Flomajor 10 - 2012 PoweradeDec 29, 2012 by Willie Saylor
Night of Amazing Finals Crescendos with Marsteller-Wiercioch
Night of Amazing Finals Crescendos with Marsteller-Wiercioch
Edge-Of-Your-Seat Finals Crescendos with #1-#2
Willie Saylor, Editor
When half of the twenty-eight finalists are ranked in the Top 5 in the nation, you have a pretty good idea you’re going to see some good wrestling.
But what the packed crowd witnessed during the Powerade finals was beyond what anyone could imagine.
#1-Chance Marsteller and #2-Cody Wiercioch ended in grande finale form that would make Fourth of July jealous. But there was so much more. Several times throughout the night I turned to Bader while announcing and whispered, “That’s our Match of the Week.”
#5-Russ Parsons and #4-Anthony Collica had about the most exciting 2-1 overtime match possible. #3-Matt Kolodzik came back from 4-point deficit to undo an upset bid from #5-Sam Krivus. #14-Josh Shields continued his upward arc in a nail-biter against #10-Dylan Milonas.
All along the way there were close calls, near calls, ohh’s and ahh’s.
It wasn’t necessary the score on the scoreboard, but how it played out.
Special tip-of-the-cap to the Western Pa fans who packed the place and who were passionate and wrestling savvy. The atmosphere was electric.
Special tip-of-the-cap to the Western Pa fans who packed the place and who were passionate and wrestling savvy. The atmosphere was electric.
Below we’ll give a brief on each match. Check the coverage page for finals’ videos which are uploading as we speak.
182lbs:
#11-Sr. Dakota DesLauriers, Burrell, Pa dec. HM-Sr. Addison Knepshield, Blair Academy, NJ, 3-1
Notes: DesLauriers scored on a beautiful knee pull mid way through in what was the only takedown. But at the buzzer, Knepshield, who has been wrestling great with placings at Ironman and Beast, hit an inside trip that many thought were ‘2’.
195lbs:
#4-Sr. Frank Mattiace, Blair Academy, NJ dec. HM-Sr. Jake Hart, Hampton, Pa, 3-2, UTB.
Notes: Things started off slow with each guy really only taking one committed shot through regulation. But things got interesting in OT where Mattiace nearly had a takedown on the edge.
Hart almost had a reversal from bottom in his OT portion, but settled for the escape. Mattiace had choice in Ultimate Tie Break and escaped immediately.
220lbs:
#2-Sr. Kyle Snyder, Good Counsel, Md md. #3-Jr. Thomas Haines, Solanco, Pa, 16-6
Notes: Coming in to a rematch from Super 32 won by Snyder, many thought Haines would close the gap in the second go ‘round. But Snyder was dominant from start to finish. It’s a must-watch for his level wrestling at such a young age.
HWT:
#2-Sr. Brooks Black, Blair Academy, NJ md. Sr. Daryl Hicks, Ripley, WV, 12-3
Notes: You have to hand it to Hicks, who battled. But Black is wrestling at an unreal level right now. He had Hicks off balance in controlling ties and looking for footsweeps.
106lbs:
#4-Fr. Luke Pletcher, Greater Latrobe, Pa dec. HM-So. Devan Brown, Saegarstown, Pa, 7-1
Notes: Pletcher scored moments in to the bout and never looked back. When you watch the video, pay attention for a sweet little overtie shrug when Brown ties up only for a split second.
113lbs:
#11-Jr. Ethan Lizak, Parkland, Pa dec. HM-So. Jordan Allen, Huntington, WV, 5-2
Notes: Allen came in hot, beating both HM-Cavallo and #15-Chaz Tucker. But Lizak controlled the bout the entire time. He scored on two high crotches and smothered Allen on top with legs and a crab ride.
120lbs:
#3-So. Matt Kolodzik, Blair Academy, NJ dec. #5-So. Sam Krivus, Hempfield, Pa, 8-5
Notes: Two of the top 120’s in the country had a really weird bout. Krivus dominated early, getting in on several shots. He converted one and got a flee call on another.
In the waning moments of the bout, Kolodzik got in deep and stuck Krivus on his back when he tried to pass a leg.
126lbs:
#5-Sr. Connor Schram, Canon-Mac, Pa inj. def. #13-So. Mike Kemerer, Franklin Regional, Pa
Notes: In a monster bracket with two other Top 5 wrestlers (McKenna and Diehl), Schram looked great. He scored early on a shifty duck under.
Later he hit a blast double that everyone in the building was talking about. In doing so, Kemerer was injured and the match was over.
132lbs:
#4-Jr. Jason Nolf, Kittaning, Pa dec. Jr. Tyler Smith, Franklin Regional, Pa, 10-5
Notes: Nolf avenged his only Super 32 loss (to Gustafson) in the semi’s. And in the finals, he was firing on all cylinders.
138lbs:
#1-Sr. Zain Retherford, Benton, Pa dec. #8-Fr. Mason Manville, Blair Academy, NJ, 2-0
Notes: The third meeting between these two in the last couple months was a tight one. Neither was close to scoring from their feet. The only points came via a 2nd period Zain reversal. Manville took neutral in the 3rd.
145lbs:
#14-So. Josh Shields, Franklin Regional, Pa dec. #10-Jr. Dylan Milonas, Blair Academy, NJ, 4-3
Notes: Shields has been quietly improving. And he was clicking this weekend, beating Colt Cotton (who he lost to at Ironman) and then, in the finals, getting in on shot after shot on one of the nation’s best in Milonas.
The ending was quiet dramatic though, as Milonas was in deep at the end and Shields looked like him might let his lead slip away. Tense moments. Gotta see the end.
152lbs:
#5-Sr. Russ Parsons, Blair Academy, NJ dec. #4-Sr. Anthony Collica, Solon, OH, 2-1 RO
Notes: 2-1. Sounds boring, right? Watch the tape.
In a match for the #4 spot, we witnessed unbelievable shots, scrambling, flurries, and heart exhibited by both guys. Several times we thought we were watching a scoring sequence happen. And several times we were amazed by their craftiness. Unreal.
160lbs:
HM-Jr. Zack Zavatsky, Greater Latrobe, Pa dec. HM-Jr. Zach Voytek, Greensburg-Salem, Pa, 2-0
Notes: Zavatsky, one of the country’s most unsung talents, got started early with a first period takedown. But that would be the only scoring as the two rode each other out the rest of the way.
170lbs:
#1-Jr. Chance Marsteller, Kennard Dale, Pa dec. #2-Sr. Cody Wiercioch, Canon-Mac, Pa, 3-2 UTB
Notes: Where to begin in a match that had the packed gym hanging on the edge of their seats?
Marsteller started off the first half of the match with his patented offense of heavy hands and creating angles. Several times he was in super deep. He just couldn’t convert on Wiercioch, who Houdini’ed his way out of danger time and time again.
In the second half of the match, it was Wiercioch’s turn. He got in deep on a high crotch/peek out that seemed to give him the confidence to go back to it. On at least two occasions, he had Chance split on the edge, but couldn’t convert.