2009-10 Big 14 wrestling squad

-

(PAUL CHAPLIN, The Patriot-News)

2009-10 BIG 14 WRESTLING SQUAD

SENIORS

Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin: Finished with 181 career wins and three state titles.

Tyler Buckman, Central Dauphin: Three state team titles and a runner-up finish at states this year.

Shawn Greevy, Cumberland Valley: Battled back from knee injury to finish second in state.

Tristan Warner, Cumberland Valley: Old Dominion recruit finished 38-3. Three losses came to Kenny Courts.

Bo Candelaria, Middletown: Finished third at nationals in Virginia Beach last week.

Joe Spisak, Boiling Springs: Four-time district champion and state placer caps career with state title.

Seth Beitz, Juniata: Sprinted to 44 wins before loss to Schuylkill Valley's Colin Shober in state finals.

JUNIORS

Kenny Courts, Central Dauphin: Backed up sophomore runner-up finish with state title.

Zachary Nye, East Pennsboro: Came out of nowhere at 215 and became face of East Pennsboro program.

Dereck Enders, Big Spring: Wrestled at 119 and 125 most of the season to help him to a fourth-place finish at 112.

Jayshon Wilson, Carlisle: Scored seven points against Dylan Alton and finished eighth in tough 152-pound class.

SOPHOMORE

Averee Robinson, Susquehanna Twp.: Helped prove that there is good wrestling on Elmerton Avenue with sixth-place finish at 285.

FRESHMEN

Christopher Vassar, Cedar Cliff: Showed grit in storming through consolation bracket at 103 to finish fourth at states.

Zain Rutherford, Line Mountain: Beat defending state champion in semifinals and gave school second champ in two years.

2009-10 wrestling season-in-review links:
>> The Patriot-News wrestling Big 14 team
>> Big 14 wrestling squad showcases wealth of midstate grappling talent, by JEREMY ELLIOTT
>> 2009-10 midstate wrestling all-stars and league champions 

Mechanicsburg's Zach Thomson, left, and Carlisle's Jayshon Wilson were first team Mid-Penn Colonial selections

-

(CHRIS KNIGHT, The Patriot-News)

2009-10 WRESTLING  ALL-STARS

FIRST TEAM

103: Andrew Fabo, Boiling Springs, and Bryan Varra, Milton Hershey.
112: Nick Lamoreaux, Milton Hershey, and Daniel King, Susquehanna Twp.
119: Charlie Bise, East Pennsboro.
125: Ean Starner, Boiling Springs.
130: Joe Spisak, Boiling Springs.
135: Tyler Thuma, Boiling Springs.
140: Sam Rhoads, Boiling Springs, and Chase Hewitt, Palmyra.
145: Trent Bond, Boiling Springs.
152: Tyler Ezot, Greencastle, and John Riddle, Boiling Springs.
160: Logan Murphy, Boiling Springs, and Dylan Scheaffer, Greencastle.
171: Devin Scheaffer, Greencastle.
189: Todd Dewalt, Greencastle.
215: Zach Nye, East Pennsboro.
285: Cris Ramirez, Milton Hershey, and Averee Robinson, Susquehanna Twp.

SECOND TEAM
 
103: Austin Sheibley, Susquenita.
112: Mark Lentz, Boiling Springs.
119: Victorino Gonzalez, Milton Hershey, and Roland Miller, Boiling Springs.
125: Jake Martin, Palmyra.
130: Sam Bise, East Pennsboro.
135: Ryan Bennett, Susquenita.
145: Harley Mabius, Susquenita.
152: Angel Escarraman, Milton Hershey.
171: Jake Grove, Boiling Springs.
189: Branson Allen, Shippensburg.
215: Sam Matter, Boiling Springs.
285: Tyler Unger, Boiling Springs, and Denton Ensminger, Greencastle.

