HERSHEY – Eric Hess couldn’t imagine a more perfect way to end
his high school career.
Hess, a Benton senior, took on two-time state champion Dirk
Cowburn of Coudersport in the spotlight match of the Class AA
finals Saturday at the PIAA Wrestling Championships. He held on for
a 1-0 victory at 160 pounds for his second career gold medal.
Hess helped Benton claim the team title with 93 points, then was
voted the tournament’s outstanding wrestler to top off a dramatic
afternoon at the Giant Center.
“They’re very, very different for me,” said Hess, in comparing
this year’s victory to his title at 145 as a junior. “I’m actually
more excited about this one. Dirk’s a great wrestler. Being able to
beat him was a great experience.”
Hess never expected a high scoring match, but this one featured
just one point — Hess’ second-period escape. After that, he held on
as Cowburn desperately tried to score a reversal late in the
third.
“He’s a very, very strong wrestler,” Hess said. “It wasn’t going
to be a high scoring bout at all. You’ve just got to take every
point you can get and run with it.”
Hess, who finished the season 41-2, is headed to Lehigh
University. Cowburn, a state champ the previous two seasons who is
headed to Penn State, ended this year 48-2.
Ridgway’s Joe Chittester lost 3-2 to John Rizzo of Richland in
the 285-pound championship match. Chittester ended his career with
a 113-13 record, placing him ninth on Ridgway’s all-time wins
list.
In Class AA in the third place consolations, Nick Roberts of
North Star major decisioned Corey Bush of Ridgway 12-3 at 103
pounds and Nick Hodgkins of Wyomissing decisioned Garet Pisani of
Ridgway 2-0 at 135 pounds.
In the seventh place consolations, David Sheesley of Mifflinburg
decisioned Nate Schwab of Smethport 11-6 at 103 pounds and Zack
Zelcs of Ridgway pinned Luke DeLuise of Pius X in 4:03 at 171
pounds.
In the Class AAA semifinals at 215 pounds, Spencer Myers of
Selinsgrove won by technical pin over Sean Sadosky of St. Marys,
15-0. Sadosky then lost 6-3 to Joe Stolfi of Souderton in the
fourth round consolations. In the fifth round consolations, Sadosky
decisioned Taray Carey of Whitehall, 8-3.
CLASS AAA
Team Scoring
1. Central Mountain 89, 2. Blue Mountain 78, 3. Central Dauphin
74, 4. Council Rock South 51, 5. (tie) Cumberland Valley 45,
LaSalle 45, 7. Canon-McMillan 43, 8. (tie) Bethlehem Liberty 41.5,
Nazareth 41.5, 10. Derry 37.5.
Championship matches
103 – Connor Schram, Canon-McMillan dec. Austin Miller,
Hempfield (Dist. 3), 2-1 UTB.
112 – Jimmy Gulibon, Derry Area dec. Corey Keener, Blue
Mountain, 12-5.
119 – Nico Megaludis, Franklin Regional dec. Anthony Marino,
Bethlehem Liberty, 8-4.
125 – Mitchell Port, Bellefonte dec. Zach Horan, Nazareth,
6-3.
130 – Steve Spearman, Erie McDowell dec. Tyler Buckman, Central
Dauphin, 7-6.
135 – Josh Dziewa, Council Rock South dec. Shawn Greevy,
Cumberland Valley, 1:28.
140 – Josh Kindig, Blue Mountain dec. Lorenzo Thomas, Central
Catholic, 8-3.
145 – Andrew Alton, Central Mountain dec. Aaron McKinney, West
Allegheny, 23-8, 5:46.
152 – Dylan Alton, Central Mountain dec. Shane Springer,
LaSalle, 11-4.
160 – Marshall Peppelman, Central Dauphin pinned Troy Reaghard,
West Allegheny, 3:02.
171 – Kenny Courts, Central Dauphin dec. Tristan Warner,
Cumberland Valley, 6-4.
189 – Jamie Callender, Council Rock North dec. Andre Petroski,
Springfield, 7-5 OT.
215 – Spencer Myers, Selinsgrove dec. Zachary Nye, East
Pennsboro, 5-3.
285 – Evan Craig, Abington Heights pinned Zach Corl, Central
Mountain, 2:45.
CLASS AA
Team Scoring
1. Benton 93, 2. (tie) Shady Side Academy 64, Schuylkill Valley
64, 4. Reynolds 53.5, 5. Ridgway 47.5, 6. Athens 47, 7.
Montoursville 44.5, 8. Burrell 43, 9. Westmont-Hilltop 42, 10.
Juniata 41.
Championship matches
103 – Zain Retherford, Line Mountain dec. Brad Farley, Bermudian
Springs, 6-2.
112 – David White, Athens dec. Randy Cruz, Bethlehem Catholic,
5-3.
119 – Mason Beckman, Reynolds dec. Michael Rhone, Benton,
2-0.
125 – Tyler Small, Delone Catholic dec. Coltin Fought, Benton,
10-4.
130 – Joe Spisak, Boiling Springs dec. Frank Martellotti, Shady
Side Academy, 4-3.
135 – A.J. Schopp, Tyrone dec. Luke Frey, Montoursville,
4-2.
140 – Colin Shober, Schuylkill Valley dec. Seth Beitz, Juniata,
11-4.
145 – Nick Carr, South Fayette dec. Jordan Moss, Sharon,
6-3.
152 – Cody Wiercioch, Charleroi dec. Kyle Dehaut, Bethlehem
Catholic, 8-3.
160 – Eric Hess, Benton dec. Dirk Cowburn, Coudersport, 1-0.
171 – Matthew Cunningham, Shady Side Academy dec. Nathaniel
Brown, Lewisburg, 2-1.
189 – Stephan Ceremuga, Commodore Perry dec. Travis Chesla,
Towanda, 5-4.
215 – Eric Laytos, Lackawanna Trail pinned Matt Mongera, Seneca,
3:16.
285 – John Rizzo, Richland dec. Joe Chittester, Ridgway,
3-2.
