Tyrone junior Kyle Scott (189 lbs) had a roller-coaster ride through the Regional round of the PIAA AA Wrestling Tournament at the Altoona Area High School field house last weekend.
As many who follow District 6 wrestling expected, Scott finished second at regionals and qualified for States.
What wasn’t expected was the trouble Scott ran into during the semifinal round against training partner Brady Brown from Derry Area and the exciting near-upset Scott almost pulled off in the championship bout against tournament favorite Caleb Close.
Scott started the tournament hot, defeating Wyatt Markovich from South Park by fall with 15 seconds left in the first period.
After dog-walking Wyatt Markovich in the second round, Scott faced off against Chestnut Ridge’s Jayden Imler.
After falling behind Imler early, Scott came back and won by an 8-4 decision, setting himself up for a run at the championship the next day.
“That was pretty scrappy. This guy here is a freaking stud,” Scott told the Altoona Mirror about his bout with Imler. “I don’t know if I can work on anything. I just have to be prepared for tomorrow.”
Heading into day two, Scott faced off against long-time wrestling buddy Brady Brown from Derry Area.
The bout was a hard-fought victory ending in a 2-1 decision.
“Brady’s tough,” Scott told the Altoona Mirror. “He’s one of my good friends. We train together sometimes. It just came down to being tough on top again, so I had to ride him out. I was riding him in the third period, and I could feel him starting to break.”
After sifting through the bracket, Scott met long-time rival Caleb Close of BEA in the finals.
Close has been Scott’s nemesis all season long. The two had met on three occasions this season, with Close winning them all.
Rather than changing his wrestling, Scott focused more heavily on his mentality, trying to get over the mental block keeping him from defeating this rival.
“It’s been more about the off-mat stuff. I’ve been really working on my mindset and mentally seeing where I’m at. I think I’m in a good spot right now where I feel pretty good. I can go out there and wrestle now,” Scott said to the Altoona Mirror.
Scott started slow offensively and dug himself a 14-2 hole at one point in the 3rd period.
But Scott never gave up. He got his first takedown of the bout in the third period and got Close on his back.
Scott was rewarded four back points and a near pin with a questionable no-call by the official.
Close just managed to get off his back and hold his ground the rest of the match, securing the 14-9 victory against Scott despite the late match comeback.
“I gave it my all,” Scott said. “I thought this was my best match against him yet, but I’m looking ahead to States now.”
Scott will wrestle in the state tournament at Hershey March 6-8th, determined to make a run in the bracket and hopefully face Close one last time in the championship if both competitors win out.
Sophomore Kyler Suhoney (172 lbs) was the other Tyrone wrestler who made it to Regionals. He was a surprise Regional qualifier for Tyrone with a 6th-place finish in the district tournament.
With two early victories in the round of 16 and the quarter-finals, Suhoney secured his spot and qualified for regionals despite losing his next 3 matches.
Suhoney was the 16 seed and had to wrestle the 17 seed, with the winner getting into the round of 16 and having to wrestle the 1-seeded Jackson Angelo from Frazier.
Sadly, Suhoney couldn’t pull out the win, losing by fall against Cooper Porter of Myersdale.
This disappointing loss moved Suhoney into the consolation bracket, where he would still have the chance to win out and place third at best.
Suhoney went into his second match with hopes of moving on and gathering enough wins to place 7th or better and move on to States.
In Suhoney’s consolation match, he wrestled the 15 seed, Ethan Miller of Greensburg Salem.
Suhoney was defeated by pin once again, eliminating himself from the tournament.
Although the season didn’t end the way he would’ve liked it to, Suhoney showed a lot of heart and determination throughout the tournament, gave it his all, and made it this far.
“Every match is a step forward in learning and improving. I look to come back next year even stronger and get the job done,” said Suhoney.
McCort sets records
Bishop McCort set regional tournament records for points (314), champions (seven), and state qualifiers (12) in the tournament. The Crimson Crushers won the team title by 205.5 points over second-place Derry (108.5).
TEAM KEY
A–Avella; AVON–Avonworth; BEA–Bald Eagle Area; BED–Bedford; BENT–Bentworth; BB–Berlin Brothersvalley; BC–Beth-Center; BURG–Burgettstown; BURR–Burrell; CH–Cambria Heights; CAR–Carlynton; C–Central; CC–Central Cambria; CV–Central Valley; CHART–Chartiers Houston; CR–Chestnut Ridge; CK–Claysburg-Kimmel; CT–Conemaugh Township; DA–Derry Area; EF–Elizabeth Forward; E–Everett; EC–Elwood City; FC–Fort Cherry; FH–Forest Hills; FRA–Frazier; FA–Freedom Area; G–Glendale; HIGH–Highlands; H–Huntingdon; JM–Jefferson Morgan; J–Juniata; KO–Keystone Oaks; K–Knoch; L–Laurel; MC–Marion Center; MCG–McGuffey; M–Meyersdale; MV–Moshannon Valley; MP–Mount Pleasant; MU–Mount Union; NA–Neighborhood Academy; NB–Northern Bedford; NS–North Star; PC–Penn Cambria; PO–Philipsburg-Osceola; PV–Penns Valley; QV–Quaker Valley; RV–River Valley; S–Somerset; SOUTH–Southmoreland; SP–South Park; SA–Summit Academy; TM–Tussey Mountain; T–Tyrone; U–United; V–Valley; W–Washington; WG–West Greene; WH–Westmont Hilltop
TOP 20 TEAM STANDINGS
1. Bishop McCort 314; 2. Derry Area 108.5; 3. Chestnut Ridge 99; 4. Bald Eagle Area 98.5; 5. Burrell 90.5; 6. Penns Valley 75; 7. McGuffey 65.5; 8. Frazier 58; 9. Somerset 56; 10. Huntingdon and United 53.5; 12. Bentworth 51; 13. Elizabeth Forward 44.5; 14. Laurel 39; 15. Tussey Mountain 36.5; 16. Northern Bedford 31; 17. Central Cambria and Quaker Valley 30.5; 19. Moshannon Valley, Richland, and Freedom 29.