COLONIAL DIVISION

FIRST TEAM
 
103: Dustin Rook, Big Spring.
112: Jon Brigham, Cumberland Valley.
119: Derek Enders, Big Spring.
125: Jimmy Hughes, Chambersburg.
130: Justin Amato, Gettysburg.
135: Shawn Greevy, Cumberland Valley.
140: Jared Ross, Northern.
145: Rustin Barrick, Mechanicsburg.
152: Zach Thomson, Mechanicsburg, and Jayshon Wilson, Carlisle.
160: Luke Etter, Big Spring, and Adam Geiger, Northern.
171: Tristan Warner, Cumberland Valley.
189: Chaz Sheaffer, West Perry.
215: Travis Friend, Cumberland Valley, and Dawson Peck, Chambersburg.
285: Marvin Gaskill, Waynesboro, and Gavin Nickel, Carlisle.

SECOND TEAM
 
103: Tanner Shoap, Chambersburg.
112: Colton Keck, Big Spring.
119: Zach Ross, Northern.
125: Kyle Hejimanowski, Northern.
130: Josh Thomson, Mechanicsburg.
135: Bobby Manning, West Perry.
140: Boe Barrick, Cumberland Valley, and Joey Krulock, Mechanicsburg.
145: Zach Hartzell, Gettysburg.
152: Matt Richmond, Northern.
160: John Adams, West Perry.
171: Town Mundorf, Mechanicsburg, and Matt Blessing, Carlisle.
189: Bryton Barr, Mechanicsburg.
215: Shane McFerrin, Waynesboro.
285: Kelton Mehls, Northern.

COMMONWEALTH DIVISION
 
103: Tyson Dippery, Central Dauphin, and Chris Vassar, Cedar Cliff.
112: Shyheim Brown, Central Dauphin, and Robbie Higgins, Lower Dauphin.
119: Nick Varndell, Central Dauphin, and Blaine Shutt, Lower Dauphin.
125: Kevin Gooding, Central Dauphin, and Shane Miller, Middletown.
130: Tyler Buckman, Central Dauphin, and Celby Allen, Middletown.
135: Tre-Miller Scott, Central Dauphin East, and David Firestone, Cedar Cliff.
140: Marcus Clement, Cedar Cliff, and Kyle Savage, Lower Dauphin.
145: Bo Candelaria, Middletown, and Dylan Carmichael, Cedar Cliff.
152: Grant Dickey, Cedar Cliff, and Jon Germany, Lower Dauphin.
160: Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin, and Dan Shreffler, Cedar Cliff.
171: Kenny Courts, Central Dauphin, and Clint Morrison, Cedar Cliff.
189: Ashton Corbin, Harrisburg, and Matthew Zdradzinski, Central Dauphin East.
215: Kyle Wolfe, Central Dauphin, and Joe Scerbo, Lower Dauphin.
285: Nick Stewart, Central Dauphin, and Tim Gamber, Lower Dauphin.

WRESTLING TEAM CHAMPIONS
 
Commonwealth
Central Dauphin

Colonial
Cumberland Valley and Big Spring

Capital
Boiling Springs

Tri-Valley League
Juniata

2009-10 wrestling season-in-review links:
>> The Patriot-News wrestling Big 14 team
>> Big 14 wrestling squad showcases wealth of midstate grappling talent, by JEREMY ELLIOTT
>> 2009-10 midstate wrestling all-stars and league champions

Boiling Springs' Joe Spisak, top, was one of four midstate state champions

-

(The Patriot-News)

Most all-star selections are numbers-driven.

This Patriot-News' Big 14 Team is no different. Early this season, Central Dauphin head coach Jeff Sweigard said it best when he stated, "There is a lot of talent here" in reference to the local wrestling scene.

He wasn't kidding.

The 2009-10 edition racked up unfathomable numbers, finishing with a combined record of 535-50. Each was so dominant at his weight that he carved out a spot somewhere on the podium in front of a packed house at Giant Center nearly three weeks ago.

There were four state champions. Line Mountain freshman Zain Rutherford (103) and Boiling Springs senior Joe Spisak (130) carried the banner in Class AA, with Central Dauphin's dynamic duo of senior Marshall Peppelman (160) and junior Kenny Courts (171) racking up a combined 92-0 mark in putting gold around their necks against stiff Class AAA competition.

But numbers aren't all that distinguished this team over a grueling 14-week season. Along with great individual achievements, there was unmatched leadership surrounded by acts of class on and off the mat.

Peppelman, Courts and senior Tyler Buckman (130) put their individual aspirations aside temporarily to hoist their CD teammates on their backs and lead them to a third straight team title in February.

