Fairview coach Jim Cardman has relished the team’s best postseason in history.
The Tigers set records with seven entries for the District 10 Class AA tournament, plus three for this weekend’s PIAA meet. Josh Eckendorf (140), Nick Lohrer (160) and heavyweight Jeff Pollard will vie for state medals at Hershey.
That success also is a reason this could be Cardman’s last season with Fairview. He hinted at stepping down at the Northwest Region Class AA tournament in Sharon.
“I’ve been coaching here for more than 20 years (over two stints),” Cardman said. “This could be a good time to turn it over to Ben.”
Assistant coach Ben Corbin has been at Cardman’s side for two seasons. Corbin, a 1992 Fairview graduate, placed twice at states and was the first Tiger to win 100 career matches.

Twenty-eight district wrestlers won their 100th match this season.
None, though, have accumulated them with three different schools like Maplewood’s Ray Moritz. The senior wrestled at Harbor Creek as a freshman and Fort LeBoeuf as a sophomore before he enrolled at the Guys Mills school two years ago.
Moritz rallied from a quarterfinal loss at regions to claim the third seed at 130 pounds. His 100th win came when he beat Thomas Woodward, a former LeBoeuf teammate, 4-3 in the consolation semifinals.
Moritz then qualified for states with his 101st victory, a 4-3 decision over James Stockhausen of Iroquois.
“I’m happy I made it to states with this school,” Moritz said of Maplewood. “They’re a small school and I just love it there.”
Nick Bancroft (145) will join Moritz at Hershey. They are the first Tigers to qualify for the PIAA AA meet since Matt Wilcox went from 2001-2003.
Wilcox won the 189-pound state title in 2002.

Moritz wasn’t the only wrestler who reached 100 wins at Sharon.
Commodore Perry’s Jordan Powell reached the milestone with his quarterfinal victory at 119 pounds. The Panthers lightweight blanked Smethport’s Kevin Shunk 4-0.
Powell, though, won’t join Moritz at Hershey.
The junior dropped into the consolation bracket after Greenville’s Coty Burnett routed him 19-1 in the semifinals. Powell posted a 57-second pin over Redbank Valley’s Nic McCauley in the consolation semis, but was eliminated when North East’s Christian Drain beat him 5-1 in the third-place match.
Shunk had a chance to become Smethport’s inaugural region champ. Instead, that honor went to Jon-Marc Burdick at 140.
Burdick edged Fairview’s Josh Eckendorf 7-6 in the final. He reached the title match with a 4-2 decision over Harbor Creek’s Joey Nowakowski, a returning region winner, in the semis.
Greenville’s Justin Ferguson won the 145 final with a last second 8-7 victory over Harbor Creek’s Sam Kuhn. Ferguson not only remained unbeaten at 42-0, but did so on his 18th birthday.

Thirteen AA and AAA wrestlers who qualified for Hershey are tentatively scheduled to compete in the second annual Hamot Sports Medicine Senior Showdown. The exhibition event, which pits senior wrestlers from each class, will take place Wednesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at Harbor Creek High School.
All tickets will be $5 per person. Proceeds will benefit the District 10 Wrestling Scholarship Fund.
The inaugural Senior Showdown raised more than $2,200, according to Harbor Creek assistant coach Derek Chew. Organizers hope to surpass $3,000 this year.
Brian Hills of Reynolds will coach the AA wrestlers. PIAA entries scheduled to compete are North East’s Tony Langdon (103), Sharpsville’s Chris Rowe (125) and Phil Catrucco (285), Reynolds’ Corey Brown (130), Greenville’s Justin Ferguson (145), Northwestern’s Josh Chiesa (171), Harbor Creek’s Tim McAndrew (189), and Hickory’s John Apa (215).
Corry’s Skip Laird will coach the AAA corner. State entries expected to appear are General McLane’s Cyrus Parlin (119), Conneaut Lake’s Cash Horne (140), Cathedral Prep’s Jordan Easter (152), and Strong Vincent’s Edwin Taylor (189) and DeAndre Bell (215).

