Conti, Kitta win regional titles
Jefferson-Morgan’s Dustin Conti and Southmoreland’s Jordan Kitta won regional championships during Saturday’s action at the Class AA PIAA Southwest tournament at the Cambria County War Memorial in Johnstown.
Five other area grapplers also earned a berth into the state tournament.
Conti needed extra time, but the Rocket junior remains unbeaten at 43-0 following a 2-1 tiebreaker victory over United’s John Blankenship in the 170-pound finals.
Blankenship entered the match undefeated as well at 33-0.
Kitta (32-1) edged Avella’s Jacob Temple, 2-1, to pick up the title at 195. Kitta won the championship last season at 189.
Kitta’s teammate, Austin Griffiths, scored a 4-2 decision over Burgettstown’s Austin McDermitt to earn a beth to Hershey.
Griffiths improves to 33-4 at 106.
The Rockets’ Jason Miller (41-9) will be making a trip to states following a 7-0 decision over Keystone Oaks’ Brett Beltz in the fifth-place battle at 120.
West Greene’s Cody Jacobs (31-11) edged Moshannon Valley’s Jacob Ludwig, 8-6, to take fifth place at 220.
Mapletown will have a state qualifer after Kyle Gray defeated Huntingdon Area’s Natahn Shope, 5-1, to move into the third-place bout at 195.
Gray (25-7) suffered a 6-3 setback to Moshannon Valley’s James Stodart and settled for fourth.
Beth-Center’s Zach Swarrow (30-9) settled for fourth place after being pinned by Ligonier Valley’s Joshua Patrick at 113.
Swarrow’s finish was good enough to earn a berth in the state tournament.
The Rocket’s John Demaske finished in sixth, one spot shy of a PIAA berth. Teammate Brendan Howard was also sixth at 106.
The PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships begin Thursday and run through Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey.