advanced to this mornings quarterfinals.
Randy Cruz and Kyle Dehaut represent Bethlehem Catholic in
the championship round at 112 and 152 pounds, respectively.
Pius Xs Luke DeLuise at 171 and Saucon Valleys
Ian Gimbar at 189 also were among Thursdays
preliminary-round survivors.
A veteran of trips to the big stage and matches under the
bright lights at the state championships, Welsh offered some
words of wisdom and encouragement to the wide-eyed Williams
as the two warmed up for early action.
Mattys been improving every day and its
really starting to show, Welsh said. I tried to
remind him its just a wrestling mat and just an
opponent. Nothing else means anything.
Williams went out and earned a relatively comfortable 7-3
decision over Northwest Regional champion Corey Bush of
Ridgway for his 40th win of the season. After a scoreless
first period, Williams, who beat Bush 5-4 during last
months state team duals, quickly escaped in the second
and registered a takedown for a 3-0 advantage. He remained
in control throughout the final two minutes.
I was pretty nervous, Williams admitted.
I looked around when I went out and there were a whole
lot of people in a huge building. Jamies been a big
influence for me. He told me to wrestle as hard as I can. As
soon as I escaped and got the takedown, I knew Id
win.
Welsh showed just how dangerous he can be seconds after
Williams won.
The two-time District 11 champion parlayed a quick
five-point move into a dominant 7-3 victory over Southwest
Regional champion Phillip Elias of Shady Side Academy.
Welsh, by his high standards, had been struggling in the
postseason. He lost 3-0 to Cruz in the district final and
then finished fourth at last weekends regional
tournament.
I knew itd be a tough match when we watched
film. I was able to hit a cutback move Mikey (Racciato)
taught me ... he had a single leg and I had a whizzer but I
just dumped him on his back for the tilt, said Welsh,
who placed fifth in the state at 103 pounds last season.
This was a big match for my confidence. I think this
could get me going.
The Racciato brothers both earned uneventful
preliminary-round triumphs.
Freshman Mikey Racciato pinned Michael DePalma of Jeannette
in 3:07 at 130 pounds, and senior Phil Racciato recorded a
12-7 decision over Central Cambrias Anthony Risaliti
at 145. Combined, the Racciatos have 81 wins this season.
Pen Argyls other two entrants, 135-pounder Luciano
Burriesci and 189-pounder Tyler Horn, lost two matches
Thursday. They both fell to undefeated opponents in the
preliminary round, then dropped one-point decisions in
consolations.
Im really happy ... but of course, I feel bad
for Lucci and Tyler, Green Knights coach Scott Kupec
said. This is a tough tournament, though. Hopefully,
the other guys can keep it going. This seasons been a
blast, and we want to finish it off strong.
Bethlehem Catholic went two-for-two in the opening round.
Cruz, the district and regional champ at 112 pounds,
continued to cruise in the postseason with an 83-second pin
over Charlerois Aaron Toth. Dehaut, also a district
and regional champ at 152, had to work harder for a 5-3
decision over Bedfords Brian Gibbons.
I didnt wrestle my greatest match, Dehaut
said, but it was my first time at states and Im
glad I came out with the win. Hopefully, I can do my thing
tomorrow and wrestle more like myself.
DeLuise, the District 11 champion from Pius X, continued to
show off his big-move prowess. He used a four-point throw in
the final 20 seconds to earn a 7-3 win over
Westmont-Hilltops Ryan Burnheimer at 171 pounds.
Saucon Valleys Gimbar remained undefeated in the
postseason with a dominant 15-4 major decision at 189 over
Nicholas Baer of Somerset Area.
This mornings 8 a.m. quarterfinals will be followed
by the 6:30 p.m. semifinals. The consolation finals are
scheduled for 1 p.m., Saturday with the championship finals
set for 2:30.
Michael Blouse can be reached at 800-360-3601 or
mblouse@express-times.com. Talk about sports in the region
at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

There are few sure things at the PIAA wrestling championships. But it would be surprising, very surprising, if Coudersport's Dirk Cowburn and Benton's Eric Hess don't meet in Saturday's Class AA 160-pound final at Hershey's Giant Center.

The two seniors, returning state champions, are clearly the class of the weight. Cowburn is a Penn State recruit and Hess will attend Lehigh.

Cowburn ran his season record to 46-1 with his 1:20 prelim pin of Fleetwood's Cody Breiner. Initially, Cowburn had a one-word response to the possibility of facing Hess.

"Awesome,'' said, Cowburn, who will be seeking his third state title after winning the 152 weight the last two years.

He added: "He's a good kid. I respect (Hess) and I think he respects me. ... It's going to be a good match. I can't wait, I'm excited. But ... you still have to take it one match at a time out here.'' 

Hess, now 38-2, scored a 15-0 technical fall over Bentworth's Dylan Demain in his preliminary-round victory.

 

 

 

 

Juniata 140-pounder Seth Beitz scored an impressive first-round victory, knocking off Central Cambria's Phillip Steinberg 6-3 in the preliminary round of the PIAA wrestling tournament at Giant Center in Hershey. Beitz trailed 3-2 entering the third period and out-scored Steinberg, a state runner-up at 135 pounds last season, 4-0 in the final two minutes.

Beitz was one of three Juniata wrestlers to advance in the early portion of today's AA preliminaries.

Sophomore Arty Walsh, who won a state title as a 112-pounder at Wyomissing last season, labored to a 9-3 victory over Blairsville's Adam Weinell in his preliminary match at 119 pounds. The lanky Weinell presented a matchup problem to Walsh, who ran out of steam in the final minute of the match and clung to the 9-3 decision. Walsh, a perfect 44-0 this season, takes on Westmont-Hilltop's Tanner Hough in tomorrow's quarterfinals.

Walsh also struggled at the Southeast Regionals at Wilson High School last weekend, nipping Peter Renda of Brandywine Heights 4-3 in the regional finals. Stay tuned as he aims to add a second state title to his resume.

Zac Beitz marched on to the quarterfinals at 125, beating Dylan Simmer of Iroquois 9-2 in their preliminary match. He faces Benton's Coltin Fought, a winner by technicall fall in his opening match, in tomorrow's quarterfinals.