And who could forget Buckman's gut-wrenching loss in the state finals to McDowell's Steve Spearman and his sportsmanlike handshake at the end? That show of class alone made the Rams senior a deserving member of this team.

Cumberland Valley might have had a sub-par season by normal standards, but seniors Shawn Greevy (135) and Tristan Warner (171) showed perseverance and excellence in securing state runner-up finishes.

Struggles were also overcome by Juniata's Seth Beitz (140) and Middletown's Bo Candelaria (145), both seniors. Beitz shook off a pair of losses to Annville-Cleona's Dylan Killian and managed to score a runner-up finish at states. Candelaria put aside family issues and nailed a third-place finish in a loaded 145-pound weight class.

But quality wasn't cornered by the senior class. Seven underclassmen showed earned postseason accolades and Big 14 recognition.

Rutherford and Courts led this contingent. But juniors Zachary Nye (East Pennsboro), Dereck Enders (Big Spring) and Jayshon Wilson (Carlisle) showed they will be in contention for a state title next season.

The sophomore and freshman classes were also well represented, with Susquehanna Twp. sophomore Averee Robinson and Cedar Cliff freshman Christopher Vassar placing at states.

2009-10 wrestling season-in-review links:
>> The Patriot-News wrestling Big 14 team
>> Big 14 wrestling squad showcases wealth of midstate grappling talent, by JEREMY ELLIOTT
>> 2009-10 midstate wrestling all-stars and league champions 

Tyler Buckman right, of Central Dauphin reverses Steve Spearman left, of McDowell.

-

(JOHN C. WHITEHED, The Patriot-News)

It’s only 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, it’s rainy, dreary and incredibly windy, yet the string of automobile headlights lined up on Hersheypark Drive heading for Giant Center stretches from the arena’s intersection beyond the crest of the hill more than a half-mile back.
   
Had one of the six mats used during the PIAA Wrestling Championships been outside, the wind could have rolled it up and rolled it over to Hersheypark Arena, where the championships used to be conducted.
   
But it was the Class AAA semifinals these 8,000 fans wanted to see and little was going to stop them.
   
For good reason. The Triple-A semis are by far the highlight of the eight-session, three-day event. This year’s talent level was Triple-A squared.
   
Check out these champions’ college choices: Josh Dziewa to Iowa. Josh Kindig to Oklahoma State. Mitchell Port to Division I Edinboro. The Alton twins to Penn State. Marshall Peppelman to Cornell. Spencer Myers to Maryland. Evan Craig to Rider.
   
That’s a small sampling.
   
So next year, when you’re en route to the tournament and someone asks you for directions to Giant Center, the answer is simple: “Practice, practice, practice.”
   
How popular is this PIAA event, you ask? I can tell you.
   
Pennlive.com received 442,645 page views for the wrestling coverage over the three days. There were 2,300 people involved in online chats, and they sent more than 3,000 messages.
   
That shows the passion not only statewide, but one person online was in China and another in Florida.
   
However, what would a tournament that draws that much attention and was witnessed by 57,000 fans be without a complaint? I just happen to have one.
   
If you’re a wrestler and you’ve just lost a match, have the decency to shake your opponent’s hand. Look him in the eye and shake his hand. Don’t slap at his hand, don’t offer your left hand, don’t turn your back and throw your hand at his, possibly hitting it, possibly not.
   
Grow up and shake his hand. Losing a match won’t be the worst thing that will happen to you in your life.
   
Having said that, a tip of the mat to Central Dauphin’s Tyler Buckman, the 130-pound senior who lost a heartbreaking finals match to Erie McDowell sophomore Steve Spearman.
   
Buckman not only shook Spearman’s hand, he gave him a pat on the shoulder. And after the two shook the hands of the opposing coaches, Buckman stopped Spearman at the side of the mat and hugged him.
   
The fans appreciated the quality of the match, and they let them know afterward with rousing applause. They also appreciated the sportsmanship.
   
I wouldn’t call this a complaint because you’d have to be a fool to complain about Andrew Alton of Central Mountain, voted the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.
   
But I would have voted for heavyweight Craig of Abington Heights. He won his second title by pinning four straight opponents. He’s not yet at the already collegiate level of the Alton twins or CD’s Peppelman, but he’s getting mighty close.
   
