Anxious for advancement
FOX CHAPEL — Seneca Valley wrestling already enjoyed a school record-setting team run.
Now the Raiders are looking for an individual one.
SV has 10 of its 14 wrestlers seeded among the top three in their respective weight classes for Saturday's Sectoon 3-AAA tournament at Fox Chapel High School.
The top five wrestlers in each weight classs advance to the WPIAL Tournament next Friday and Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.
“Our goal every year is to get all of our wrestlers through to the WPIAL,” SV coach Kevin Wildrick said. “This year in particular, I think that's a distinct possibility.”
The Raiders have four wrestlers — Alejandro Herrera at 106 pounds, Louis Newell at 120, Drew Vlasnik at 138 and Tyler Gross at 170 — seeded No. 1. Their No. 2 seeds are Jason Geyer at 126 and Antonio Amelio at 132.
No. 3 seeds include Dylan Chappell at 113, Nick Montalbano at 145, John Siwiak at 195 and Kevin Meeder at 285.
Seneca Valley placed among the top six in the state team dual match tournament, losing in the semifinals.
“That was valuable experience for all of our kids,” Wildrick said. “Now that the individual section and WPIAL meets are here, they've already experienced the feeling of wrestling in high-pressure matches.
“That can only help them on Saturday.”
SV's other four wrestlers are No. 5 seed Michael Adamson (11-16) at 152 pounds, No. 7 Conor Hayes (12-20) at 160, No. 6 Patrick Johnson (27-10) at 182 and No. 8 Nick Funovits (15-16) at 220.
“There are quality kids in his weight class, but Patrick could surprise people with a high finish,” Wildrick said. “and I think Nick (Montalbano) can win at 145, even though that's one of the deepest weight classes in our section.”
Five Raider wrestlers — Herrera (36-7), Chappell (31-10), Newell (32-3), Montalbano (31-10) and Gross (33-6) — have more than 30 wins this season.
Butler has nine wrestlers in action Saturday. Christian Sequete (26-3) is the Golden Tornado's lone No. 1 seed at 182 pounds. Jack Codispot is a No. 2 seed at 145 with a 28-4 record. Freshman Steven Green, 27-9 at 132, is a No. 3 seed.
“Two of Christian's three losses are to the defending state champion from Albert Gallatin,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “He may run into Hampton's (Justin) Hart, a freshman who is 32-1, but if Christian wrestles his match, I'm confident he can win.
“I'm hopeful we can get our three freshmen through and Rob Hays (17-11 at 160), who has only been wrestling for two years.”
Butler freshman Clayton Dressler is 17-12 at 106 and fellow frosh Nate McMaster is 20-11 at 120. Both are seeded fourth.
“We're hoping to get at least six guys through, but you never know,” Stoner said. “I've been disappointed in this tournament before and I've been surprised before.”
Mars has one No. 1 seed— Alex Hornfeck (27-2) at 145 pounds — and three third-seeded wrestlers in Noah Hunkele (21-6) at 106, Jake Richardson (25-3) at 160 and Sean McElhinny (21-12) at 170.
Knoch 220-pounder Saavon Mosby (23-3) is a No. 1 seed. Eric Green (24-3) is seeded third for the Knights at 182.
Wrestling is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The consolation finals will begin at approximately 4 p.m., followed by the championship finals.
Here are the top-seeded wrestlers for Saturday’s Section 3-AAA individual championships at Fox Chapel:106 pounds: Alejandro Herrera (Seneca Valley) 36-7113: Ryan Sullivan (Shaler) 31-1120: Louis Newell (Seneca Valley) 32-3126: Sam Hillegas (North Hills) 22-1132: Garrett Reinsfelder (Shaler) 29-4)138: Drew Vklasnik (Seneca Valley) 28-11)145: Alex Hornfeck (Mars) 27-2152: Cole Spencer (Pine-Richland) 23-2160: Jon Hoover (North Allegheny) 30-4170: Ty Gross (Seneca Valley) 33-6182: Christian Sequete (Butler) 26-3195: Nathan Mankey (North Hills) 22-3220: Saavon Mosby (Knoch) 23-3)285: Derek Devine (North Allegheny) 23-6
