Tyrone sophomore Stevie “Smack-down” Colyer punched his ticket to the regional wrestling tournament by taking 4th place in the District VI tournament in Altoona.

“It’s awesome to make it this far,” said Coyler,  “We’ve been working hard this week and training like maniacs. I’m just gonna go and give it my 100%.”

Coyler has been working out with several of his Tyrone teammates for the past couple of weeks to stay in shape and prepare for regionals.

The Southwest Regional Tournament begins on Friday at Cannon-McMillan High School in Cannonsburg.  Coyler will be wrestling Ian Wolfe of Jefferson-Morgan High School in the first round at 5:00 pm.

Coyler went into the district tournament in Altoona on February 21-22 as the number four seed with a season record of 19-8.

In his first match of the tournament Coyler pinned number 13 seed Nathan Fultz (6-10) of Juniata in only 34 seconds.

Coyler then took that momentum into his next match,  pinning number five seed Jake Smith (20-10) of Blairsville in 5:26.

In the championship semifinals, Coyler wrestled the number one seed Nick Winfield (21-4) from Southern Huntingdon.  Coyler hung with the eventual tournament runner up but lost by a fall in 4:27.

Coyler then found himself in wrestle backs, where he faced number 7 seeded Hussein Sbeitan (11-11) of Westmont Hilltop, and defeated him 3-2.

In Coyler’s final match for 3rd place, he was caught by number 3 seed Kody Ness (18-6) of Glendale and pinned in :45.

In the end took 4th place and punched his ticket to regionals.