2004 PIAA Wrestling Tournament

PA Wrestling's Notes and Quotes

Page 10

Nick Guida of Parkland works for the fall. He didn't get it, but He did manage a  17-6 win over General McLane's Branden Stearns. (Don Herb photo)	Tyrone's Thad Westley

Welcome back to the Class AA tournament and the first semifinals update, the evening’s first win went to Hanover senior Gary Mayfield who pinned Central Columbia’s Taylor Cummings. Just moments later two mats away District 3 picked up a second finalist as Mike Anderson downed Jeff Schell of Bloomsburg 2-1.

“I’m going back,” said Anderson a runner-up last year to Garrett Scott of Juniata Valley. “I’ve learned being here means that you have to ignore the crowd and do what you’ve done all year.”

What Anderson did was score on a two-point, second-period tilt and held off Schell’s assault in the final two minutes.”

Anderson’s back into the finals and two wrestlers a year removed are also in. Jake Strayer of Forest Hills downed Matt Fisk in the 2002 103-pound championship tilt, this time Fisk is in the 119 pound match to face Anderson with Strayer moving on at 125.

“It’s been a long year waiting,” said Strayer who was upset last year in the opening round. “This past year I’ve come to realize  how big this tournament is and how important it is.”

Strayer will meet District 6 rival Brock Scott of Juniata Valley. Strayer won by a decision in the district semifinals.

Defending state champion Isaiah Britton of Loyalsock is in his third-straight state final where he’s going to meet Athens' senior Trevor Bennett.

In last week’s Northeast Regional 140-pound final, Britton built a 6-1 lead then gave up the final seven points including the winning takedown in overtime.

‘Sock sophomore Rick Tedesco will join Britton and will open the finals against Fort LeBeouf’s Kody Himer at 103.

This marks the third time Loyalsock coach Ben Hepburn has had two finalists in the same year. Last year Tedesco’s cousin Chris Engler was the 140-pound champion. The Lancers also had two champs in 1998 – Chris Fleeger (103)n and Tom Waldron (135).

There’s still plenty of action on the floor and as wrestlers make themselves available, we’ll have more news, notes and quotes.

Jeff Becker of Slippery Rock garnered his 100th win with a 3-1 decision over Steve Fehnel of Schuylkill Valley at 135-lbs.

Juniata Coach Bob Hart chats with the "Beast of the East" committeman Adrian Stewart.	Fort LeBoeuf's Kody Hiner hooks up a bar arm to power over Hamburg's Brad Kummerer, 10-7