Chris Reitz’s left knee wasn’t the only thing that caused him pain throughout the tournament. It was only the most obvious one.
“Actually,” the Iroquois junior said, “it’s the knee, both my shoulders and my ribs. I just fight through the pain and go with it.”
Reitz called for injury time throughout his region matches, but he endured to finish third at 152 pounds. He qualified for states with a 6-4 victory over Sharon’s Jacques Moss in the consolation final.
Reitz’ victory was notable.
Iroquois downgraded wrestling to a club sport in the mid-1990s, then nearly eliminated it. Reitz is the Braves’ first PIAA qualifier since their glory days of the early 1980s.
“I’d like to think I’m the spark that will bring back the program,” he said.

Reynolds’ Tony D’Urso saw his season end with a broken right wrist in a 135-pound consolation semifinal. D’Urso, a junior, suffered the injury in the third period against Mike Vernille of Hickory.
D’Urso could not be reached for an update on his status. The Sharon Herald reported he had surgery Sunday morning.
Vernille later qualified for the state meet when he beat Harbor Creek’s Adam Trimble 10-3 in the 135 third-place match.

Cody Kelly, D’Urso’s teammate, won his third region title. Kelly, the champion at 103 in 2006 and 112 last season, added the 125 title to his trophy case with a 6-1 decision over Sharpsville’s Chris Rowe.
It marked Kelly’s third postseason victory over Rowe. He also decisioned the Sharpsville lightweight in the Section 2 and District 10 finals.
Kelly will try to add to Raiders’ lore with a state title this weekend, but confessed he already harbors thoughts of a fourth region title.
“There’s only been a couple people in history who have won it four times,” Kelly said. “I’d like to do that next year. Matt Dunn, who graduated my freshman year, was a four-time champion here.”

Absent from the list of region qualifiers for the PIAA meet were Fort LeBoeuf wrestlers. The Bisons were denied berths when Thomas Woodward (130) and Josh Williams (285) lost their third-place matches.
Maplewood’s Ray Moritz eliminated Woodward 4-3 in the 130 consolation semifinals and Eisenhower’s Mitch Straight blanked Williams 7-0 at heavyweight.
Fort LeBoeuf returned from Hershey with titlists in three of the previous four seasons.
The Bisons’ Kody Hiner was the AA state champ at 103 in 2004. Adam Farrell won at 215 in 2006 and Steve Waite at 135 last season.

Last Friday’s winter weather resulted in poor travel conditions and delayed the start of the tournament.
Jack McIntire, the District 10 wrestling chairman, made it to Sharon even though he spun his car into the southbound median of Interstate 79. McIntire was not injured.
The tournament also was delayed 15 minutes because District 9 officials were held up in traffic from an accident on Interstate 80.

— Mike Copper

Sixteen District 10 wrestlers advanced to the PIAA Class AA wrestling quarterfinals with wins Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Here are the 16 preliminary round winners:

103: Mason Beckman, Reynolds (d Charlie Bise, East Pennsboro 1-0).

119: Coty Burnett, Greenville (md Devin Cook, Bedford 12-3).

125: Cody Kelly, Reynolds (d Jarid Solosky, Saucon Valley 4-2).

130: Corey Brown, Reynolds (d Mitch Spencer, Avella 8-5).

135: Jordan Moss, Sharon (d Logan Sheldon, Hyndman 5-0).

145: Sam Kuhn, Harbor Creek (md Dave Brown, Shady Side 11-3); Justin Ferguson, Greenville (d T.J. Polacek, Westmont-Hilltop 9-8).

152: Chris Reitz, Iroquois (d Zach Cerrone, Wellsboro 9-7).

160: Caleb Kolb, Grove City (d Josh Lesher, Upper Dauphin 7-5).

171: Justin Angermeier, Mercer (d Bobby Mort, Huntingdon 4-0); Josh Chiesa, Northwestern (d Jeff Beal, Southmoreland 3-1).

189: Tim McAndrew, Harbor Creek (d Eric Herrold, Penns Valley 8-1).

215: Justin Buchanan, Sharpsville (p Fred Holly, Pottstown 4:39).

285: Jeff Pollard, Fairview (p Josh Krupa, Bedford 2:23); Mitch Straight, Eisenhower (p Zack Reefer, Elderton 4:41); Phil Catrucco, Sharpsville (p Ethan Covalt, Penns Valley 1:07).

-- John Dudley

Sixteen District 10 wrestlers advanced to the PIAA Class AA wrestling quarterfinals with wins Thursday at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Here are the 16 preliminary round winners:

103: Mason Beckman, Reynolds (d Charlie Bise, East Pennsboro 1-0).

