MILLERSVILLE – Curwensville junior Jake Keller was named the Outstanding Wrestler for the 24th annual Penn Manor Tournament for his march through the 130-pound weight class Friday and Saturday at Penn Manor High School.
Keller capped off his strong performance with a come-from-behind 8-6 win over defending champion and 2010 state qualifier Bobby Rehm of the host team.
Golden Tide coach Duane Wriglesworth rated it as one of the most exciting matches of the finals, pitting strength and skill against technique and finesse.
Keller surrendered the initial takedown but stood for a quick escape.
He just missed a go-ahead takedown at the end of the first period and then fell behind 6-1 when Rehm worked a tripod Peterson Roll for a reversal and near fall, according to Wriglesworth.
“That didn’t deter Jake as he rebounded with his own reversal and two near fall points from a negotiated leg-tilt combination,” Wriglesworth said.
In the third period, Keller came off the bottom and then countered Rehm’s takedown attempt to earn the deciding two-pointer.
Keller had advanced by pinning Anthony Dill of Upper Moreland at 5:10, doubling up Derek Rothermel of West Chester Rustin 10-5 and decking Drew Jackson of Pequea Valley in 3:00.
“Jake faced a strong, intensive bracket littered with high-caliber opponents,” Wriglesworth said.
Proof of that was Rothermel battling back through the consolation rounds to claim third place with a 9-2 victory over Jackson, which undoubtedly factored into the OW voting.
“Jake is very deserving of this award,” Wriglesworth said. “It is great to see someone overcome adversity and succeed. He is one of the hardest working guys I’ve been around.
“I am sure he will enjoy this accolade and then start preparing for his next contest.”
Senior 189-pounder Kyle Kyler was the only other Golden Tide wrestler to win his first bout, pinning Panther Valley’s John Horvath in 1:41.
In the quarterfinals, Kyler was a 40-second fall victim of Upper Moreland’s highly-regarded John Bolich, a Lehigh recruit who placed seventh at 160 in last season’s PIAA Class AAA Tournament. Bolich, the PanAm Games gold medalist at 187.5 during the summer, went on to win the title. He major decisioned reigning District 9 Class AA champ Jacob Shields of Brookville 14-3 in the finals.
Kyler was beaten 8-4 by Chris Grimm of John Carroll (Md.) in the third round of consolations.
Matching his 1-2 record was freshman 112-pounder Tyler Mays, who beat Brookville’s Brady Mineweaser 5-0 in the consolation second round after being pinned in 2:22 by eventual third-placer Eric Wertz of Solanco.
Seven Golden Tide matmen bowed out at 0-2.
“The team, as a whole, gained some valuable experience as they scrapped against a mostly physical representation of quality District 3 (and District 1) AAA and AA competition,” Wriglesworth said.
Curwensville will put its 1-0 dual meet record on the line against West Branch at Allport Thursday.
TEAM STANDINGS AND KEY
1. West Chester Rustin (WCR), 212.5 points; 2. Spring Grove (SG), 178; 3. Brookville (B), 161; 4. Garden Spot (GS), 154.5; 5. Governor Mifflin (GM), 142.5; 6. Solanco (S), 138; 7. Penn Manor (PM), 99.5; 8. Washington (W), 97; 9. East Pennsboro (90.5); 10. Northern (N), 66; 11. Lancaster Catholic (LC), 65; 12. Pequea Valley (PeV), 64; 13. West Chester Henderson (WCH), 58; 14. Elco (E), 56; 15. Upper Moreland (UM), 55.5, 16. Pius X, 53, 17. Lampeter-Strasburg (L-S), 47; 18. John Carroll, Md. (JC) 42.5; 19. (tie) Curwensville (C) and Panther Valley (PaV), 32.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
103 – Zach Clingan, SG, dec. Tyler Cross, W, 8-4.
112 – Corey McQuiston, WCR, dec. Colin Ochs, GM, 5-2.
119 – Evan Harkins, WCH, dec. Kenny Arentz, GM, 4-3 (OT).
125 – Brock Zacherl, B, dec. Tim Beegle, GS, 11-4.
