WINDBER - Chestnut Ridge junior Tyler Dibert and Northern Bedford senior Quinton Hixson both celebrated their third individual championships in the District 5 Wrestling Tournament at Windber Area High School Saturday night.
Dibert's title, earned at 170 pounds, was made sweeter by the fact that he helped Ridge earn its first District 5 team championship since 1983.
Dibert logged an 11-3 major decision over Bedford's Cody Yingling in the 170-pound title match, while Hixson scored a 3-1 decision over Somerset's Jake Hayman in the 285-pound championship bout.
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Photo for the Mirror by Tami Ogline Knopsnyder
Chestnut Ridge’s Derrick Claar controls NBC’s Cody Guyer.
"It feels awesome,'' Dibert (34-4 this season) said of winning his third district gold medal. "It's an honor to be a three-timer [champion]. It's even better to be a four-timer, which I will be trying to do next year. I knew if I won my match, the team would probably clinch the team championship, so that made this even more memorable for me.''
Hixson (27-1) scored a third-period takedown to break a 1-1 tie and avenge a regular-season loss against Somerset senior standout Hayman.
"Not too many people win three titles, so I feel like I've accomplished something,'' said Hixson.
Dibert and Hixson are two of 22 area wrestlers who advanced to next weekend's Southwest AA Regional Tournament at Johnstown's Cambria County War Memorial Arena by finishing among the top three wrestlers in the District 5 tournament.
Seven area wrestlers advanced to the regional as District 5 champions. Along with Dibert and Hixson, Bedford's Ryan Easter (113 pounds) and Toby Brett (126) won titles, as did Ridge freshman Derrick Claar (106), and Dan Albright (195) and Northern Bedford's Drew Gartland (138).
Advancing to the regional as district runners-up were Ridge's Trent Crouse (113), Shane Pfaunmiller (126), and Bradie Bollman (160), Northern Bedford's Cody Guyer (106) and Damian Corle (132), and Bedford's Garrett Thomas (120), Cody Yingling (170), Michael Brett (182) and Josh Krupa (220).
Six more qualified for regionals as third-placers. They were Ridge's Matt Dull (182) and Austin Buttry (285), Northern Bedford's Mason Replogle (113) and Matt Sollenberger (160), Bedford's Jake Warren (106), and Everett's Chris Eichelberger (145).
Ridge coach Greg Lazor was named the District 5 Coach of the Year. He was happy to see his team snap a 29-year drought in the district tournament, which has recently been dominated by Bedford.
Ridge won the team title with 181.5 points, finishing 18 points ahead of runner-up Bedford (163.5). Somerset finished third with 134.
One of Lazor's current assistant coaches, Scott McGill, was a member of the 1983 Ridge high school team that was the school's last District 5 team titlist.
"It's been awhile since we've won it,'' Lazor said. "It's been a running joke in our wrestling room with Scott McGill teasing the kids, who wanted to shut him up and get one of their own.''
Led by Dibert, they did.
"Tyler Dibert is all out, all the time,'' Lazor said. "He never has a bad day, even in practice.''
Ridge's Claar, a freshman, carved out a 6-0 victory over Northern Bedford's Guyer in the 106-pound title match, and Albright, a senior, edged Conemaugh Township's Kyle Drenner, 3-2 for the 195-pound crown.
Northern Bedford junior Gartland scored a third-period reversal for a 4-2, 138-pound title victory over Meyersdale sophomore Kyle Deist.
"I didn't wrestle my best this weekend, but I still came out on top,'' the top-seeded Gartland said. "I hope to do a little better next week. I'd like to go a little bit more on the offensive than I did tonight.''
Bedford sophomore Easter won his second District 5 title and avenged two regular-season losses to Ridge standout freshman Crouse in the process. Easter used a third-period escape for a 3-2 victory in the 113-pound title match.
With the score tied, 2-2 midway through the third period, Crouse elected to cut Easter loose and try for a go-ahead takedown. But it never materialized.
"I worked real hard to get here, so I'm happy,'' said Easter, who won the 103-pound district title a year ago. "Trent's really good, and I lost to him twice during the season. I'd rather lose then than lose now.''
Bedford's Toby Brett, a sophomore, logged a 2-1 victory over Ridge's Pfaunmiller in the 126-pound title bout. Brett won on the strength of a second-period takedown.
In other championship matches involving area wrestlers, Bedford's Thomas dropped an 11-5 decision to North Star's Nick Roberts at 120. It was the fourth District 5 title for Roberts, who was also named the tournament's Outstanding Wrestler. Northern Bedford's Corle reached the title match at 132, but lost, 8-5 to Meyersdale's Stephen McKenzie, and Ridge's Bollman dropped a 9-3 decision to Somerset's Michael Sutton at 160.
At 182, Somerset's Jacob Nickelson pinned Bedford's Michael Brett in 1:05, and at 220, Bedford's Krupa lost a 6-3 decision to Jacob Craig of Berlin Brothersvalley.