And if ever there was a year to start an Outstanding Runner-up award, my vote would go to CD’s Buckman.
   
Another tip of the mat to the four District 12 (Philadelphia city schools) wrestlers who earned medals.
   
Shane Springer of La Salle College was runner-up to Dylan Alton at 152. Casey Kent of La Salle lost his first match and won five straight bouts to place third at 125. Only two other wrestlers did that, and it’s quite a feat.
   
Nick Bongard of Monsignor Bonner was sixth at 119, and Anthony White of Northeast Catholic was seventh at 140.
   
Lest you think that Saturday night marked the end of the season, think again. The season will be capped off Saturday with the Dapper Dan Classic at the Pitt Field House.
   
Joe Spisak of Boiling Springs and CD’s Peppelman are part of a Pennsylvania all-star team that will take on a team of stars from around the United States.
   
It’s a prestigious event, one which the USA has dominated as of late. This year could be different.
   
Spisak will face Jamie Clark, a three-time Ohio champion from St. Edwards with a career record of 128-8. Clark is heading for Illinois; Spisak, for Virginia.
   
Peppelman will meet Nick Sulzer, also from St. Edwards and a one-time champ who is 146-17 and headed for UVa.
   
Other matches that should be quite interesting include Andrew Alton against Joe Cozart (226-4), a four-time Florida champ headed for Iowa State; Dylan Alton against Jackson Morse (184-9), a three-time Michigan champ headed for Illinois, and Craig against Bobby Telford (116-40), a two-time Delaware champ en route to Iowa.
   
Mike Evans of Blair Academy in New Jersey by way of Cumberland Valley is on the U.S. team and is set to face Jamie Callender of Council Rock North. Evans also is headed for Iowa next season.
   
The match begins at 8 p.m. It will be preceded at 6 p.m. by a match between a team of WPIAL (Pittsburgh suburbs) all-stars and a team of New York state stars.
   
If you’re not wrestled out, the NCAA Championships begin today in Omaha, Neb. Plenty of action will be on ESPNU Friday (10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.) and Saturday (11 a.m.), and the finals are 7:30 p.m. Saturday on ESPN.

