HERSHEY – Ridgway’s Nikko Leitzel is 10 pounds heavier this
year, but he’s more than ready to win his second PIAA Class AA
wrestling crown.
Thursday, in first round action, the unbeaten Leitzel decisioned
Matt Deputy of Bedford, 3-0, in their 140-pound match. The Elker
wrestler is now 43-0 on the season.
Last year Leitzel won the state title at 130 pounds.
Also winning his first round match on Thursday was Cameron Moran
from Kane with a major decision at 125 pounds. He was the state
runner-up at 103 pounds in 2005.
Smethport’s Dan Blair won by major decision at 103 pounds,
Leitzel’s teammate, Colby Pisani, recorded a 6-3 decision at 135
pounds, and Oswayo Valley’s Zeke Drake was a 6-2 decision winner at
160.
Action continues today and Saturday at Hershey.
First Round
103 – Derek Leiby, Troy dec. Garet Pisani, Ridgway, 5-1; Dan
Blair, Smethport major dec. Caleb Lomax, Montoursville, 8-0.
112 – Evan Yenolevich, Northwestern Lehigh major dec. Derek
Konen, Ridgway, 9-0.
119 – Cameron Moran, Kane major dec. Colin Sheridan, Mt.
Pleasant, 12-1.
125 – Tyler Hain, Warrior Run dec. Nick Nichols, Port Allegany,
4-3.
130 – Adam Hluschak, Northern Lehigh dec. Brock Leitzel,
Ridgway, 6-1.
135 – Colby Pisani, Ridgway dec. Kyle Patton, Westmont Hilltop,
6-3.
140 – Scott Davis, Lake-Lehman dec. Dirk Cowburn, Coudersport,
4-2; Nikko Leitzel, Ridgway dec. Matt Deputy, Bedford, 3-0.
160 – Zeke Drake, Oswayo Valley dec. Vance Meyers, Huntingdon,
6-2.
171 – Cory Beaver, Littllestown major dec. Matt Mix, Kane,
11-2.
189 – Jason Kylor, Huntingdon dec. Jerico Weitzel, Ridgway, 2-1
TB.
First Round Consolations
103 – Garet Pisani, Ridgway dec. Bryan Smith, Bethlehem
Catholic, 6-0.
125 – Nick Nichols, Port Allegany dec. Zack Sheridan, Mt.
Pleasant, 7-1.
130 – Brock Leitzel, Ridgway dec. Nate Gross, Brandywine
Heights, 8-6.
140 – Dirk Cowburn, Coudersport dec. Clifton Hardison, Milton
Hershey, 4-0.
171 – Matt Mix, Kane dec. Matt Sullivan, Mahanoy Area, 6-2.
189 – Jerico Weitzel, Ridgway pinned Nic Harr, Mt. Pleasant,
3:23
