Mar 4, 2011 By Jonathan Guth 4 min read

CANONSBURG – Step one of four was completed for 16 area wrestlers vying for a regional championship Thursday after Day 1 of the WPIAL Class AAA/Southwest Regional Individual Wrestling Championships at Canon-McMillan High School.

The quarterfinals and first-round consolation bouts will be contested tonight at 6 p.m.

Waynesburg Central’s Derrick Nelson (33-3) made quick work of Hampton’s Chris Olszewski with a fall in 37 seconds in the first round at 119 pounds. Nelson, the No. 1 seed, scored on a quick single leg and used an arm bar to put Olszewski on his back.

“I just have to take it one match at a time,” Nelson said. “I want to give Waynesburg another state champion.”

Nelson meets Hempfield Area’s Joe Alessandro (31-6) tonight in the quarterfinals.

“It will be a good match,” Nelson said. “Alessandro is very tough. I want to keep it going.”

Connellsville’s Ethan Kenney (31-8) defended his No. 2 seed at 119 with a fall over Central Catholic’s Ron Seibert in 2:33. Kenney wrestles North Allegheny’s Jesse Rodgers (22-8) in the quarters.

Belle Vernon’s Nathan Russo (30-2) picked up a technical fall over Fox Chapel’s Jared Rice. Russo wrestles West Mifflin’s James Harrison (25-4) in the quarters.

The Raiders’ Zach McGinnis (36-3) showed why he is the No. 2 seed at 125 pounds with a fall over Hempfield’s Cody Penzera in 40 seconds. McGinnis wrestles Bethel Park’s Phil Kail (28-7) in the quarters.

The Falcons’ Tanner Wiltrout (30-10) pinned Kiski Area’s Josh Beck in 54 seconds to move into the quarters. Wiltrout, the No. 4 seed, wrestles Hampton’s Kevin Synan (32-6).

Albert Gallatin’s Chris Milligan (30-5), the No. 2 seed at 140, survived a scare in the opening round with a 4-3 decision over Trinity’s Michael Ardeno. Milligan next opponent is North Allegheny’s Ryan Sippel (11-6).

Teammate Jacob Lowry (31-4), the No. 3 seed at 171, picked up a 15-0 technical fall over Pine-Richland’s Andrew Wood in 4:35. Lowry meets Ambridge’s David Fitzpatrick (20-5) in the next round.

“I felt like I wrestled pretty good,” Lowry said. “I wrestled Fitzpatrick before at the Chartiers Valley Duals and pinned him. I just have to take advantage of the opportunities I have. The goal is to qualify for states.”

Connellsville’s Jesse Swink (35-7) used his cradle to beat Norwin’s Erik Rayman in the opening round. Swink, the No. 3 seed, will wrestle Waynesburg’s Alex Teagarden (27-13), who beat Penn Hills’ Joe Washington, 10-3, in the first round.

“I just wanted to get my cradle in and get it over with,” Swink said. “I’ve never wrestled him before, so I’m not sure what my game plan will be.

“I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. I had a good week of practice heading into the tournament. I’m pretty optimistic going into the quarters.”

The Colonials’ Patrick Palmer (29-7) scored a 12-1 major decision over Hampton’s Collin Siford to move into the quarters. Palmer will wrestle Franklin Regional’s Ben Johnson (33-5).

“It’s going to be a dogfight,” Palmer said. “I lost a close match to him at Powerade this year.

“I wish we could do this all in one day. It’s tough to make weigh-ins three days. You have to sit in school all day and it’s hard not to think about it. I was pleased with how I wrestled. I kept up the intensity.”

The Colonials’ David Skiles (18-12) moves into the quarters after scoring a 6-4 decision over Waynesburg’s Tommy Henderson (10-7). Teammate Tyler Haines (31-6) scored a 4-2 decision over Butler’s Matt Pribis in the first round. Haines will wrestle Latrobe’s Zack Zavatsky (38-8).

The Raiders’ Jeremy Ellis (34-4) is in the quarters after picking up an 8-4 decision over Greensburg Salem’s Tanner Hahn. Ellis wrestles Jacob Hart (32-5) in the round of eight.

The Falcons’ Mike Aumer (23-10) moves into the quarters with an 11-5 decision over Mt. Lebanon’s Chris Vayo. Aumer will wrestle Central Catholic’s Lorenzo Thomas (33-3), the No. 1 seed. Teammate Brady Ritenour (18-13) pinned Hopewell’s Richie Smallwood in 4:45 to move into the round of eight. Ritenour will wrestle Plum’s Anthony DiLonardo (32-0) in the quarters.

The Leopards’ Adam Nickelson (26-9) picked up a 15-0 technical fall over Franklin Regional’s Adam Lis in 3:27. Nickelson’s next opponent is Butler’s Cole Baxter, the No. 2 seed.