QUARTERFINALS
107–Santamaria, TM, tech fall E. Lisowski, PV, 18-1, 5:02; Sholly, H, dec. Simmons, BURG, 5-4; Weyandt, CR, dec. Chambers, HIGH, 9-6; K. Bassett, CR, tech fall Ang. Boni, CV, 19-4, 1:54; 114–Mull, CR, dec. Hummel, PO, 13-8; Dinges, PV, won by injury default over Anderchak, QV, :01; Bubash, EF, tech fall Replogle, NB, 21-5, 3:39; E. Herring, BM, pinned Ealy, MCG, 3:13; 121–Deputy, CR, tech fall Main, MCG, 21-6, 3:39; Thomas, BURR, maj. dec. Myers, PV, 10-2; Kosanovic, AVON, tech fall Smith, BB, 17-1, 4:48; Guenot, BEA, dec. Bateman, DA, 4-1; 127–Carlile, PV, dec. Niebauer, CC, 17-11; Clouse, NB, pinned Gable, PO, 2:59; Tinsman, MC, maj. dec. Willey, CR, 11-0; Ant. Boni, CV, dec. Carfley, BM, 2-1; 133–Forrest, BM tech fall Stewart, BURR, 18-3, 1:01; McClure, BENT, pinned Katus, BURG, 3:21; Judice, BEA, maj. dec. Valentine, S, 12-0; Mucci, DA, dec. Wolfe, MCG, 7-3; 139–Lomison, BEA, dec. Barr, MCG, 9-8; Bracken, U, pinned Klim, DA, :38; Bertucci, BURR, pinned B. Durst, BB, 5:00; S. Herring, BM, pinned Danna, QV, 3:09; 145–B. Bassett, BM, pinned Wtorkiewicz, MP, :36; Ickes, CR, pinned Filak, PC, 1:24; Garshnick, U, pinned Shaffer, BB, :36; Boyer, EF, maj. dec. Perkins, V, 13-0
152–Magro, BM, tech fall McCray, FA, 17-1, 3:49; Erdly, FRA, maj. dec. Newman, MCG, 9-0; Zanella, BURR, pinned Carr, L, 3:55; Horwat, DA, tech fall Noyes, BURG, 21-5, 2:15; 160–Miller, BM, tech fall Palko, JM, 19-4, 3:38; Celaschi, FRA, maj. dec. Catullo, BURR, 13-3; Olson, DA, dec. B. Lisowski, PV, 4-1; Ivcic, BENT, pinned Eckenrode, CH, 4:19; 171–Angelo, FRA, dec. Reifer, MV, 11-4; O’Farrill, BM, pinned Richey, QV, 4:17; Lacinski, BURR, dec. Clark, H, 8-5 OT; Masood, TM, tech fall Flickinger, RV, 15-0, 3:45; 189–Close, BEA, pinned Mahla, R, 1:29; Williams, FA, tech fall Peruso, H, 16-1, 5:17; Scott, T, dec. Imler, CR, 8-4; Brown, DA, dec. Pensiero, BM, 10-5; 215–Welsh, FC, dec. Lobb, MV, 11-4; Ryan, MU, pinned Shannon, SOUTH, :40; Hagans, S, maj. dec. Sudor, CAR, 11-0; Erdman, H, pinned Carlson, L, 3:48; 285–Holmes, S, tech fall Audi, R, 17-0, 2:39; Rodriguez, BM, dec. Barbisch, CAR, 6-5; McCoy, WH, dec. Rusilko, BENT, 4-0; Whyte, WG, pinned Cunningham, SP, 5:53.