WEST LAWN, Pa. | The way Northampton Area High
Schools Austin Sommer figured it, the crowd at
Wilson-West Lawns gym got its moneys worth
Tuesday night in the District 3-District 11 all-star
wrestling match.
The match was won by District 11, 29-26, with some high
drama in the final match, when Blue Mountains Oklahoma
State-bound two-time PIAA Class AAA champion, Josh Kindig,
edged Schuylkill Valleys Northwestern-bound two-time
PIAA Class AA champion Colin Shober 3-1 on a takedown with
17 seconds left in the 140-pound match.
That was a pretty exciting match to sit and
watch, said Sommer, who dominated Wilsons Kyle
Pych 4-0 in his match at 152. People expected a close
match, and they got one. I guess people got what they came
to see.
There was no doubt the Kindig-Shober showdown overshadowed
every other bout on the program. The gym only came alive
fitfully before the feature attraction; with the affair
coming just three days after the state tournament, not every
athlete was at his best, quite understandably.
One who was, was Sommer, who had been very impressive
during a run to third place at states and continued his run
of fine form with a crushingly complete win over Pych, who
was utterly smothered on bottom most of the match.
It was kind of weird wrestling in an all-star match;
I am not used to it, Sommer said. I havent
been in an all-star match since I was in the (Easton) Lions
Classic three or four times as a midget.
Sommer again will be in the Lions Classic on Thursday, this
time in the feature attraction. Hell be a tough foe
for anybody from New Jersey. In many other years, Sommer
would be wrestling in these matches as a state champ. He
looked good enough in Hershey to win most years, but he had
Central Mountains Dylan Alton in his bracket.
Sommers 10-6 loss to Alton was the closest match the
three-time state champ had in the tournament.
I knew most people thought hed tear me up, but
I gave him a run for his money. I knew I could keep it
close.
Kindig turned a good shot on a single leg into a double-leg
takedown to edge Shober late in a thriller of a match that
featured some dazzling, athletic flurries and a lot more
action than the score indicated.
Id practiced with him but never wrestled
him, said Kindig, who will compete in the Dapper Dan
Classic in Pittsburgh this weekend. I knew hed
give me a good match. I love that all the people got
excited; I thrive off the atmosphere in these big matches.
I think I had him tired out by the third period. I
took advantage of the opening I had seen in the first
period, and when he did it again in the third I exploded
right then to get the takedown.
Eastons Mark Hartenstine gave the D-11 cause a huge
boost with a thorough beating of PIAA Class AAA 135-pound
runner-up Shawn Greevy of Cumberland Valley at 135. The
Maryland-bound Red Rover tilted Greevy three times en route
to a 10-2 win.
Saucon Valleys Adam Phillipi used his ability to get
out from bottom to win a 6-4 decision over Milton
Hersheys Nick Lamoreaux in one of the two 112-pound
bouts.
DISTRICT-11 29, DISTRICT-3 26
285 -- Brook Gosch (Blue Mountain) d. Zach Freet
(Susquehannock), 5-4
112 -- Adam Phillipi (Saucon Valley) d. Nick Lamoreaux
(Milton Hershey), 6-4
215 -- Curtis Garner (Catasauqua) d. Travis Friend
(Cumberland Valley), 5-2
112 -- Brandon Davis (Parkland) md. Colton Keck (Big
Spring), 13-5
189 -- Antonio Giorgio (Warwick) p. Chris Pintado
(Liberty), 4:33
119 -- Dylan Nguyen (Red Lion) p. Anthony Marino (Liberty),
1:16
171 -- Tristan Warner (Cumberland Valley) md. Luke DeLuise
(Pius X), 12-3
125 -- Tim Ravel (Wilson-West Lawn) d. Jordan Glykas
(Northampton), 3-1 (OT)
160 -- Wade Rivera (Parkland) p. Jeff Mohn (Schuykill
Valley), 5:51
130 -- Tyler Buckman (Cumberland Valley) d. Tyler Rauenzahn
(Blue Mountain), 6-4
152 -- Austin Sommer (Northampton) d. Kyle Pych
(Wilson-West Lawn), 4-0
135 -- Mark Hartenstine (Easton) md. Shawn Greevy
(Cumberland Valley), 10-2
145 -- Bo Candelaria (Middletown) md. Phil Racciato (Pen
Argyl), 12-2
140 -- Josh Kindig (Blue Mountain) d. Colin Shober
(Schuylkill Valley), 3-1
Brad Wilson can be reached at 800-360-3601 or
bwilson@express-times.com. Talk about sports in the region
at lehighvalleylive.com/forums.

Marshall Peppelman of Central Dauphin will be remembered

-

(JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-News)

Walking out of Giant Center late Saturday night and into the bluster and drizzle, it was the perfect time to reflect on the events that occurred over the high school wrestling season.

At first, there was some anxiety taking over for longtime wrestling writer and colleague Rod Frisco, someone who has a limitless knowledge of the sport and has been a staple for 25 years.

But after a while, things settled down and I was able to get a grasp of what was going on. Along the way, the wrestling community was patient and provided great moments that won’t soon be forgotten, at least not from this side of the room.

My mind wondered to an epic dual meet between Central Mountain and Central Dauphin in the state semifinal dual that many experts rank above and beyond anything they have ever seen. That match alone sold me on team wrestling.

But by the time I reached down to open my car door, my thoughts shifted to what was witnessed on the floor of Giant Center over the last three days during the PIAA Wrestling Championships, where members of the 2009-2010 class of local wrestlers made memorable runs and solidified legacies.

It will be a long time before anyone forgets Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman.

The 160-pound superstar displayed his power by standing West Allegheny’s Troy Reaghard straight up on his back like one of those buoys that bounced up and down in the ocean and pinned him in 3:02.

It was the perfect end to a career that included three straight individual state titles, six team titles, Powerade and Beast of the East championships and a district record 181 wins.

All were accomplished with a touch of class.

"I can’t name one moment out of all the success I had — the team titles, the individual titles — each is a moment all in itself," Peppelman said. "These are all memories that I can look back on that will last a lifetime."

Potential was also realized and completed in the Rams’ camp during this state tournament.