Team Standings and Key: 1. Chestnut Ridge (CR) 181.5, 2. Bedford (BD) 163.5, 3. Somerset (SO) 133, 4. Meyersdale (MY) 126, 5. Northern Bedford (NB) 125.5, 6. North Star (NS) 92, 7. Berlin Brothersvalley (BB) 90.5, 8. Conemaugh Township (CT) 88, 9. Hyndman (HY) 48, 10. Everett (EV) 47, 11. Shade (SH) 27, 12. Tussey Mountain (TM) 26.
Championship finals
106-Derrick Claar, CR, dec. Cody Guyer, NB, 6-0. 113-Ryan Easter, BD, dec. Trent Crouse, CR, 3-2. 120-Nick Roberts, NS, dec. Garrett Thomas, BD, 11-5. 126-Toby Brett, BD, dec. Shane Pfaunmiller, CR, 2-1. 132-Stephen McKenzie, MY, dec. Damian Corle, NB, 8-5. 138-Drew Gartland, NB, dec. Seth Deist, MY, 4-2. 145-Tanner Cahill, CT, dec. Bryce Fochtman, BB, 5-1. 152-Cory Berchick, CT, dec. Josh Darr, SO, 3-0. 160-Michael Sutton, SO, dec. Bradie Bollman, CR, 9-3. 170-Tyler Dibert, CR, maj. dec. Cody Yingling, BD, 11-3. 182-Jacob Nickelson, SO, pinned Michael Brett, BD, 1:05. 195-Dan Albright, CR, dec. Kyle Drenner, CT, 3-2. 220-Jacob Craig, BB, dec. Jacob Krupa, BD, 6-3. 285-Quinton Hixson, NB, dec. Jake Hayman, SO, 3-1.
Consolation finals
106-Jabel Warren, BD, dec. Garret Foster, SO, 4-2. 113-Mason Replogle, NB, dec. Kody Ofsanko, CT, 5-0. 120-Collin Day, MY, dec. Chris Miller, BB, 5-3, OT, SV. 126-Tanner Hetrick, MY, pinned Brady Logsdon, HY, 4:42. 132-Tevin Mostoller, NS, tech fall Josh Corbin, TM, 17-2, 4:28. 138-Mike Laue, SO, pinned Luke Lepley, NS, 2:23. 145-Chris Eichelberger, EV, dec. Landon Lohr, SO, 4-2. 152-James Otten, SH, dec. Tanner Revak, NS, 7-2. 160-Matt Sollenberger, NB, dec. Gavin Berkley, MY, 4-1. 170-Billy Dunbar, MY, tech fall Isiah Gibbons, EV, 20-4, 4:58. 182-Matt Dull, CR, dec. Ben Sterlin, EV, 3-2. 195-Andrew Lenhart, MY, pinned Jon Baer, SO, 4:58. 220-Jake Bennett, HY, dec. Luke Fochtman, CR, 3-2, UTB. 285-Austin Buttry, CR, maj. dec. Mitchell Hall, TM, 9-0.
Semifinals
106-Claar, CR, pinned DeArmitt, BB, 1:45; Guyer, NB, pinned McKenzie, MY, 5:02. 113-Easter, BD, pinned Ofsanko, CT, 2:52; Crouse, CR, dec. Replogle, NB, 7-0. 120-Roberts, NS, tech. fall Day, MY, 17-2 (4:47); Thomas, BD, dec. Miller, BB, 7-2. 126-Pfaunmiller, CR, pinned Logsdon, HY, 3:23; Brett, BD, dec. Hetrick, MY, 8-1. 132-McKenzie, MY, dec. Mostoller, NS, 7-5; Corle, NB, pinned Knotts, CT, 2:51. 138-Gartland, NB, pinned Dudek, BD, 1:05; Deist, MY, dec. Rock, EV, 4-0. 145-Cahill, CT, dec. Lohr, SO, 8-2; Fochtman, BB, dec. Eichelberger, EV, 11-8. 152-Berchick, CT, dec. Revak, NS, 7-2; Darr, SO, dec. Otten, SH, 2-1. 160-Sutton, SO, dec. Berkley, MY, 4-2; Bollman, CR, dec. Sollenberger, NB, 5-1. 170-Dibert, CR, maj. dec. Gibbons, EV, 12-2; Yingling, BD, dec. Billy Dunbar, MY, 15-8. 182-Brett, BD, maj. dec. Sterling, EV, 14-0; Nickelson, SO, pinned Dull, CR, 1:14. 195-Albright, CR, pinned Benedict, NS, 5:01; Drenner, CT, dec. Baer, SO, 3-1. 220-Krupa, BD, pinned Blough, SO, 2:52; Craig, BB, dec. Bennett, HY, 7-2. 285-Hixson, NB, pinned Hall, TM, 4:28; Hayman, SO, dec. Buttry, CR, 3-2.