119: Coty Burnett, Greenville (md Devin Cook, Bedford 12-3).

125: Cody Kelly, Reynolds (d Jarid Solosky, Saucon Valley 4-2).

130: Corey Brown, Reynolds (d Mitch Spencer, Avella 8-5).

135: Jordan Moss, Sharon (d Logan Sheldon, Hyndman 5-0).

145: Sam Kuhn, Harbor Creek (md Dave Brown, Shady Side 11-3); Justin Ferguson, Greenville (d T.J. Polacek, Westmont-Hilltop 9-8).

152: Chris Reitz, Iroquois (d Zach Cerrone, Wellsboro 9-7).

160: Caleb Kolb, Grove City (d Josh Lesher, Upper Dauphin 7-5).

171: Justin Angermeier, Mercer (d Bobby Mort, Huntingdon 4-0); Josh Chiesa, Northwestern (d Jeff Beal, Southmoreland 3-1).

189: Tim McAndrew, Harbor Creek (d Eric Herrold, Penns Valley 8-1).

215: Justin Buchanan, Sharpsville (p Fred Holly, Pottstown 4:39).

285: Jeff Pollard, Fairview (p Josh Krupa, Bedford 2:23); Mitch Straight, Eisenhower (p Zack Reefer, Elderton 4:41); Phil Catrucco, Sharpsville (p Ethan Covalt, Penns Valley 1:07).

-- John Dudley

HERSHEY -- Shady Side Academy's Frank Martellotti became the first returning PIAA champion to lose Thursday at Giant Center, dropping a 4-3 decision to Boiling Springs' Joe Spisak in the 112-pound preliminary round.

Martellotti, last year's 103-pound champ, rebounded with a 4-2 win over Reynolds' Adam Matthews to remain alive for a medal.

-- John Dudley

HERSHEY -- Seven District 10 wrestlers bounced back with wins in Thursday afternoon's first consolation round to remain alive for PIAA Class AA wrestling medals at Giant Center.

Here are results from the first consolation round:

Alive in consolations (1-1)

103: Tony Langdon, North East (lost d Justin Mazza, Pius X 5-0; d Mark Lobeck, Lancaster Catholic 7-2).

125: Chris Rowe, Sharpsville (lost md Austin Williams, Pen Argyl 12-2; d Bryson Brooke, Warrior Run 8-6).

135: Mike Vernille, Hickory (lost d Devon Leiby, Troy 3-2; d Phillip Macy, Littlestown 12-9).

140: Joey Nowakowski, Harbor Creek (lost d Shay Shive, Biglerville 5-2; d Dan Koppenhaver, Tri Valley 6-2).

160: Nick Lohrer, Fairview (lost d Alex Depew, Wilson Area 5-2; p Erik Frund, Southmoreland 2:38).

171: David Osborne, Eisenhower (lost d Kurt Brendel, Shady Side 8-3; d Zack Hicks, Mount Union 6-0).

215: John Apa, Hickory (lost p Justin Petersen, Palmerton 1:12; d John Kazalas, Keystone Oaks 7-3).

Eliminated (0-2)

112: Shane Rankin, Union City (lost d Aaron Schopp, Tyrone 7-0; lost tf Nick Blasone, Bermudian Springs 16-0-2:25); Adam Matthews, Reynolds (lost md Evan Henderson, United 12-1; lost d Frank Martellotti, Shady Side 4-2).

119: Christian Drain, North East (lost d Brandon Pesarchick, Shamokin 4-2; lost p Patrick Myers, Penn Cambria 3:38).

130: Ray Moritz, Maplewood (lost d Robert Blotzer, South Allegheny 5-4; lost inj. def. Zach Bryan, Juniata 4:54).

140: Josh Eckendorf, Fairview (lost d Austin Warman, Wilson Area 3-0; lost p Kevin Ryan, Mount Union 1:59).

145: Nick Bancroft, Maplewood (lost p Keith Ryan, Mount Union :34; lost p Devin O’Brien, Bermudian Springs 2:55).

152: Tyler Smith, Commodore Perry (lost p Ethan Laudermilch, NE Bradford 3:32; lost Charles Walls, Littlestown 8-3).

