HERSHEY — Clearfield’s Sean Owen took the long route to the medal stand at the state championship tournament in Hershey, where he battled through the consolation bracket to finish fifth for the tournament.
Owen opened up the heavyweight bracket Thursday with a 3-2 loss in sudden death to eventual runner-up Marcus Zimmerman (Manheim Central, Sr., 34-4).
The Bison sophomore responded well, reeling off three consecutive wins to propel himself into a consolation semi-final bout with Justin Haines (Connellsville, Jr., 37-6).
Haines managed to hold on for a 1-0 win, dropping Owen to a fifth place consolation final with Michael Gesford (Hershey, So., 23-6).
Owen escaped in the second period to go up 1-0, before Gesford reversed him to his back in the third for a 4-1 advantage.
However, Owen wouldn’t go down without a fight, notching an escape and follow-up takedown to push the bout to overtime.
The two went scoreless in the first overtime, before swapping escapes in the two 30-second tiebreaker periods.
Owen scored first and chose the bottom position, where he escaped for the 6-5 sudden death victory.
Owen finished the season 35-9, with 19 wins coming by fall.
Also earning medals were DuBois seniors Nick Wykoff (38-5) and Zach Lundgren (36-9) at 112 and 160 pounds, respectively.
Wykoff defeated Pat May (Downingtown West, Jr., 43-5) 8-2 to take seventh, while Lundgren fell 6-4 to Thad Frick (Nazareth, Sr., 47-3) to place eighth.
Championship Finals
103 Shane Young, Penn Trafford, dec. Mark Rappo, Council Rock South, 5-2
112 Kegan Handlovic, Easton, dec. Taylor Brown, Emmaus, 7-4
119 Jordan Oliver, Easton, dec. Nic Bedelyon, Indian Valley, 4-1
125 Corey Houser, Governor Mifflin, dec. Colin Johnston, Canon McMillan, 13-8
130 Tyler Nauman, Middletown, pinned Marshall Peppleman, Central Dauphin, 5:00
135 Walter Peppleman, Central Dauphin, dec. Mike Greck, Nazareth, 7-2
140 Zack Kemmerer, Upper Perkiomen, dec. Tony Dallago, Central Dauphin, 13-6
145 Nick Nelson, Shaler, dec. Steve Bosak, State College, 7-3
152 Tim Darling, Nazareth, dec. Ryan Goodman, Greater Latrobe, 2-1 OT TB
160 Quentin Wright, Bald Eagle Area, dec. Matt Ryan, Canon McMillan, 6-3
171 Rob Waltko, North Allegheny, dec. A.J. Brentzel, Penn Trafford, 6-3
189 Nate Eachus, Hazleton, dec. David Crowell, Nazareth, 9-7
215 Justin Wieller, Northampton, dec. Jordan Enck, Manheim Central, 6-4
285 Steve Santia, Hempfield Area, pinned Marcus Zimmerman, Manheim Central, 1:54
Finals — Third Place
103 Desmond Moore, Easton, dec. Simon Rice, Central Dauphin, 6-4 OT
112 Matt Snyder, Lewistown, dec. Chris Albright, Red Lion, 4-1
119 Chris Sheetz, Upper Perkiomen, dec. Chris Kochinsky, Middletown, 7-1
125 Jonathon Crawford, Lower Dauphin, dec. Matt Scherich, McGuffey, 6-1
130 Andrew Alton, Central Mountain, pinned Grant Lowther, Trinity, :17
135 Bryan Ortenzio, Cedar Cliff, dec. Josh Long, Middletown, 5-1
140 James Fleming, West Mifflin, dec. Andrew Ritchie, Nazareth, 7-0
145 Mallie Shuster, Big Spring, dec. Grant Paswall, Bald Eagle Area, 6-3
152 Brian Letters, Fox Chapel, dec. Brian Tanen, Souderton, 3-1
160 Travis Uncapher, Hempfield Area, dec. Ryan Dill, Red Land, 4-3
171 Lance Bryson, Albert Gallatin, dec. Jesse DeWan, Boyertown, 5-4
189 Mike Salopek, Norwin, dec. Austin Carter, Council Rock South, 6-4
215 Kevin Struble, Bald Eagle Area, dec. Danny Vaughan, Pittsburgh CC, 1-0
285 Justin Haines, Connellsville, dec. Brad Ladd, Dallastown, 1-0
Finals — Fifth Place
103 Mitchell Port, Bellefonte, dec. Keith Scharrer, General McLane, 1-0
112 Zach Cecchetti, Kiski Area, dec. Ken Trumbetta, Greensburg Salem, 6-3
119 Gary Atiyeh, Whitehall, dec. Nico Cortese, Hempfield Area, 3-1
125 Matt Bonson, Lewistown, dec. Zach Oberlander, Dallastown, 1-0
130 Brandon Bucher, Northern York, dec. Nick Garber, Waynesburg Central, 5-3 OT
135 Ryan Kemmerer, Upper Perkiomen, won by forfeit
140 Jarred Kane, Lower Dauphin, maj. dec. Jon Weibel, Quakertown, 10-0
145 Donnie Tasser, Belle Vernon, dec. Jake Kemerer, Hempfield Area, 1-0
152 Mike Wechsler, Northampton, dec. Christian Mory, Central Dauphin East, 4-1
160 Edward Ruth, Susquehanna Township, pinned Brad Clark, Methacton, 5:49 OT
171 Cory Getz, Warwick, dec. Marcus Wilson, Northampton, 4-3 OT RO
189 Joe Kennedy, Delaware Valley, dec. Jon Moore, Kiski Area, 2-1
215 Brandon Miller, Middletown, dec. Dan Utchel, Chartiers Valley, 6-1
285 Sean Owen, Clearfield, dec. Mike Gesford, Hershey, 6-5 OT RO
Finals — Seventh Place
103 Jordon Rich, Central Mountain, dec. Nick Rodgers, North Allegheny, 11-6
112 Nick Wykoff, Dubois, dec. Pat May, Downingtown West, 8-2
119 Steve Armor, Springfield Delco, dec. Kenny Stank, Central Dauphin, 2-1
125 Dylan Alton, Central Mountain, pinned Jake O\’Hara, Crestwood, 2:01
130 Dex Lederer, Neshaminy, dec. Rudy Chelednik, Hempfield Area, 2-0
135 Dave Cawley, North Allegheny, dec. Tony Clark, Kiski Area, 7-3
140 Jimmy Sheptock, Northampton, dec. Luke Miller, Indiana, 4-3
145 James English, Central York, dec. Colin Dailey, Easton, 2-1
152 Ethan Headlee, Waynesburg Central, dec. Robbie Robinson, Pittston, 4-2
160 Thad Frick, Nazareth, dec. Zach Lundgren, Dubois, 6-4
171 Mike Reilly, Crestwood, dec. Kevin Gerhart, Lower Dauphin, 7-3
189 Eric Fulmer, Shaler, dec. J.C. Laughlin, South Western, 5-0
215 Ray Bennett, Abington Heights, pinned T.J. Valore, Hempfield Area, 4:02
285 Eric Kush, Chartiers Valley, pinned Evan Craig, Abington Heights, 3:46