Kenny Courts came in as a highly touted freshman, got hurt and missed states and then came back to finish second last year as a sophomore. You could just sense at the beginning of this season, he was going to complete his mission.

He did, beating Cumberland Valley’s Tristan Warner in the final — not an easy task — to give the Rams back-to-back gold medals at 160 and 171.

"It’s been an amazing ride," the lightning-quick Courts said. "I’ve worked so hard since last year’s loss, especially on improving on the bottom, and it feels great to get something that I’ve worked so hard for."

And no one will forget CD’s Tyler Buckman and his unbelievable match against McDowell’s Steve Spearman in the 130-pound final. It was easily the best match of all the finals, Class AA or Class AAA.

Watching Buckman on the mat is fun any time. Whether he is leading or trailing, this guy can pull athletic moves that just captivate and wow a crowd.

"It’s been a pleasure coaching these kids," CD head coach Jeff Sweigard said. "They earned everything they got. Besides all the medals, they go out and work hard.

"They came up through the program together. They do the extra training, the extra lifting and they are all buddies and get a long."

But this season wasn’t just about Central Dauphin and its wrestlers. Not by a long shot.

How about Cumberland Valley’s Shawn Greevy? Was there a wrestler that showed more guts and moxie this season than this guy, coming back from an ugly knee injury in December to get a silver medal at 135?

No way.

The Eagles’ Warner should be commended for his efforts. He lived in Courts’ shadow most of the season and kept racking up impressive wins. He never wilted under pressure and if not for Courts, he would be the one celebrating a state championship.

A new star also stepped to the forefront this season in the form of East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye.

Some speculated —- we took a wait-and-see attitude —- that he feasted on Capital Division competition and didn’t have the chops to hold up against the heavy hitters in Class AAA.

Wrong.

Fact is, Nye is legit. His speed and his tactical wrestling ability netted him a silver at states. One more offensive flurry or counter, and he beats Selinsgrove’s Spencer Myers for the gold.

"It was a goal, and is really everyone’s goal, to win a state title," Nye said. "But my expectations weren’t exactly to be a state runner-up.

"I’m proud of what I did this year. I’m disappointed with the end, but happy with the season."

Don’t worry, Zach, you will be in the hunt next season. And no doubt it will be fun to watch.

A special thanks also goes out to Boiling Springs’ Joe Spisak. This kid is classy and took some tough defeats in three seasons before reaching the top of the podium on Saturday afternoon at 130.

No one deserved it more.

The regular season was also dotted with great team matches. Big Spring and Mechanicsburg, Mechanicsburg and Chambersburg and Big Spring and Mechanicsburg again. See the trend here? That young Wildcats squad is going to be a handful during the 2010-2011 season.

Stay tuned.

Central Dauphin to Cumberland Valley, Middletown to Mechanicsburg and all the wrestlers in between, it was a great season.

And I can’t wait for the next one.

Tyler Buckman vs. Steve Spearman was the event's top match

-

(JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-News)

1.  WILDCATS REVENGE: After falling short in the team championships, it only seems fitting that Central Mountain win the team title in the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships. The Wildcats were led by Andrew and Dylan Alton, who won titles at 145 and 152, but also had two other placers to break Central Dauphin’s streak of six straight team titles.

2.  CRAIG IS KING HOSS: When you look at Abington Heights’ Evan Craig, you see a big guy who looks like he doesn’t have much athletic ability. Ah, that is the first mistake. Craig has that and more, proving it by pinning every one of his opponents on the way to a second straight state title at 285.

3.  BEST IN SHOW: If the Class AAA and Class AA finals were the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, the match between Central Dauphin’s Tyler Buckman and McDowell’s Steve Spearman was the top entry — by far. It had twists, turns, suspense and drama all wrapped into one, and the crowd showed appreciation with a postmatch ovation.

4.  NICE GUYS FINISH FIRST: Boiling Springs’ Joe Spisak is a friendly and respectful kid that keeps his nose clean and works hard. He is the poster child for what this sport is really about, and it was good to see him get rewarded for his four years of tireless work with a state title.

5.  LEGACY CEMENTED: It isn’t often that you catch a glimpse of someone so developed and so accomplished at their craft that they are in a class of their own. But Central Dauphin’s Marshall Peppelman getting his arm raised after a pin in the finals for a third straight state title seemed like an appropriate ending.

