Twenty-nine area wrestlers in contention titles at Tri-CADA tourney titles
YORK RUN — Twenty-nine area wrestlers qualified for the semifinals and are in contention for a championship after Day 1 of the Tri-County Athletic Director’s Association tournament on Friday at Albert Gallatin High School.
Laurel Highlands’ Ian Edenfield is literally a one-man team and the Mustang junior defended his No. 1 seed at 220 pounds with a fall over South Fayette’s Jake Walker in 50 seconds to reach the semifinals. Edenfield, who is coached by his dad, Chris, wrestles Bentworth’s Ashton Lopez in the semifinals.
“A lot of people notice me as a one-man team,” Edenfield said. “In my opinion, I feel like I am best on my feet. I try to use my athletic ability as an advantage and really push the pace and shoot a lot.”
Edenfield doesn’t have the luxury to compete in dual meets like other schools that can wrestle in a co-op, but he has been using tournaments and working with former LH wrestler Chris Pierce to develop his skills. Pierce is currently training for the world Greco-Roman wrestling team. Edenfield placed second at the Chartiers-Houston tournament to open the season and will be able to wrestle in all post-season tournaments.
“I run two miles every day after school on the track to stay in shape,” Edenfield said. “My cousin comes in from Washington and helps me out and Chris (Pierce) wrestles with me. I am just going to continue to wrestle in tournaments and get ready for the postseason when it comes along.”
Waynesburg Central leads local schools in second place (66 points) with seven wrestlers in the championships and six more alive for a medal in the consolations.
The Raiders’ MaCottie Denjen (106), Caleb Morris (132), Trey Howard (145), Kyle Homet (160), Colin McCracken (195), Connor Main (220) and Nathan Hinnerman (285) remain alive for a championship, while Nitin Patel (113), Justin Victor (120), Ryan Braun (126), Colby Morris (138), Challen Spitznogle (152) and Luke Robinson (182).
Homet defended his No. 1 seed with a fall over Beth-Center’s J.J. Berish in the quarterfinals. Homet wrestles Avella’s Dalton Simonelli in the semifinals this morning. Homet credited Waynesburg’s brutal schedule, which includes tournaments like the Beast of the East and Powerade, in preparing him to wrestle in local tournaments.
“We have one of the toughest schedules in the state, and probably the nation, and the wrestling here in Southwestern, Pennsylvania is very tough,” Homet said. “I was able to place at Powerade so I really don’t worry about who I’m going against. Wrestling in those big tournaments really helps me to wrestle tournaments here.”
The homestanding Colonials are in fourth place (57 points) with five wrestlers alive for titles and five in the consolations.
Denver Rollison (106), Hunter Milligan (138), Michael Standish (160), Tim Wallace (170) and Corey Dodson (285) are in the semis this morning. Grant Lindsey (113), Harley Constable (120), D.J. Wallace (126), Christian Stone (132), and Terry Crow (220) are still alive for medals.
Standish earned a 6-2 decision over Ringgold’s Justin Nemec in the quarterfinals and wrestles McGuffey’s Christian Clutter in the semifinals.
Standish has been training with Tim Wallace, who gives him a battle everyday in the wrestle room and makes it easier when he steps on the mat in dual meets and tournaments.
“I think I am wrestling pretty good,” Standish said. “Wrestling with Tim (Wallace) really helps me out a lot. I’m not expecting anyone worse than him (Wallace) when I step onto the mat in dual meets and tournaments.”
Beth-Center is in eighth place (44 points) with three in the semifinals and nine in the consolations. Jimmy Gwyer (120), Dominic Fundy (182), and Garrett Dillon (195) remain in contention, while Richard Larosa (106), Dylan Swarrow (126), Todd Fisher (132), Jacob Housel (138), Shane Belmont (145), J.J. Berish (160), Jacob Baker (170), Dylan Dingle (220), and David Headlee (285) can still place.
Bentworth sits in 10th place with 39 points and the Bearcats have four in the semifinals and four in the consolations.
Manny Dovshek (113), Jonathan Vargo (182), Ryan Wise (195) and Lopez make up Bentworth’s semifinalists, while Bryce Hook (120), DeJohn Williams (126), Carter Riskey (138), and Dominick Daniels (285) are still alive for a medal.
Dovshek defended his No. 1 seed with a 9-4 decision over Canon-McMillian’s Kenny Hayman in a match where he felt he could have wrestled better. Dovshek meets Ringgold’s Tyus Bundy in the semifinals. Bundy defeated Dovshek last year in the Tri-CADA tournament and the junior Bearcat is looking to avenge the setback this morning.
“I didn’t really get a lot of time to warm up and that affected me a little bit,” Dovshek said. “It is going to be a battle against him. He beat me last year here, 2-1, so I want to get some revenge, big time.”
Mapletown sits in 11th place with 34 points. The Maples have three wrestles in the semis and four in the consolations.
Brian Brady (132), Seth Shubert (152), and Gavin Uphold (195) are alive for titles, while Kevin Hayes (145), Brandon Smotzer (160), Garrett Phillips (170) and Tanner Weston (220) can still place.
Jefferson-Morgan is in 12th place with 29 points. Gavin Teasdale (126) leads the Rockets with a berth in the semifinals and is joined by teammate Mason Palmer at 113. Brian Rockwell (120), Josh Agnew (132), Aaron Mylan (138), David Morgan (170), and Louie Hunyada (182) are still alive for medals.
Teasdale pinned Swarrow in 1:01 to reach the semifinals, and was glad to the match over quick and is eager to move close to 100 wins. The junior is 12-0 this season and 94-0 in his career.
“I take every match the same, and I was glad to get the pin quick,” Teasdale said. “I am excited to get close to 100 wins. It is kind of a stepping stone to having a great career, and I am definitely not done yet. I enjoy having people come and watch me wrestle close to home.”
The Rams have two semifinalists in Bundy and Bo Haines (182) and five remaining wrestlers are alive for medals.
Frazier’s Thayne Lawrence (138) and Tyler Girvin (220) are in the semifinals, and the Commodores also have one wrestler remaining in the consolations.
West Greene has three wrestlers remaining in the consolations.