189: Nick Miller, Grove City (lost d Ammon Swisher, Hughesville 7-5 OT; lost d Tyler Stambaugh, Bermudian Springs 7-3).

-- John Dudley

Thursday’s results for District 10 wrestlers at the PIAA Class AA tournament in Hershey:

Championship bracket
First round
103 pounds: Mason Beckman (Reynolds) d Charlie Bise (East Pennsboro) 1-0; Justin Mazza (Pius X) d Tony Langdon (North East) 5-0.
112: Evan Henderson (United) md Adam Matthews (Reynolds) 12-1; Aaron Schopp (Tyrone) d Shane Rankin (Union City) 7-0.
119: Coty Burnett (Greenville) md Devin Cook (Bedford) 12-3; Brandon Pesarchick (Shamokin) d Christian Drain (North East) 4-2.
125: Austin Williams (Pen Argyl) md Chris Rowe (Sharpsville) 12-2; Cody Kelly (Reynolds) d Jarid Solosky (Saucon Valley) 4-2.
130: Robert Blotzer (South Allegheny) d Ray Moritz (Maplewood) 5-4; Corey Brown (Reynolds) d Mitch Spencer (Avella) 8-5.
135: Devon Leiby (Troy) d Mike Vernille (Hickory) 3-2; Jordan Moss (Sharon) d Logan Sheldon (Hyndman) 5-0.
140: Shay Shive (Biglerville) d Joey Nowakowski (Harbor Creek) 6-3; Austin Warman (Wilson Area) d Josh Eckendorf (Fairview) 3-0.
145: Sam Kuhn (Harbor Creek) md Dave Brown (Shady Side Academy) 11-3; Keith Ryan (Mount Union) p Nick Bancroft (Maplewood) :34; Justin Ferguson (Greenville) d T.J. Polacek (Westmont-Hilltop) 9-8.
152: Chris Reitz (Iroquois) d Zach Cerrone (Wellsboro) 9-7; Ethan Laudermilch (Northeast Bradford) p Tyler Smith (Commodore Perry) 3:32.
160: Alex Depew (Wilson Area) d Nick Lohrer (Fairview) 5-2; Caleb Kolb (Grove City) d Josh Lesher (Upper Dauphin) 7-5.
171: Kurt Brendel (Shady Side Academy) d David Osborne (Eisenhower) 8-3; Justin Angermeier (Mercer) d Bobby Mort (Huntingdon) 4-0; Josh Chiesa (Northwestern) d Jeff Beal (Southmoreland) 3-1.
189: Ammon Swisher (Hughesville) d Nick Miller (Grove City) 7-5 OT; Tim McAndrew (Harbor Creek) d Eric Herrold (Penns Valley) 8-1.
215: Justin Buchanan (Sharpsville) p Fred Holly (Pottstown) 4:39; Justin Peterson (Palmerton) p John Apa (Hickory) 1:12.

285: Jeff Pollard (Fairview) p Josh Krupa (Bedford) 2:23; Mitch Straight (Eisenhower) p Zack Reefer (Elderton) 4:41; Phil Catrucco (Sharpsville) p Ethan Covalt (Penns Valley) 1:07.

Consolation bracket
First round (will advance)
103 pounds: Langdon (North East) d Mark Lobeck (Lancaster Catholic) 7-2.
125: Rowe (Sharpsville) d Bryson Brooke (Warrior Run) 8-6.
135: Vernille (Hickory) d Phillip Macy (Littlestown) 12-9.
140: Nowakowski (Harbor Creek) d Dan Koppenhaver (Tri Valley) 6-2.
160: Lohrer (Fairview) p Erik Frund (Southmoreland) 2:38.
171: Osborne (Eisenhower) d Zack Hicks (Mount Union) 6-0.
215: John Apa (Hickory) d John Kazalas (Keystone Oaks) 7-3.

First round (eliminated)
112 pounds: Frank Martellotti (Shady Side Academy) d Matthews (Reynolds) 4-2; Nick Blasone (Bermudian Springs) tf Rankin (Union City) 16-0 2:25.
119: Patrick Myers (Penn Cambria) p Drain (North East) 3:38.
130: Zach Bryan (Juniata) d Moritz (Maplewood) injury default 4:54.
140: Kevin Ryan (Mount Union) p Eckendorf (Fairview) 1:59.
145: Devin O’Brien (Bermudian Springs) p Bancroft (Maplewood) 2:55.
152: Charles Walls (Littlestown) d Smith (Commodore Perry) 8-3.
189: Tyler Stambaugh (Bermudian Springs) d Miller (Grove City) 7-3.