130 – Jake Keller, C, dec. Bobby Rehm, PM, 8-6.
135 – Zach Ross, N, major dec. Codi Rothermel, WCR, 12-2.
140 – Dan Neff, S, pinned Dylan Ceravalo, W, 2:49.
145 – Trey Duncan, SG, dec. Kieth Stednitz, GM, 8-1.
152 – Greg Thurston, WCR, pinned Will Dill, UM, 4:36.
160 – Michael Shermot, GM, dec. Kyle Hoch, WCR, 4-3.
171 – Connor Moran, S, dec. Mitch Ball, PeV, 8-5.
189 – John Bolich, UM, major dec. Jacob Shields, B, 14-3.
215 – Zach Nye, EP, dec. Neal Grudi, SG, 8-2.
285 – Evan Singleton, PM, dec. Mark Muscari, WCH, 6-2.
THIRD-PLACE CONSOLATION FINALS
103 – Josh Nichter, WCH, dec. Dante Albanese, PX, 7-3.
112 – Evan Wertz, S, pinned Nick O’Donnell, PeV, 2:41.
119 – Nick Cook, GS, dec. Jonathan Wimer, W, 4-0.
125 – Charlie Bise, EP, won by forfeit over Kyle Demain, GM.
130 – Derek Rothermel, WCR, dec. Drew Jackson, PeV, 9-2.
135 – Brodie Zacherl, B, dec. Neal O’Malley, GS, 6-5.
140 – Brett Smith, B, pinned James McElroy, PM, 2:21.
145 – Zach Vroman, B, dec. Steve Loiseau, LC, 5-1.
152 – Dylan Zimmerman, B, dec. Dakoda Leid, GS, 3-1.
160 – Austin Klucker, EP, dec. Ben Swarr, GS, 6-2.
171 – Tyler Wood, WCR, major dec. Micah Skubon, w, 12-3.
189 – Anthony Huber, GS, dec. Jeff Pickel, L-S, 4-3 (OT).
215 – Thomas Haines, S, major dec. Logan Stout, B, 14-0.
285 – Steve Kayler, E, dec. Trevor Cogar, SG, 6-4.
CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS
130 – Keller, C, pinned Jackson, PeV, 3:00.
CONSOLATION THIRD ROUND
112 – Austin Reynolds, W, pinned Tyler Mays, C, 3:01.
189 – Chris Grimm, JC, dec. Kyle Kyler, C, 8-4.
CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTERFINALS
130 – Keller, C, dec. Rothermel, WCR, 10-5.
189 – Bolich, N, pinned Kyler, C, :40.
CONSOLATION SECOND ROUND
112 – Mays, C, dec. Brady Mineweaser, B, 5-0.
119 – Austin Stetler, PM, pinned Greg Koptchak, C, 3:31.
125 – Joe Dalessandro, GM, dec. Trey McKenzie, C, 8-1.
135 – Mark Griffin, WCH, pinned Alex Holt, C, 4:00.
145 – Alex Sorce, PM, pinned Austin Pollick, C, 4:30.
152 – Michael Orner, N, major dec. Hunter McCracken, C, 9-0.
CHAMPIONSHIP SECOND ROUND
112 – Wertz, S, pinned Mays, C, 2:22.
119 – Cook, GS, pinned Koptchak, C, 5:20.
125 – Dakota Laughman, SG, pinned McKenzie, C, 1:06.
130 – Keller, C, pinned Anthony Dill, UM, 5:10.
135 – Ross, N, pinned Holt, C, 1:32.
145 – Duncan, SG, pinned Pollick, C, 1:02.
152 – Ben Moyer, E, pinned McCracken, C, 5:18.
189 – Kyler, C, pinned John Horvath, PaV, 1:41.
CONSOLATION FIRST ROUND
140 – Dakota Janney, N, major dec. Nate Wriglesworth, 10-2.
160 – Matt Miller, L-S, pinned Jason Baker, C, :56.
CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND
140 – Zach Zimmerman, LC, dec. Wriglesworth, C, 7-1.
160 – Tom Redd, LC, pinned Baker, C, 2:48.