Central Dauphin's fantastic finisher had McDowell wrestling star Steve Spearman right where he wanted him in the PIAA Class AAA 130-pound final late Saturday night at Hershey's Giant Center.

The unbeaten Spearman was on his back as the buzzer sounded. He just wasn't on his back long enough for Tyler Buckman to earn the two back points he needed.

The best match of the finals – Class AA or Class AAA – went Spearman's way. He was a 7-6 triple overtime winner, a deserving winner, but you could argue Buckman, Central Dauphin's gutty senior, may simply have run out of time.

“I don't want to see that guy ever again,'' said Spearman of Buckman, who beat Spearman 10-6 in a PIAA quarterfinal last season on the strength of a late standing cradle.

The rematch was better.

Several times during the final, Spearman (42-0) threatened to open up a bit of a lead on Buckman with some solid double-leg takedown shots.

And most times, Buckman had an answer. His “funk roll”, a counter move that resulted in some brilliant flurries, created the late third-period takedown – the only one Spearman allowed all season – that forced a crazy overtime session.

Following a scoreless first OT from neutral, Spearman let Buckman up to start the second OT and converted a double-leg shot near the edge with one second left to go up 7-6.

In the 30 seconds of the third OT, Buckman, working from top, tried desperately to turn Spearman but could not. He came pretty close.

Marshall Peppelman and Kenny Courts were the big names on the Central Dauphin team all season and they didn't disappoint in winning the 160 and 171 crowns, respectively. They finished the year a combined 91-0.

Buckman showed he is right there with them.

He carried himself like a champion in all four bouts in Hershey, winning three of them by a total of five points and coming up a few seconds short against Spearman, his old friend.

A late regulation takedown carried Buckman into OT against Tyler Zymroz of Pittsburgh Central Catholic in his quarterfinal, a bout Buckman ultimately won 6-4.

And during Saturday morning's semifinal against Easton's Mitchell Minotti, Buckman spotted the Red Rover a 4-0 lead – he was on his back, too – before scoring the final five points (reversal, escape, takedown) to win, 5-4.

Jeff Sweigard, CD's coach, and Jimmy Collins, one of CD's assistants, know exactly what they have in Buckman. He's one of the most exciting wrestlers in the state. And no lead is safe against him.

“He has just a natural sense, just in terms of scrambling and flurrying,'' Collins said of Buckman.

“I'm not sure that's something you can really teach or coach.''

“Sweigs always tells me I have a very interesting style,'' said Buckman, a fifth-place finisher last year who wound up 38-4 this season.

“I like to give the crowd a shock.''

He added: “I had a lot of tough kids in my bracket and I came through and I beat them in close ones.''

And what about that amazing roll that frustrated Spearman for most of Saturday night's bout?

“That was my junior high coach, Lee Norbury, he taught me that,'' Buckman laughed. “It's a funk roll.''

“It seemed like I was in on deep shots but I couldn't finish right away,'' Spearman said.

“And [Buckman] did kinda get close to turning me [in the last OT].''

Buckman was asked what he was thinking when Minotti had him on his back Saturday morning.

“I was think that I can't get pinned in the semis, not now, I gotta make it to finals,'' Buckman he did.

He did. And he came sooo close capturing the best match of the championship round.

“That last 30 seconds, I thought I had it. … I nearly had it,'' Buckman said.

The two combatants congratulated each other after stepping off the medal stand. The mutual respect was obvious.

“I was like, 'I got a taste of your medicine last year and now you've got a taste of mine','' Spearman said.

“Yeah, I kinda joked with him and said, 'You're lucky I'm not back next year,'' Tyler Buckman said.

Walt Peppelman, left, congratulates son Marshall after his third straight PIAA wrestling championship.

-

(JOHN C. WHITEHEAD, The Patriot-News)

Marshall Peppelman and Kenny Courts have a lot in common.

They have wrestled together since they were kids, working out in the room and spending long hours sweating on the mat. They have the same coach in Ken Courts, Kenny’s father, and more important, they are best friends.

It’s a tight-knit bond that was developed when Peppelman was five and Kenny Courts was four, comrades with the same goals of winning a state title.

And now they are brothers in arms, draped in gold.