HERSHEY -- Cathedral Prep's Rocco Wellek and Nick Milano and Strong Vincent's Edwin Taylor won preliminary round bouts Thursday to advance to the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals on Friday at Giant Center.

Complete District 10 results from the preliminary round:

Advanced to quarterfinals

125: Rocco Wellek, Cathedral Prep (d Jack Chidester, Conestoga 4-2).

160: Nick Milano, Cathedral Prep (d Justin Ortega, Oxford 1-0).

189: Edwin Taylor, Strong Vincent (d Joe Piro, Northampton 11-6).

Dropped into consolations:

103: Shelton Mack, Meadville (lost d Scott Wolfinger, Quakertown 6-4).

119: Cyrus Parlin, General McLane (lost d Robert Gribschaw, Hatboro Horsham 12-5).

135: Matt Laird, Conneaut Lake (lost d Colin Johnston, Canon-McMillan 4-3).

140: Cash Horne, Conneaut Lake (lost d Donnie Tasser, Belle Vernon 1-0).

145: Brian Greenlee, Franklin (lost d Eric Burgey, Easton 11-6).

152: Jordan Easter, Cathedral Prep (lost d Jonathan Weibel, Quakertown 4-2).

160: Michael Pollard, Corry (lost disq. Ed Shupe, Pennsbury 4:51).

215: DeAndre Bell, Strong Vincent (lost d Chris Carabello, Governor Mifflin 2-1 TB).

-- John Dudley

HERSHEY -- Corry sophomore 160-pounder Michael Pollard was disqualified from the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament on Thursday for what his coach called an inadvertent bite.

Pennsbury's Ed Shupe was leading 6-1 when the bite occurred with 1 minute, 51 seconds remaining in the third period. By rule, a flagrant misconduct was called, resulting in Pollard's automatic disqualification from the tournament.

Shupe was riding Pollard and threw a crossface and held his forearm across Pollard's nose and mouth, which was open. Corry coach Skip Laird said Pollard was unable to breathe and tried to "tap out," signaling to officials to stop the bout. When the referee allowed wrestling to continue, Pollard reached up with both hands and tried to pull Shupe's arm away, leaving bite marks on his arm.

Laird was attempting to appeal the ruling to PIAA tournament director Robert Lombardi but said he wasn't confident Pollard would be allowed to continue wrestling.

"They've already taken him out of the bracket," Laird said.

-- John Dudley

HERSHEY -- Here is the wrap-up from day one of the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament at Giant Center.

Upsets:

-- Returning 189-pound champion Nate Eachus of Hazelton lost 7-0 in the preliminaries to Matt Wilps of Chartiers Valley.

Returning champ watch:

-- Penn Trafford’s Shane Young (112), Easton’s Kegan Handlovic (119) and Jordan Oliver (130), Central Dauphin’s Walter Peppelman (145) and Bald Eagle Area’s Quentin Wright (171) all advanced to the quarterfinals.

How District 10 wrestlers fared:

Class AAA

Advanced to quarterfinals (1-0)

125: Rocco Wellek, Cathedral Prep (d Jack Chidester, Conestoga 4-2).

160: Nick Milano, Cathedral Prep (d Justin Ortega, Oxford 1-0).

189: Edwin Taylor, Strong Vincent (d Joe Piro, Northampton 11-6).

Alive in consolations (1-1)

119: Cyrus Parlin, General McLane (lost d Robert Gribschaw, Hatboro Horsham 12-5; d Zach Ulmer, Jersey Shore 10-7).

135: Matt Laird, Conneaut Lake (lost d Colin Johnston, Canon-McMillan 4-3; md Joe Marino, Garnet Valley 10-2).

140: Cash Horne, Conneaut Lake (lost d Donnie Tasser, Belle Vernon 1-0; Jonathan Hammond, Methacton 2-1 TB).

215: DeAndre Bell, Strong Vincent (lost d Chris Carabello, Governor Mifflin 2-1 TB; d Paul Conboy, Hatboro Horsham 7-4).