SEMIFINALS
107–Santamaria, TM, tech fall Sholly, H, 19-1, 2:51; K. Bassett, BM, tech fall Weyandt, CR, 18-3, 2:29; 114–Dinges, PV, dec. Mull, CR, 10-8; E. Herring, BM, dec. Bubash, EF, 7-2; 121–Deputy, CR, pinned Thomas, BURR, 1:07; Guenot, BEA, pinned Kosanovic, AVON, 1:19; 127–Carlile, PV, pinned Clouse, NB, 2:28; Ant. Boni, CV, maj. dec. Tinsman, MC, 8-0; 133–Forrest, BM, tech fall McClure, BENT, 19-4, 2:26; Judice, BEA, dec. Mucci, DA, 7-5; 139–Bracken, U, tech fall Lomison, BEA, 20-5, 4:09; S. Herring, BM, tech fall Bertucci, BURR, 17-2, 2:23; 145–B. Bassett, BM, tech fall Ickes, CR, 19-4, 1:14; Boyer, EF, dec. Garshnick, U, 2-0
152–Magro, BM, tech fall Erdely, FRA, 17-2, 2:36; Horwat, DA, tech fall Zanella, BURR, 21-6, 1:32; 160–Miller, BM, tech fall Celaschi, FRA, 23-8, 3:12; Ivcic, BENT, dec. Olsonn, DA, 6-4; 172–O’Farrill, BM, pinned Angelo, FRA, 5:24; Lacinski, BURR, dec. Masood, M, 10-3; 189–Close, BEA, pinned Williams, FA, 1:22; Scott, , dec. Brown, DA, 2-1 TB; 215–Welsh, FC, pinned Ryan, MU, :30; Erdman, H, pinned Hagans, S, 3:25; 285–Holmes, S, dec. Rodriguez, BM, 2-1; Whyte, WG, dec. McCoy, WH, 11-4.
CHAMPIONSHIP FINALS
107–K. Bassett, BM, maj. dec. Santamaria, M, 10-2; 114–Dinges, PV, dec. E. Herring, BM, 8-3; 121–Guenot, BEA, dec. Deputy, C, 3-2; 127–Carlile, PV, dec. Ant. Boni, CV, 11-4; 133–Forrest, BM, tech fall Judice, BEA, 23-4, 2:21; 139–S. Herring, BM, maj. dec. Bracken, U, 13-2; 145–B. Bassett, BM, tech fall Boyer, EF, 21-6, 1:25
152–Magro, BM, dec. Horwat, DA, 4-0; 160–Miller, BM, pinned Ivcic, BENT, 1:27; 172–O’Farrill, BM, dec. Lacinski, BURR, 8-6; 189–Close, BEA, dec. Scott, T, 14-9; 215–Welsh, FC, dec. Erdman, H, 4-2; 285–Holmes, S, dec. Whyte, WG, 7-0.
THIRD PLACE
107–Chambers, HIGH, tech fall Weyandt, CR, 15-0, 4:14; 114–Mull, CR, dec. Bubash, EF, 8-5; 121–Silfies, BM, dec. Main, MCG, 4-2; 127–Carfley, BM, dec. Niebauer, CC, 16-12; 133–Mucci, DA, dec. McClure, BENT, 4-1; 139–Lomison, BEA, maj. dec. Bertucci, BURR, 12-4; 145–Garshnick, U, maj. dec. Ickes, CR, 8-0
152–Erdely, FRA, dec. Zanella, BURR, 5-0; 160–Celaschi, FRA, dec. Olson, DA, 4-2; 172–Angelo, FRA, maj. dec. Reifer, MV, 12-2; 189–Pensiero, BM, pinned Brown, DA, 4:08; 215–Ryan, MU, pinned Hagans, S, 1:27; 285–McCoy, WH, dec. Rodriguez, BM, 4-1.
FIFTH PLACE
107–Sholly, H, dec. Simmons, BURG, 10-5; 114–Ealy, MCG, dec. Hummel, PO, 5-4 OT; 121–Thomas, BURR, won by forfeit over Kosanovic, AVON; 127–Clouse, NB, dec. Tinsman, MC, 7-1; 133–Wolfe, MCG, maj. dec. Wright, BC, 9-0; 139–Barr, MCG, dec. Danna, QV, 4-2; 145–Wilson, CC, won by forfeit over Shaffer, BB
152–McCray, FA, pinned Noyes, BURG, 1:28; 160–Lilly, EC, dec. Eckenrode, CH, 4-1; 172–Delara, SOUTH, dec. Masood, TM, 7-2; 189–Mahla, R, dec. Williams, FA, 6-4; 215–Lobb, MV, dec. Sudor, CAR, 1-0; 285–Wilson, L, dec. Brambley, E, 2-1 TB.
SEVENTH PLACE
107–Christ, CT, maj. dec. Wolestagle, EF, 9-0; 114–Anderchak, QV, dec. Replogle, NB, 5-1; 121–Bateman, DA, pinned Myers, PV, 1:43; 127–Beatrice, DA, won by forfeit over Gable, PO; 133–Kostick, R, maj. dec. Valentine, S, 11-0; 139–B. Durst, BB, tech fall Klim, DA, 15-0, 4:45; 145–Patton, W, dec. Perkins, V, 2-0
152–Carr, L, dec. Newman, MCG, 5-3; 160–Catullo, BURR, won by forfeit over B. Lisowski, PV; 172–Clark, H, dec. Richey, QV, 7-5; 189–Imler, CR, pinned Peruso, H, 4:04; 215–Carlson, L, pinned Yatsky, FH, 2:54; 285–Barbisch, CAR, pinned Rusilko, BENT, 2:29.
