Semis prove tough for area wrestlers despite two finalists
NORTH HUNTINGDON — Belle Vernon junior Adam Nickelson and Connellsville senior Tanner Wiltrout advanced to the finals Saturday afternoon at the WPIAL Class AAA Individual Wrestling Tournament at Norwin High School.
They also automatically qualified for the PIAA State Individual Tournament at the Giant Center in Hershey.
Nickelson, wrestling at 170, was tied 2-2 after the second period against North Allegheny junior Alex Deciantis before putting the match away in style with a pin at 5:17.
“I had a little bit of nerves early,” Nickelson said. “He shot at me with a high cross and hooked my head but I was able to get him on his back and then I knew I had him”
Wiltrout, wresting at 138, was tied 3-3 after the first period against Hampton junior Kevin Synan before pulling out a 6-5 win.
Connellsville coach Tom Dolde thought Wiltrout wrestled well in advancing to the finals Saturday night.
“Tanner had a nice tournament,” Dolde said. “It was good to see him make it to the finals.”
Falcon junior Ethan Kinney lost in his bid to advance to the finals at 132 after losing to Franklin Regional freshman Josh Shields in the semifinal. He led 4-2 in the first period but lost, 7-5, in overtime.
He dropped into the consolation bracket and beat Canon-McMillan sophomore Malachi Krenzelak 7-0 to advance to the third-place bout Saturday night.
“Ethan got up early with two takedowns and he slacked off a little bit. He needed to keep coming at him,” Dolde said. “He rebounded nicely in the next match to advance and that was good to see.”
Other area wrestlers that advanced to the consolation championship (third place) round include Waynesburg freshman A.C. Headlee at 106 and Belle Vernon junior Nate Russo at 113.
Headlee won the third place semifinal match against Canon-McMillan sophomore Brendan Price 10-4 after losing 3-1 in overtime against Central Catholic freshman Vincenzo Joseph in the quarterfinals.
Russo advanced to the consolation final after losing to Hempfield freshman Sam Krivus 10-3 in the quarterfinals but advancing in the consolation semis by injury default.
Senior Nate Spinetti of Uniontown was forced out of the tournament after an apparent shoulder injury suffered against top-seeded Cody Klempay, a Canon-McMillan senior, in the semifinals.