Eliminated (0-2)

103: Shelton Mack, Meadville (lost d Scott Wolfinger, Quakertown 6-4; lost d Ryan Bohince, Penn Trafford 5-3 OT).

145: Brian Greenlee, Franklin (lost d Eric Burgey, Easton 11-6; lost d Nick Fuschino, Owen J. Roberts 6-5).

152: Jordan Easter, Cathedral Prep (lost d Jonathan Weibel, Quakertown 4-2; lost d James Sheptock, Northampton 7-2).

160: Michael Pollard, Corry (lost disq. Ed Shupe, Pennsbury 4:51; lost forfeit Michael Wechsler, Northampton).

-- John Dudley

Friday morning’s results for District 10 wrestlers at the PIAA Class AA tournament:

Championship bracket
Quarterfinals
103 pounds: Mason Beckman (Reynolds) d David White (Athens) 3-2 4OT.
119: David Fogle (Forest Hills) d Coty Burnett (Greenville) 9-7 OT.
125: Ryan Link (Penn Cambria) d Cody Kelly (Reynolds) 3-2.
130: Colin Shober (Schuylkill Valley) d Corey Brown (Reynolds) 10-3.
135: Jordan Moss (Sharon) d Zack Wolford (Hanover) 2-1 4OT.
145: Joe Harper (Susquenita) d Sam Kuhn (Harbor Creek) 2-0; Justin Ferguson (Greenville) d T.J. Polacek (Westmont-Hilltop) 6-5.
152: Derec Sauve (Susquenita) d Chris Reitz (Iroquois) 9-4.
160: Nick Venditti (Berwick) d Caleb Kolb (Grove City) 3-1.
171: Jon Fausey (Line Mountain) d Justin Angermeier (Mercer) 10-3; Gene Baier (Montoursville) d Josh Chiesa (Northwestern) 2-0 OT.
189: Roman San Doval (Shady Side Academy) d Tim McAndrew (Harbor Creek) 6-3.
215: Dan Conley (Burgettstown) d Justin Buchanan (Sharpsville) 4-3.
285: Ziad Haddad (Bethlehem Catholic) d Jeff Pollard (Fairview) 10-3; Mitch Straight (Eisenhower) d Tyler Crawford (Wyalusing) 7-1; Phil Catrucco (Sharpsville) d Zeke Pyle (East Juniata) 6-4.

Consolation bracket
Second round (winners will medal)
103 pounds: Brian Scritchfield (Jefferson-Morgan) d Tony Langdon (North East) 5-0.
119: Burnett (Greenville) md Patrick Myers (Penn Cambria) 11-3.
125: Kelly (Reynolds) d Chris Rowe (Sharpsville) 2-0.
130: Brown (Reynolds) d Colin Sheridan (Mount Pleasant) 4-2.
135: Wolford (Hanover) d Mike Vernille (Hickory) 4-3.
140: Joey Nowakowski (Harbor Creek) d Dakota Kuhn (Boiling Springs) 3-2.
145: Kuhn (Harbor Creek) d T.J. Polacek (Westmont-Hilltop) 6-3.
152: Charles Aungst (Pine Grove) d Reitz (Iroquois) 6-1.
160: Kolb (Grove City) d Nate Ross (Canton) 5-2; Nick Lohrer (Fairview) d Myers Miller (Ligonier Valley) 6-5.
171: David Osborne (Eisenhower) d Chiesa (Northwestern) 4-1; Angermeier (Mercer) md Derek Straley (James Buchanan) 10-1.
189: Kasey Lyon (Canton) d McAndrew (Harbor Creek) 8-2.
215: Buchanan (Sharpsville) p Vincent Corden (Somerset) 3:59; John Apa (Hickory) p Dylan Major (Port Allegany) 6:15 TB.
285: Pollard (Fairview) p Will Fletcher (Palisades) 2:12.

HERSHEY -- Cathedral Prep junior Nick Milano advanced to the 160-pound semifinals of the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament on Friday at Giant Center.

Milano (41-2) beat Cumberland Valley's Mike Evans 5-4 in the quarterfinals and meets Hempfield junior Jake Kemerer (44-1) on Saturday morning. Milano has secured a top-six finish and his first state medal.

