Feb 20, 2003 By Jim Kriek For The 3 min read

It’s billed as the Section 2-AAA wrestling championship tournament, but a quick glance at the top two seeded spots makes it look more like a dual meet between Connellsville and Albert Gallatin. The WPIAL announced the pairings for the day-long event to be held Saturday at Connellsville High, with the host Falcons and Albert Gallatin, who ran one-two all season long in the section standings, go into the first round sharing 11 first seeds and nine seconds between them.

Connellsville has drawn eight No. 1 seeded berths, along with three seconds and two thirds. Albert Gallatin has three top seeds, six seconds and four thirds.

Connellsville coach Tommy Dolde called the multiple seedings for the Falcons “pretty good, a good indication of the success the team has had this year and what they have accomplished overall. Every one of them earned their top ranking.”

Heading the Connellsville top seeds is junior Jarrod King, top-ranked at 152, and who is in a position to win four section titles before he graduates. King (34-3) already owns titles as a freshman and sophomore. He has an opening round bye, then meets the winner between Mike Roka (6-13) of McKeesport, and fourth-seeded Del Simpson (13-10) of Laurel Highlands.

Two other Falcons returning with the chance to be repeat champions are sophomore Josh Martin and junior Kyle Martin.

Josh (26-8) won last year at 112 and has moved up to 130 this time around. He has an opening round bye. His second-round test will come against the winner between Jake Benczo of McKeesport and fourth-seeded John Walters of Laurel Highlands. Kyle Martin (30-4) was last year’s 130 champion and returns this year with the No. 1 berth at 140 and an opening bye. He will meet the winner between Matt Donesec (Uniontown) and fourth-seeded Dan Sauritch (Belle Vernon).

Also returning to defend his honors is John Ptak, Albert Gallatin’s 160 entry, who won last year at 152. This year, Ptak set a new Colonial record for individual career wins and enters Saturday’s competition with a 23-5 record and a first-round test with Oba Mandley of McKeesport.

Dolde said his Falcons are preparing for the sectionals “by pounding the mats pretty hard this week, maybe harder than they have all season. They want to get as many going ahead as they can.”

Rounding out the number one seeded spots (and an opening bye unless noted) are:

103 – Dave Thorn, Ringgold, 21-3. He will meet the winner between Chris Belch (Laurel Highlands) and Jason Weslager, Belle Vernon.

112 – Steve Bell, Connellsville, 32-5, meets Dave Kalvesmaki, Belle Vernon, who also owns an opening bye.

119 – Ashtin Primus, Connellsville freshman (32-4). He will meet either Dominic Monti (Elizabeth-Forward) or Ryan DiCenzo (Laurel Highlands).

125 – Mitch Pankiewicz, 23-4, will meet Frank Fine (EF) or Travis Dunn, Belle Vernon.

135 – Brandon Baldini, Ringgold, 21-1, whose opening round opponent will be Scott Hurley, McKeesport.

145 – Ryan Howell, Albert Gallatin, 20-7, meets either Jonathon Van Bremen (Uniontown) or Giancarlo Langeri (Laurel Highlands).

171 – Jason Doppelheuer, Connellsville, 27-11, who meets Julian Thomas of McKeesport in the opening round.

189 – Jim Tony, Connellsville, 29-10. Will meet Drew Brumbaugh, McKeesport, or fourth seeded Dan Nagle, Belle Vernon.

215 – Marc Berry, Albert Gallatin, 19-7, meets the winner between Blake Faust, Laurel Highlands, and fourth seeded Dan Newlon, Uniontown.

275 – Steve Hughes, Connellsville, 13-9, meets either Andy Macay, McKeesport, or fourth seeded Joe Burns, Belle Vernon.

The top three finishers in each class will advance to next week’s WPIAL finals at Norwin.