AA NOTEBOOK

By David Ackley

For Tom Elling’s Pennsylvania Wrestling

IT’S BEEN A LONG, LONG TIME – Muncy has its first state finalists in 31 years as Zach Strickland advanced to Saturday afternoon’s championship bout at 152 pounds and Ryan Hembury at 189 pounds. The last time an Indian was in the finals, Kelly Holmes had to default his bout because of a knee injury suffered in his semifinal win over fellow District 4 wrestler Tom Gordon of Towanda. … The last state champion for Muncy was 55 years ago as Larry Lauchle became the third from the Lycoming County school joining Byron Dugan ande Harold “Mick” Hill. Lauchle would later become an NCAA Division 1 champion at the University of Pittsburgh and a U.S. Olympian in freestyle.in 1964. … Strickland faces last year’s champ Nick Carr of South Fayette and Hembury squares off against another returning state champion – Stephen Ceremuga of Commodore Perry.

SNAPPED – Line Mountain had its streak of at least one finalist since 2004 stopped as both Zain Retherford and Travis Erdman lost their semifinals. Retherford, the state champion last year at 103 pounds, lost a 4-3 decision to Evan Link. Erdman lost his 140-pound bout to Derry Area’s Travis Shaffer 6-3.

ONE AND DONE –  With Luke Frey’s 7-4 loss at 140 to Reynolds’ Austin Matthews, the Montoursville senior became just the second wrestler to win a state title as a freshman and never win another title. Frey, the 2008 champ at 103 joins Tri-Valley’s Josh Miller who won at 112 in 1994 and followed with three second-place finishes.

UNBLEMISHED – The only final match-up of unbeaten wrestlers is at 171 pounds as Lewisburg senior Nathaniel Brown (37-0) looks to improve on runner-up finish of one year ago. He meets Wes Phipps of Grove City who is 29-0.

RECORD YEAR – In addition to Phipps, Ceremuga and Matthews, three other Mercer County wrestlers advanced to the finals. Mason Beckman and Adam Matthews of Reynolds join Cody Copeland of Greenville.

THE LONG WAY – Joshua Patrick of Ligonier Valley has won four-straight consolation bouts after dropping his opening round bout to earn the right to wrestle for third place Saturday afternoon at 112 pounds. He’ll face Retherford. … Allentown Central Catholic’s Damien Hopper also is wrestling for third after falling in the opening round at 135. The Vikings’ senior lost to Tyrone’s Ronnie Garbinsky, who has dropped to the seventh-eighth place bout. … Also coming the whole way through the consolation bracket was Mike Pavasko of Steel Valley at 152 and at 189 – Jacob Shields of Brookville.