Teammate Rocco Wellek and Strong Vincent's Edwin Taylor lost quarterfinal bouts Friday afternoon.

Wellek lost 8-2 to North Allegheny's Joe Waltko and Taylor was pinned by Norwin's Mike Salopek.

Milano used two first-period takedowns to take a 4-1 lead. After Evans tied it on two escapes and a stalling call, Milano escaped in the third and fought off Evans' charges in the final 30 seconds.

Milano had beaten Evans 5-2 in their previous meeting at the PIAA team tournament last month.

-- John Dudley

HERSHEY -- Cathedral Prep semifinalist Nick Milano and four other District 10 wrestlers locked up medals Friday afternoon at the PIAA Class AAA wrestling tournament at Giant Center.

Milano beat Cumberland Valley's Mike Evans 5-4 to reach the 160-pound semifinals.

Four others won second-round consolation bouts to secure top-eight finishes.

Cathedral Prep's Rocco Wellek (125), Conneaut Lake's Matt Laird (135) and Cash Horne (140) and Strong Vincent's DeAndre Bell (215) will wrestle consolation matches Saturday morning to determine their finish. All four can finish anywhere from third through eighth.

Milano is assured of a top-six finish.

The five medalists are the most for D-10 in Class AAA since 2004.

-- John Dudley

LEWISBURG -- Roman Stefanelli didn’t mean to sound smug. Still, the McDowell diving coach felt three of this season’s District 10 titlists should offer thanks to the fourth for part of their success.

Stefanelli’s commented on Kaitlyn Karl moments after Trojans senior was eliminated from Wednesday’s PIAA Class AAA girls division 1-meter diving competition. Karl, a two-time District 10 champion, struck her right ankle on the board during a backwards somersault attempt.

Karl completed her final dive in the semis, but bowed out in 18th place. She finished sixth in the 2007 AAA event.

McDowell teammate Robert Freeling will get his chance at state glory Thursday afternoon. Harbor Creek’s Brittany DiSanti will dive Friday in the AA girls competition and newcomer Mac Lewis of North East is one of 24 entries for the AA boys.

“Robert, Brittany and Mac all learned by watching Kaitlyn,” Stefanelli said. “She’s meant a lot to us and she’s helped teach a lot of younger divers too.”

-- Mike Copper

Leave a message to wish the Mercyhurst Prep girls basketball team good luck Saturday in the PIAA Class AAA championship game.

McDowell sophomore Bob Freeling qualified for the PIAA Class AAA boys diving competition as the District 10 champion. Freeling didn’t know what to expect when he left for Bucknell University.
Check that. He knew one thing.
Don’t expect any generous regular-season scores from the judges.
“You could tell that from the (AAA) girls competition,” Freeling said. “They threw low scores at everybody. The first seed qualified with (542.25 points) and she won with (460.65).”
Samantha Pickens of Franklin Regional defended her 1-meter title Wednesday. Pickens’ qualifying score was more than 25 points over the recognized state record of 517.20, set by Penn Hills’ Jennifer O’Brien in 1999.
PIAA swimming and diving records must be set at the state meet.
McDowell’s Kaitlyn Karl finished 18th Wednesday in her final scholastic meet. Freeling was glad that Karl, a two-time district champ, was part of the Trojans’ contingent.
“She really motivated me a lot through this whole time,” he said. “Not all the swimmers really know what’s going on (with diving). If you have another diver with you, it’s really helpful.”
Freeling finished 24th with 110.95 points. He began the meet seeded 22nd with his district-winning total of 323.85.

--- Mike Copper

Maggie Glass said she was overwhelmed when she strode into the Kinney Natatorium for the start of Thursday’s PIAA Class AA swimming and diving meet. The Fairview freshman had qualified for the 50-yard freestyle and anchored for the Tigers’ 200 freestyle relay team.

But with performances like she had in preliminaries, Fairview coach J.R. Jensen probably hopes Glass maintains her inferiority complex.

Glass made her state debut in the 50 free, where she qualified for tonight’s consolation final at 24.84. She then got Tiger veterans Mallory Waldinger, Lauren Morosky and Kristen Miller into the championship race with a collective time of 1:40.35.

“It was extremely intimidating,” Glass said after the morning session. “Everybody here is extremely fast and they deserve to be here.”

