All-district wrestling: Leopards’ Brown makes history
No one would have blamed Elijah Brown if he did a backflip or pointed to those in the crowd that supported him.
But the humility that Brown showed in victory is what made the Belle Vernon junior’s state championship even more impressive.
Brown earned a 4-3 decision over Kiski Area’s Cooper Roscosky in the finals at 215 pounds to not only win his first PIAA title, but give the Leopard program a much-deserved championship after it fell just short, and at times in heartbreaking fashion, of winning a state title.
Brown’s efforts at the Giant Center in Hershey, coupled with a season record of 48-1, gives him the nod as the Wrestler of the Year on the Herald-Standard’s All-District Team.
“I have never really been someone to showboat,” said Brown after his victory over Roscosky in reference to why he didn’t have an elaborate celebration. “Even after Fargo (where he won a national title), I think I clapped like four times after the match. I want to stay humble.
“However, after we left the arena and went to dinner, I was able to celebrate with my coaches, and family and friends. It feels awesome to win my first state championship and get one for Belle Vernon. We were joking about me breaking the ‘Belle Vernon curse.'”
The University of Pittsburgh commit’s one setback this season came to Ringgold’s Jake Conroy, on Jan. 22 in a dual meet at Belle Vernon. Brown jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first period, and increased his advantage to 8-0 in the second period, but Conroy rallied for a 14-10 decision in double overtime.
Brown avenged that loss in the section finals with a technical fall, and also won two more times in the series, including a 6-3 decision in the state semifinals. He feels like he learned a valuable lesson in the loss to Conroy.
“I was pumped up on adrenaline in that match, so once that adrenaline wore off, I kind of just crushed,” Brown said. “I’m normally really calm and collected before a match. It was really hard to bounce back.
“I was beating him pretty bad in the first period, and once that was over, that little break that came between the first and second periods happened, and I just crashed. I think that was a big part of it. I really improved my conditioning after that match.”
Brown hasn’t rested on his laurels, as he is already back in the wrestling room training for his freestyle competitions. Brown trains at Young Guns Wrestling Club.
Brown is one of 26 wrestlers that make up the all-district first and second teams.
The first team features Brown (215), Connellsville’s Evan Petrovich (152), Kai Vielma (139), Janayah Nobles (136), Lonzy Vielma (160), Tommy Gretz (107), Nolan Rice (121) and Zachary Franks (114); Frazier’s Jonah Erdely (152), Ryan Celaschi (160) and Jackson Angelo (172); Southmoreland’s Zoey Murphy (235) and West Greene’s Colin Whyte (285).
The second team consists of Belle Vernon’s Deydon Soto (139); Beth-Center’s Mason Wright (133) and Malachi Peak (189); Connellsville’s Trinity Moore (112), Daniel Smith (127) and Olivia Shultz (170); Jefferson-Morgan’s Brayden Hanning (107); Mount Pleasant’s Tristan Wtorkiewicz (145); Southmoreland’s Landon Dalara (172) and Kaden Shannon (215); Waynesburg Central’s Brock Evans (160), Jake Stephenson (189) and Roan Tustin (215).
The Class 3A and Girls Coach of the Year is Bill Swink of Connellsville and the Class 2A Coach of the Year is Terry Quashnock of Southmoreland.
As usual, inclusion of the all-district team was determined by the accomplishments of each wrestler within their respective weight class. Beginning this year, boys and girls will be part of the teams.
Wrestler of the Year: Elijah Brown, Belle Vernon
Girls Coaches of the Year: Bill Swink/Jeremiah Bossart, Connellsville
Class 2A Coach of the Year: Terry Quashnock, Southmoreland
Class 3A Coach of the Year: Bill Swink, Connellsville
First Team
Elijah Brown, Belle Vernon (215, 11, 48-1)
Evan Petrovich, Connellsville (152, 12, 47-9)
Kai Vielma, Connellsville (139, 10, 49-5)
Janayah Nobles, Connellsville (136, 12, 30-9)
Lonzy Vielma, Connellsville (160, 12, 43-12)
Tommy Gretz, Connellsville (107, 10, 42-12)
Nolan Rice, Connellsville (121, 10, 37-15)
Zachary Franks, Connellsville (114, 11, 36-17)
Jonah Erdely, Frazier (152, 11, 45-6)
Ryan Celaschi, Frazier (160, 12, 39-8)
Jackson Angelo, Frazier (172, 11, 47-5)
Zoey Murphy, Southmoreland (235, 11, 21-2)
Colin Whyte, West Greene (285, 11, 48-7)
Second Team
Deydon Soto, Belle Vernon (139, 12, 41-9)
Mason Wright, Beth-Center (133, 11, 42-16)
Malachi Peak, Beth-Center (189, 11, 38-11)
Trinity Moore, Connellsville (112, 11, 27-9)
Daniel Smith, Connellsville (127, 9, 16-10)
Olivia Shultz, Connellsville (170, 10, 22-14)
Brayden Hanning, Jefferson-Morgan (107, 9, 36-14)
Tristan Wtorkiewicz, Mount Pleasant (145, 10, 34-11)
Landon Dalara, Southmoreland (172, 12, 39-14)
Kaden Shannon, Southmoreland (215, 11, 31-15)
Brock Evans, Waynesburg Central (160, 12, 26-8)
Jake Stephenson, Waynesburg Central (189, 12, 20-4)
Roan Tustin, Waynesburg Central (215, 11, 24-10)