Consolation semifinals
106-Warren, BD, pinned McKenzie, MY, 2:11; Foster, SO, dec. DeArmitt, BB, 11-5. 113-Replogle, NB, pinned Jano, SO, 2:47; Ofsanko, CT, pinned DeArmitt, BB, 1:59. 120-Miller, BB, pinned Gibbner, EV, 1:32; Day, MY, pinned Hillegass, CR, 4:12. 126-Hetrick, MY, maj. dec. Custer, BB, 12-3; Logsdon, HY, pinned Mostoller, :26. 132-Corbin, TM, dec. Knotts, CT, 14-10; Mostoller, NS, maj. dec. Grimes, BD, 12-4. 138-Lepley, NS, dec. Rock, EV, 3-0; Laue, SO, dec. Dudek, BD, 7-0. 145-Eichelberger, EV, dec. Connor, NS, 2-0; Lohr, SO, dec. Winegardner, CR, 3-1. 152-Otten, SH, pinned Moskey, HY, 2:26; Revak, NS, dec. Heffner, BB, 3-1. 160-Sollenberger, NB, dec. Koontz, BD, 5-2; Berkley, MY, pinned Shifflett, CT, 2:15. 170-Dunbar, MY, maj. dec. Ben Miller, BB, 11-1; Gibbons, EV, dec. Neil Yoder, NS, 9-6. 182-Dull, CR, pinned Gowarty, CT, 1:55; Sterling, EV, dec. Dauphinais, BB, 2-1 (RO). 195-Baer, SO, dec. Trulick, BB, 1-0; Lenhart, MY, pinned Benedict, NS, 4;08. 220-Bennett, HY, pinned Claycomb, 2:05; Fochtman, CR, dec. Blough, SO, 4-2 (OT). 285-Buttry, CR, dec. Emerick, HY, 14-9; Hall, TM, pinned Smith, MY, :49.
Consolation quarterfinals
106-Warren, BD, pinned Gennett, NS, 2:45; Foster, SO, pinned Pakstis, SH, 4:34. 113-Jano, SO, pinned Snyder, HY, :25; DeArmitt, BB, pinned Manges, SH, 4:50. 120-Gibbner, HY, pinned Reynolds, SH, 2:28; Hillegass, CR, pinned Sanders, CT, 4:40. 126-Custer, BB, pinned Deffibaugh, NB, 1:37; Mostoller, NS, maj. dec. Walker, SO, 10-2. 132-Corbin, TM, pinned Etterman, CR, 2:49; Grimes, EV, dec. Fabian, SO, 5-4. 138-Lepley, NS, dec. Cahill, CT, 9-2; Laue, SO, dec. Miller, BB, 8-6 (OT). 145-Connor, NS, pinned Gibbner, HY, 3:45; Winegardner, CR, maj. dec. Martin, BD, 9-1. 152-Moskey, HY, pinned Clark, BD, 1:57; Heffner, BB, pinned Shipley, NB, 2:16. 160-Koontz, BD, pinned Jamieson, NS, 1:54; Shifflett, CT, pinned Sheeder, EV, 4:31. 170-Miller, BB, pinned Griffith, CT, 4:56; Yoder, NS, dec. Eller, SO, 4-0. 182-Gowarty, CT, pinned Mayhugh, MY, 2:39; Dauphinais, BB, dec. Douglas, NB, 4-1. 195-Trulick, BB, pinned Barnhart, EV, 3:54; Lenhart, MY, inj. forfeit over Grace, NB. 220-Claycomb, EV, pinned Gindlesperger, CT, 2:46; Fochtman, CR, dec. Supanick, NS, 3-2. 285-Emerick, HY, pinned Martin, BB, 4:37; Smith, MY, pinned Mills, CT, 2:33.
Consolation Quarterfinals
106-Warren, BD, pinned Gennett, NS, 2:45; Foster, SO, pinned Pakstis, SH, 4:34. 113-Jano, SO, pinned Snyder, HY, :25; DeArmitt, BB, pinned Manges, SH, 4:50. 120-Gibbner, HY, pinned Reynolds, SH, 2:28; Hillegass, CR, pinned Sanders, CT, 4:40. 126-Custer, BB, pinned Deffibaugh, NB, 1:37; Mostoller, NS, maj. dec. Walker, SO, 10-2. 132-Corbin, TM, pinned Etterman, CR, 2:49; Grimes, EV, dec. Fabian, SO, 5-4. 138-Lepley, NS, dec. Cahill, CT, 9-2; Laue, SO, dec. Miller, BB, 8-6 (OT). 145-Connor, NS, pinned Gibbner, HY, 3:45; Winegardner, CR, maj. dec. Martin, BD, 9-1. 152-Moskey, HY, pinned Clark, BD, 1:57; Heffner, BB, pinned Shipley, NB, 2:16. 160-Koontz, BD, pinned Jamieson, NS, 1:54; Shifflett, CT, pinned Sheeder, EV, 4:31. 170-Miller, BB, pinned Griffith, CT, 4:56; Yoder, NS, dec. Eller, SO, 4-0. 182-Gowarty, CT, pinned Mayhugh, MY, 2:39; Dauphinais, BB, dec. Douglas, NB, 4-1. 195-Trulick, BB, pinned Barnhart, EV, 3:54; Lenhart, MY, inj. forfeit over Grace, NB. 220-Claycomb, EV, pinned Gindlesperger, CT, 2:46; Fochtman, CR, dec. Supanick, NS, 3-2. 285-Emerick, HY, pinned Martin, BB, 4:37; Smith, MY, pinned Mills, CT, 2:33.
