HERSHEY – Three years ago, Line Mountain coach Mike Martz found a diamond in the rough – Zain Retherford. Friday that diamond in the rough became a polished gem as the Eagles’ freshman knocked off defending state champion Nick Roberts of North Star 4-3 at 103  pounds.

“”Nobody, but nobody trains like Zain,” an exuberant Martz said. “He can go forever.”

Retherford gave up the opening takedown but quickly escaped and trailed 2-1 after one. Roberts took down to start the second period and need just seven seconds to get out and push the lead to 3-1. The two fought for position before Retherford tied the match at 3-all with three seconds left.

Retherford chose down to start the third period and made it pay with an escape for the win.

“I’ve been in bigger tournaments,” Retherford said referring to PJW’s 100-man brackets. “(But) none more important.”

Retherford also had some advance scouting he put to good use.

“Two or three years ago I wrestled Roberts at PJW and at Ken Chertow’s camp,” Retherford said. “(There’s) nothing like competition for scouting.

“I was able to go back and remember what he did.”

In the finals, Retherford will meet Brad Farley (38-1) of Bermudian Springs.

Tyrone’s A.J. Schopp ended the repeat dreams of Wyomissing senior Nick Hodgkins 4-2. While Schopp remained unbeaten, his teammate Ronnie Garbinsky lost 6-3 to Joe Spisak of Boling Springs at 130 pounds.

Two former champions, Shady Side’s Frank Martellotti and Montoursville’s Luke Frey, both got back to the finals after absences. Martellotti, the champion at 103 in 2007 and Frey the champ at the same weight a year later took different paths. Martellotti eked past Mikey Roccatio of Pen Argyl 9-8. Frey had a little more breathing room – a 5-2 win over Ridgway’s Garet Pisani.

Frey will meet Schopp for the 135-pound crown.

District IV added finalists at 112, 119 and 125 as David White of Athens rode out Shane Rankin of Union City after scoring a second period escape and a 1-0 win. Benton’s pair of Mike Rhone and Coltin Fought won back-to-back, 3-0 and 5-3 respectively.

Schuylkill Valley senior Colin Shober will be seeking his second-straight title. Shober (52-0) will meet fellow District III star Seth Beitz of Juniata in the 140-pound final.

Like Martellotti and Frey, Sharon senior Jordan Moss will be seeking his second crown – non-consecutively. Moss scored an 8-5 win over Shawn Perich of Portage. Last year, Moss was knocked off in the semifinals 3-1 by Shober and finished third

Lewisburg junior Nathaniel Brown will take a 40-0 record into the finals after decking Sharon senior Lewendo Teaguein 1:43. Up next is Matthew Cunningham of Shady Side a 3-0 winner over Lake-Lehman senior Shane Stark.

There will be a clash of state champions at 160 in the final. Benton’s Eric Hess will meet Coudersport’s two-time champ – Dirk Cowburn.

 

NOTES – The morning attendance was 6,290. The afternoon  AAA session drew in another 7,793 patrons to the Giant Center. … District IV has three schools in the top 10 team scores going into the semifinals. Benton leads the tournament with 42 points, Athens is eighth with 24 and Montoursville is 10^th with 21.5. Burrell is second with 35 points. Both Benton and Burrell have five medalists, but Benton has pulled away with three finalists.