One step closer
Commodores’ Erdely reaches quarterfinals at state tournament
HERSHEY — Jonah Erdely was able to break through in the state tournament Thursday morning at the Giant Center in Hershey.
The Frazier senior earned an 8-1 decision over Berlin-Brothersvalley’s Dawson Shaffer in the first round of the Class 2A PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships at 152 pounds.
The victory puts Erdely (33-1, 125-23) in this morning’s quarterfinals against Clay Kimmy (44-6, 154-57) of General McClane.
Erdely, who will continue his academic and wrestling careers at Seton Hill University, is wrestling in his third state tournament. He went 0-2 as a freshman and lost in the blood round last season. Erdely wasn’t able to compete in the postseason as a sophomore because he was injured, but is eager to be one victory away from placing.
“I lost in a pigtail my freshman year, and last year I lost in this round, so it felt good to finally win my first match here,” Erdely said.
Erdely and Shaffer wrestled in the semifinals of the Thomas Automotive Tournament on Jan. 24 with Erdely winning by major decision, 11-1.
In Thursday’s bout, Erdely secured a takedown with 1:15 remaining in the first period and rode out Shaffer for a 3-0 lead. Erdely escaped in the second for a 4-0 advantage, and used a tilt for an 8-0 lead with 1:21 left in the bout. Shaffer escaped four seconds later, but couldn’t get anything going as Erdely stayed in good position for the win.
“Overall, I felt like a wrestled a good, complete match,” Erdely said. “I have wrestled him before, so I knew what to expect, but he is a real lanky guys, so it was really hard to get a hold of him. I just had to stay low, close the gap little by little until I’m in range.”
West Greene’s Colin Whyte (45-3, 161-33) qualified for the quarterfinals of the state tournament for the second time in as many years with a 16-1 technical fall in 4:33 over Greensburg Salem’s David Peters at 285.
Whyte, a senior and Kent State commit, is seeking his second straight appearance in the semifinals. He wrestles Eoghan Savage (35-7, 97-27) of Upper Dauphin in the round of eight.
Whyte, a three-time state qualifier, was fourth last year at 285. He didn’t place as a sophomore.
Beth-Center’s Noah Layhue (47-4, 109-36) had a strong start to his first state tournament with a win by fall in 2:54 over Line Mountain’s Jacob’s Schwalm at 215 to advance to the quarterfinals.
Layhue, a senior who attends school at California but wrestles for the Bulldogs as part of a co-op, will face Port Allegany’s Aiden Bliss (40-1, 126-29) in the quarterfinals.
Beth-Center’s Mason Wright (139) lost his bout in the preliminary round, 2-1, but rebounded for a 6-3 decision in the first round of consolations to remain in contention for a medal. Teammate Malachi Peak (189) earned a 14-4 major decision in the preliminary round, but lost to Faith Christian Academy’s Adam Waters in the first round. Peak will return today in the second round of consolations.
Jefferson-Morgan’s Brayden Hanning (107) went 1-1 with a fall in the preliminary round but dropped a match in the round of 16 to Kooper Deputy of Chestnut Ridge.
The Rockets’ Alek Palko (160) won by technical fall to advance to the first round, but suffered a 7-4 setback to fall into the second round of consolations.
Wrestling begins this morning at 8 a.m. with the quarterfinals and second round of consolations in Class 2A. The blood round is scheduled for 10:30 a.m.
The semifinals are set for 7 p.m. before the fourth round of consolations closes out Day 2 at 9 p.m.