Falcons keep medal hopes alive with split in team championships
HERSHEY – The atmosphere of the Giant Center can be one of intimidation. No, it can be down right frightening. The Connellsville wrestling team got a harsh introduction during Friday afternoon’s PIAA Class AAA Team Championships quarterfinal round as the Falcons dropped a 39-22 match to District 6 champion Central Mountain.
But the Falcons (18-5) kept their hopes of winning a medal alive after they defeated District 2 champion Hazleton 36-35 in the consolation first round. Connellsville will face District 11 runner-up Nazareth in the consolation second round this morning at 9.
The size and intimidation factor that comes when a 13,000-seat arena caused Falcons’ coach Tom Dolde Jr. to have a near 20-minute post-match talk with his team after the loss to Central Mountain.
“I know we are young but that isn’t an excuse why we didn’t perform well,” Dolde said.
“We have the heart, but I think some of kids were shell shocked when they walked on to the floor of the Giant Center.
“For years, they watched Connellsville wrestlers in the state championships. Now, they’re freshmen and sophomores, and they are the ones who are wrestling.”
Central Mountain got the early jump, winning the opening two bouts at 112 and 119.
Wildcats’ sophomore Jordan Rich quickly pinned freshman Ryan Williams in 47 seconds at 112, while James Courturiaux dropped Rain Garletts 4-3 at 119.
Garletts’ loss was one of several close bouts lost by Connellsville. The Falcons gave up 21 team points in the final 15 seconds in four separate weight classes, leaving Dolde questioning his wrestlers afterwards.
“We needed that team meeting for a gut check,” Dolde said. “We were leading almost all those matches and we either gave up an escape, a takedown or got pinned.”
Junior Jake Swink stopped the Central Mountain run with an 8-1 decision over Corey Poff.
Swink scored a key double-leg takedown at the end of the second period, giving him a 4-1 edge going into the final period.
However, Central Mountain responded by sweeping the next three – 130, 135 and 140 – before senior Jared Dolde improved to 19-9 with a 16-6 major decision over sophomore Dylan Caprio at 145.
The Falcons closed to within 14 (24-10) when 152-pound senior Slade Harvey scored an impressive 6-2 decision over Tyler Buckwalter.
Despite being down 30-10 on the board, Falcons’ junior Zach Benzio gave the team some life at 189 when he caught Jacob Bachman in a cradle, pinning him in a quick 54 seconds.
Senior Justin Haines, who finished third at last year’s PIAA Class AAA Championships, added a 3:38 pin over Zach Corl at 285.
“Those guys are natural leaders on this team,” Dolde said. “They get the other wrestlers motivated and they spent some time after the match talking to the team.”
Haines was instrumental in Connellsville victory over Hazleton when he pinned Matt Starrick in 3:23.
Haines’ pin was followed by Jerry Cramer’s 8-4 decision over Cody Pehala at 103, which sealed the win for the Falcons.