Raiders in a Romp
JACKSON TWP — Much is made about the Seneca Valley wrestling team's lightweights and with good reason.
SV's bottom third sports two wrestlers ranked No. 1 in the state and one rated as the best wrestler in the country in his weight class in Alejandro Herrera-Rondon.
A lesser-known commodity is the Raiders' heavier weights, but several of them came through Wednesday night.
Conor Hayes (170), Patrick Johnson (182) and Davin Beahm (195) scored victories via major decision, fall and decision, respectively, helping SV roll to a 46-22 WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinal win over Norwin at Seneca Valley High School.
The win vaults the Raiders to the district's final four, which will compete Saturday at Norwin High School.
In Wednesday's first round, the Raiders easily handled Trinity, 54-24. Butler dropped a 51-21 decision to Norwin and failed to reach the quarterfinals.
“Some of our higher weight classes, they aren't looked at as our strength, but they came through with big wins in both matches tonight,” said SV coach Kevin Wildrick. “I'm really proud of the way they wrestled.
“Anytime our lightweights can take the mat with a lead, it's a big advantage for us.”
Against Norwin, the lead handed over to 106-pounder Hunter Swedish was 26-16 and the Knights won just one bout the rest of the night.
Beahm's victory came after the junior fell behind 2-1 in the first period to Norwin's Clayton Morris. But the second period belonged to Beahm and he did not allow another point in a 9-2 victory.
“I just kept thinking, 'Keep going, keep going,'” said Beahm. “Hopefully, things would work out in the end and they did. Picking up that win to help the team win felt amazing. Now we get to compete for a WPIAL title and hopefully, a state title.”
By the time Herrera-Rondon took the mat for the 120-pound bout, the result of the match had been decided. But considering his opponent, he was geared up for the competition. Standing opposite Herrera-Rondon was Norwin's Kurt Phipps and the two have a history.
In last year's WPIAL individual final, Phipps defeated Herrera-Rondon, 1-0, at 106 pounds. SV's star then avenged that loss with a 1-0 win over Phipps in the state championship bout.
Phipps is ranked No. 1 in the state at 120 pounds while Herrera-Rondon is No. 1 nationally at 113.
“Some might think, since we already had the team win, just to forfeit that bout, keep our guy healthy for the next match,” said Wildrick. “But there was no way we were keeping Alejandro off the mat. He's too much of a competitor.”
Following a scoreless first period, Phipps allowed a reversal in the second and a takedown in the third. He never did score as Herrera-Rondon posted a 6-0 victory.
“He's a good wrestler, he's no pushover,” said Herrera-Rondon of Phipps, “but I dominated him. I just had to stay focused through the end.”
The tone was set for Butler's defeat before the wrestling began. The Golden Tornado lost the coin toss at the start, which determines which team must send out a wrestler first for each weight class.
“We lose that toss and it didn't allow us to get some of the matchups we were hoping for,” said Butler coach Scott Stoner. “We didn't get a chance tonight to show what we can do.”
Compounding Butler's frustration was the absence of 152-pounder Nate McDonald, who is nursing an injury.
“That hurt us,” added Stoner, “but you look at the lopsided score. There were a lot of things we could've done better at.”
Steven Green tallied a takedown in the closing seconds to defeat Chase Kranitz in the 145 bout.
“Steven was our wrestler of the night with that come-from-behind win,” said Stoner.
Butler's lone pin came from Jack Codispot at 160.
QuarterfinalSeneca Valley 46, Norwin 22(Match started at 138 pounds)106-Hunter Swedish (SV) tech. fall Conner Henning, 18-2; 113-Dylan Chappell (SV) pinned Luke Passarelli, 1:37; 120-Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (SV) dec. Kurt Phipps, 6-0; 126-Kris Oddo (N) pinned Ronan O'Shea, 3:48; 132-Jason Geyer (SV) pinned Colton Minerva, 1:00; 138-Drew Vlasnik (SV) dec. John Altieri, 11-5; 145-Antonio Amelio (SV) major dec. Chase Cranitz, 12-4; 152-Nick Montalbano (SV) pinned Luke Merkovsky, 2:54; 160-Bryce Long (N) major dec. Liam Volk-Klos, 8-0; 170-Conor Hayes (SV) major dec. Jon Ireland, 12-4; 182-Patrick Johnson (SV) pinned Josh Page, 3:54; 195-Davin Beahm (SV) dec. Clayton Morris, 9-2; 220-Ryan Weinzen (N) pinned Nick Funovits, :49; Hwt.-Zach Cypher (N) pinned Tyler Proctor, 3:36First RoundSeneca Valley 54, Trinity 24(Match started at 132 pounds)106-Hunter Swedish (SV) won by forfeit; 113-Dylan Chappell (SV) pinned Eli Bash, :32; 120-Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (SV) won by forfeit; 126-Gianni Martini (T) pinned Ronan O'Shea, 2:31; 132-Jason Geyer (SV) pinned Danny Boardley, 1:34; 138-Drew Vlasnik (SV) major dec. Micah Finley, 14-2; 145-Antonio Amelio (SV) tech. fall J.T. Porter, 15-0; 152-Nick Montalbano (SV) pinned Evan Bell, 1:05; 160-Liam Volk-Klos (SV) pinned Drew Cain, 3:31; 170-Conor Hayes (SV) pinned Brian Woodhouse, 3:38; 182-Patrick Johnson (SV) dec. Nikko Martini, 9-4; 195-Cole Whitmer (T) pinned Davin Beahm, 1:24; 220-Tyson Brophy (T) pinned Nick Funovits, 4:36; Hwt.-Chet Locy (T) pinned Tyler Proctor, 3:46Norwin 51, Butler 21(Match started at 132 pounds)106-Conner Henning (N) dec. Nick Schaukowitsch, 5-2; 113-Luke Passarelli (N) won by forfeit; 120-Kurt Phipps (N) pinned Clayton Dressler, 1:07; 126-Dom Vivirito (B) won by forfeit; 132-Colton Minerva (N) won by forfeit; 138-John Altieri (N) dec. Nate McMaster, 8-2; 145-Steven Green (B) dec. Chase Kranitz, 5-4; 152-Frankie Gill (N) pinned Pavlog Pawluk, :47; 160-Jack Codispot (B) pinned Luke Merkovsky, 3:14; 170-Bryce Long (N) pinned Hunter Neff, 2:30; 182-Clayton Morris (N) pinned Jacob Pomykata, 4:34; 195-Cooper Baxter (B) won by forfeit; 220-Ryan Weinzen (N) dec. Shawndell Zapata, 7-2; Hwt.-Zach Cypher (N) pinned Caleb Hartung, 5:43
