WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Championships
Falcons’ Haines earns 285-pound title; Bryson, Headlee fall in finals NORTH HUNTINGDON – Clear eyes and a full heart can’t lose, and Justin Haines didn’t.
The happy-go-lucky heavyweight from Connellsville gave Fayette County its only WPIAL Class AAA champion when he defeated second-seeded Steve Santia of Hempfield, 3-0, last night at Norwin High School.
It was the first title for Haines, who received congratulations from seemingly half of Connellsville when it was over.
He’s proof that nice guys can finish first.
“It feels good, really good,” said Haines. “I’ve been practicing really hard, been busting my butt.”
Haines had no trouble with Santia and the match was never in doubt and he’ll be the only Connellsville wrestler at Hershey next weekend for the PIAA State Championships. Andrew Snyder and Zach Benzio each finished fourth after losing semifinal bouts, winning consolation bouts, and then losing in the consolation finals.
Only three wrestlers from each weight class qualified for the PIAA Tournament. Haines, a junior, will head to Hershey with a 33-5 record.
Lance Bryson of Albert Gallatin finished second at 171 when he lost to A.J. Brentzel of Penn-Trafford in the finals.
Brentzel came into the match with a 43-0 record and the state’s top ranking, but Bryson jumped out to a 2-0 lead. Brentzel used a takedown and a cradle for a five-point swing to take a 5-2 lead. He stretched the lead to 7-2 but Bryson battled back to tie the match in the third period before Brentzel’s takedown with 1:00 remaining.
Bryson entered the tournament ranked third in the state and pinned No. 2 Rob Waltko of North Allegheny in 4:59 of the semifinals yesterday.
“This was a lot better tournament than last year, when I lost in the semis and then to Waltko in the consolations,” said Bryson, a 32-4 junior. “The cradle cost me in the finals. I had him. It only takes one mistake and it got me. But I battled. My coach said it showed a lot of heart to battle back like I did.”
Waynesburg Central’s Ethan Headlee also showed plenty of heart. He pushed defending state champion Ryan Goodman of Latrobe to a fourth round of overtime before losing 3-2 on a rideout at 152. Twice, Headlee came within seconds of escaping to win, but both times the clock struck zero to save Goodman.
“I’m a little upset,” said Headlee, a 41-4 senior. “I would’ve liked to have won that, but next week is what matters most, so I’d like to do my best then. I’d like to place higher there than here.”
Headlee was encouraged by pushing the state champ to the limit, but didn’t take any solace in losing a close one.
“Either way, a pin or a loss by one point, it’s still a loss,” he said.
Waynesburg’s Nick Garber also qualified for the PIAA Tournament by finished third at 130. The No. 5 seed lost to top-seeded Grant Lowther of Trinity, 3-2, in the semifinals, but came back to win a pair of consolation bouts. He’ll take a 39-6 record to Hershey.
A pair of Belle Vernon wrestlers will travel to Hershey after finishing third last night. Jacob Weslager lost his semifinal bout at 140 to top-seeded James Fleming on a late pin, but came back to win two consolation bouts. He’ll take a 38-4 record to Hershey. Teammate Donnie Tasser, who’d lost Friday in the quarterfinals, won four consolation bouts to finish third at 145. The junior has a 42-2 record.
Other notable performances were turned in by underclassmen Jeff Dulaney (152) of Albert Gallatin, Matt Zavada (215) of Connellsville, and Nick Browne (152) and Eric Minerd (285) of Laurel Highlands.
Dulaney won three consolation bouts before losing in the consolation semifinals to Brian Letters, the eventual consolation champ.
Zavada won three consolation bouts before losing in the consolation semifinals by one point.
Browne and Minerd, a sophomore, each won two consolation bouts after first-round losses.