Glass was the second member of her family who qualified for states. Her brother, Elliot, placed 17th in the boys AA 1-meter diving competition in 2007.

-- Mike Copper

Maggie Glass said she was overwhelmed as she strode into the Kinney Natatorium for the start of Thursday’s PIAA Class AA swimming and diving meet. The Fairview freshman had qualified for states in the the 50-yard freestyle and also anchored the Tigers’ 200 freestyle relay team.

The way she performed in the preliminaries, Fairview coach J.R. Jensen probably hopes Glass maintains her inferiority complex.

Glass opened in the 50 free, where she qualified for tonight’s consolation final at 24.84. She then got Tiger veterans Mallory Waldinger, Lauren Morosky and Kristen Miller into the championship race with a collective time of 1:40.35.

“It was extremely intimidating,” Glass said after the morning session. “Everybody here is extremely fast and they deserve to be here.”

Glass was the second member of her family who qualified for states. Her brother, Elliot, placed 17th in the boys AA 1-meter diving competition in 2007.

-- Mike Copper

District 10 didn’t have a medalist in Friday's Class AA girls 1-meter diving competition. But it did have an unexpected entry in the championship rounds.
Oil City sophomore Amy Dorow survived the cut twice and placed 13th with 335.15 points. Dorow outlasted returning state qualifiers Brittany DiSanti of Harbor Creek and Jacquelyn Kerr of Titusville.
“There were a lot of nerves, but this was fun,” Dorow said. “I just wanted to make it to the finals and that’s what I did.”
DiSanti, the district champion, finished 18th with an even 239 points. The junior finished 12th last season at Lewisburg.
Kerr never recovered after she slipped on her first attempt and failed to score. The Rockets senior bowed out in 22nd with 127.75 points

-- Mike Copper

Saturday was Nate Frye's final scholastic appearance at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium. Frye competed in the final day of the PIAA Class AA swimming and diving meet, where the Franklin senior was seeded second in the 100-yard breaststroke.
But it won't be Frye's last time at the Lewisburg pool. He'll turn laps there the next four years when he joins the Bison swimming program this fall.
"I've come here for the meet the last couple years and just fell in love with the place," Frye said. "I got a letter from one of their coaches, who said they were interested in me. When they gave me a tour of the place I said, `Yeah, I pretty much know where everything is here."
Frye was seeded second in Friday's 200 individual medley and medaled in fifth with a time of 1 minute, 57.76 seconds. He was seeded second in Saturday's 100 breast at 59.26, while Hershey freshman David Nolan was first at 58.67.

-- Mike Copper

Caitlin Lehberger of Wilmington will attempt to upset Panther Valley's Allysa Vavra in Saturday night's 100-yard breaststroke final at the PIAA Class AA swimming and diving meet.
Lehberger lived up to her seeding and qualified second with a preliminary time of 1 minute, 6.37 seconds at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium. The senior will be the lone female finalist from District 10.
Vavra, bound for the University of Virginia swimmig program, posted the best preliminary time at 1:04.84. If Lehberger can find a way to make up the difference, she would be the district's first swimming champion of any kind since 2003.

-- Mike Copper

LEWISBURG -- Corry's Jared Heine couldn't hold the top seed going into tonight's 100-yard freestyle at the PIAA Class AA swimming and diving meet. Heine, who set the District 10 record at 46.65 seconds, turned a 46.93 time during Saturday morning's preliminary heats.
Nick Hein, a local favorite from Danville, posted the best time at 46.26. The senior won the 50 free (20.95) during Friday's state finals at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium.
Franklin senior Nate Frye began the day seeded second in the 100 breaststroke (59.26). He qualified fourth for that final when he touched the wall in 59.05.
Hershey freshman David Nolan (58.81) goes into the 100 breast championship race as the favorite.
If Heine or Frye win claim gold medals, they would become the district's first PIAA swimming champion of any kind since 2003. The boys finals will start at 8 p.m.

-- Mike Copper

Go behind the scenes of the production of the Erie Times-News' weekly Varsity magazine.

Shawn Walker, General McLane's all-state senior forward, was named Times-News District 10 Basketball Player of the Year for a second straight season. When he came to the Times-News studio for the photo session, the entire shoot was video-recorded. Check it out, along with Carlos Delgado's great photos, at www.GoErie.com/video/walker.