The Golden Tide 132-pounder locked up a spot on the winner’s stand when he pinned Andrew Schutz of Wyoming Area at 3:32 in the second consolation round Friday morning.
After a scoreless first period, Keller (37-5) was able to stave off a reversal attempt by Schutz (31-5) early in the second period and, after a stalemate, used his leg rides to maintain control of the District 2 champ.
Choosing the bottom position to start the third period, the three-time District 9 champion and first-time state qualifier hit a Granby Roll and immediately clamped the Northeast Region third placer in a headlock for the fall.
Schutz, a junior, was pinned at 3:45 in the championship quarterfinals earlier in the session by Southeast Region champ Laike Gardner (40-4) of Biglerville.
How high Keller places will be determined, first, by how he fares Friday evening.
The Northwest Region third placer will meet junior Seth Lansberry (40-5) of Line Mountain in the consy quarterfinals that begin at 6:30.
Lansberry defeated Schutz 9-0 in the Northeast Region semifinals last week.
He lost 1-0 in the finals to Benton junior Colt Cotten, who has pinned his way into the championship semifinals. The two also met in the District 4 finals two weeks ago, with Cotten winning 4-2.
Lansberry, who was 1-2 at 125 in last year’s state tourney, lost 5-2 to NW Region champ Dylan D’Urso of Reynolds in the morning quarterfinals after opening with a 7-0 shutout against SW-3 Josh Kwasny of Charleroi Thursday afternoon.
If Keller wins, he will meet either Cotton (35-2) or Randy Cruz (40-2) of Bethlehem Catholic in the consy semifinals later in the session.
A loss would drop him into the match for seventh place Saturday.