Peppelman and Courts completed life long dreams on the same night by giving Central Dauphin back-to-back state championships at 160 and 171 in front of 8,262 at Giant Center.

“We are such good friends and want each other to succeed,” Peppelman said. “I work out with Kenny every day, and I’m so close to him and his dad [Ken]. If not for coach Courts, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

“I’m so blessed to be around both of them, and I don’t know what I’m going to do next year without them.“

Peppelman couldn’t have started this run any better.

His opponent, West Allegheny’s Troy Reaghard did everything possible to stay away from the chiseled Rams senior, but Peppelman managed to wear his opponent down and build a 4-0 lead into the second on a first-period takedown and reversal early in the second.

Peppelman couldn’t get in too close on Reaghard, which took away the patented Central Dauphin tilts that have led to so many bonus point victories. But that didn’t stop the Cornell bound standout from ending this one on a high.

Just when it looked like this was going to be an ordinary major, Peppelman slipped in a brutal half nelson and pinned Reaghard in 3:02.

“I knew he was big on the funks, so I just wanted to be patient,” Peppelman said. “The tilts weren’t there but the half was, so I took it and stood him straight up.”

And put the finishing touches on a career that includes three straight state titles, 181 wins and more tournament victories then can be counted.

“I’ve had some great times and tough times under the lights here,” Peppelman said of the Giant Center. “But I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

“I’ve been so blessed to have great team accomplishments and great individual accomplishments. I can’t believe this. It all went so fast.”

Courts was equally impressive against an opponent that he has faced about as many times as he has faced Peppelman in the room in Cumberland Valley’s Tristan Warner.

The Rams junior took the fight to Warner early, scoring a takedown and two near fall points to end the first period 4-0.

Warner closed the gap on a pair of escapes in the second, but Courts turned a reversal to start the third and hung on for the 6-4 decision.

“I have pretty good feet, so I knew that once I got up by three points, he wasn’t going to be able beat me with only a minute left.

Continued Courts, “When I was a freshman, I got hurt and beat the guys that were in the finals. Last year, I just had a tough bracket and had a big jump from 135 to 160.

“This is unbelievable. I’ve been coming here since I was five years old, and I’m happy to be able to go out and finally win.”

Warner had no answer for Courts this season, losing three times.

“I was definitely ready for this,” Warner said. “I worked all week trying to get his left leg where he is weakest, but he did a good job.

“I guess he is just a better wrestler than me.”

The Rams fell seconds short of having three state champions, when Tyler Buckman dropped a heart-thumping 7-6 decision to McDowell Steve Spearman in three overtimes.

In what was the most entertaining bout of the day, the two traded blows like a fast-paced welter-weight championship bout./p

The two felt each other for the first two periods in a 2-2 dead-heat before opening up their repertoires in the third.

Spearman escaped and hit a double-leg takedown to take a three-point lead. Buckman stormed back with an escape and takedown to knot the match. Both wrestlers had a chance to win in regulation, but picture-perfect counters sent this one to OT.

The first overtime period provided no points, but Buckman escaped to start the second. But Spearman caught Buckman and lifted him into a takedown to take a 7-6 lead into the second 30 second period.

Buckman try to tilt Spearman twice but failed. When the buzzer sounded, the Rams senior was still pouring his heart onto the mat but in the end, he missed by inches.

“I have to hand it to Spearman,” said Buckman, who along with Spearman received a raucous ovation from the crowd. “He is a great kid and a great wrestler. He is only a sophomore, and I’m sure he will be back next year to win again.

“But looking back, I’m proud of my season, I reached most of my goals. I made it to the state finals, and I can’t be ashamed with the way I performed.”

Cumberland Valley’s Shawn Greevy settled for a runner-up finish at 130 after being pinned by Council Rock South’s Josh Dziewa in 1:28.

“I wanted to be aggressive and stay on my feet, but it didn’t work so well,” said Greevy, who finished third a year ago. “I wanted to get 100 wins but because of the injury, I wasn’t able to do that.

“But I did what I could to help the team and placed at states to years in a row. I’m pretty happy with that.”

East Pennsboro’s Zachary Nye battled but lost a tight 5-3 decision to Selinsgrove’s Spencer Myers at 215.